IPL stands for “intense pulsed light” therapy. In Nashville, DeLozier Plastic Surgery offers both the IPL and the BBL treatments. BBL stands for BroadBand Light—it’s a specially engineered device by Sciton that allows providers the highest level of customization of its intense pulsed light energy.
Beyond the name itself, there are a few other key differences in IPL versus BBL. Namely, IPL uses multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously, so it can address multiple types of concerns in about 60 minutes. BBL uses a broad spectrum of light with filters chosen specifically by the provider to address custom concerns (e.g., blue light for active acne) and the spot size of the treatment. Because of the time it takes to customize each pass, BBL tends to take 60 to 90 minutes.