What is an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photofacial?
In Chicago & Glenview, IL

Chicago Aesthetics Surgery & Med Spa in Chicago & Glenview, IL is led by Dr. John D. Rachel, MD, FACS, a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who is quadruple board-certified.

Medically reviewed for accuracy.

What is an IPL Photofacial and why you would need one?

IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light. Intense Pulse Light is a high powered computer controlled flash gun. The best time to get an IPL Photofacial treatment is in the Fall or Winter months. The treatment is not recommended for dark/tanned skin.

What does an IPL treat?

When you have issues with brown pigment, the laser targets and destroys the hyperactive melanin in your skin, removing the brown spot. If your issue is rosacea or redness, the laser cauterizes those broken capillaries and redness and removes it.

This treatment is good for someone that has sun damage (brown sun spots) or Vascular lesions (broken capillaries). Not only does the laser target pigment but it also does many other things to the skin:

Reduces Pore Size
Smoothing and reducing the appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Skin Tightening
Overall texture of the skin
Rosacea, Redness, Flushing
Vascular Lesions

Ipl Lumecca Before And After Chicago Aesthetics Med Spa

How many treatments will you need?

Well it varies from person to person depending on how much sun damage or pigment on the skin. Most of the time the laser and myself can fix the issues within 1-3 treatments. If you have more than 60% damage to the skin, you may need up to 5 treatments to correct the problem. After a series of treatments it’s good to do maintenance treatment throughout the year. ALWAYS wear your SPF or you’ll see us more often than you would like! Treatments are recommended every 4-6 weeks.

How long does an IPL Photofacial treatment take?

Depending on if you’re coming in for a full face or certain areas of the face depends on the time. It can range from 15min-30min. The laser feels like a rubber band snap followed by a warming sensation.

What to expect after treatment?

After treatment expect to have some redness (may feel like a sunburn) with some erythema what last up to an hour or up to 24-48 hours. If your treating pigmented spots, you can expect the pigmented areas to darken (sometimes even black depending on ethnicity, like coffee grinds) over the course of a few days as the pigment comes to surface then sloughs off. If your treating redness (rosacea/broken capillaries), you will see the redness subside a few days after treatment or sometimes the same day or next day. Within a week your looking significantly better but it takes a full month to see the result. With the IPL laser treatment you will have greater sun sensitivity for a couple of weeks so make sure your wearing your SPF when outdoors.

What are IPL side effects?

The side effects are minimal and temporary. You may experience some swelling, redness, bruising or blistering.

What at-home skincare is recommended after an IPL?

A good at-home skincare is recommended in order to promote healing and enhance your IPL results. Here are some must-have products we recommend:

Moisturizer. SKIN BETTER TRIO provides heavy hydration without the weight. It helps your skin produce more hyaluronic acid and supports your skin’s barrier, leading to healthier skin with less fine lines and dryness.
Antioxidant. SKINCEUTICALS PHLORETIN CF is daytime antioxidant that protects against the premature signs of aging, environmental damage and improves discoloration, fine lines and uneven skin tone.
Suncreen. SUNBETTER TONE SMART SPF 68 SUNSCREEN COMPACT is 100% mineral SPF, water resistant, protection against UV, blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation. You also get the added benefit in that it acts as a primer and blurs imperfections!

Chicago Aesthetics Surgery & Med Spa & Wellness Center provides a wide range of skin rejuvenation, anti-aging, laser and body sculpting services for the face and body. Our Anti-Aging Treatments, Botox, Body Sculpting, Facial Treatments, Laser Skin Treatments, Medical Weight Loss, Microneedling, Skin Rejuvenation, and Cosmetic Injections will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Our team of medical professionals will develop customized skincare and wellness solutions to improve and treat common skin & aging concerns including wrinkles, dermal fillers, lip filler injections, cellulite, stretch marks, scar removal, acne, age spots, and weight loss to name a few. Chicago Aesthetics Surgery & Med Spa was founded by top cosmetic surgeon Dr. Anh-Tuan Truong. Our team of experienced medical professionals are dedicated to providing our patients with the latest and most effective skin care treatments available. At Chicago Aesthetics Surgery & Med Spa, we understand the importance of feeling comfortable and confident in our own skin. That’s why we strive to provide the highest quality of care and service to our patients. Our mission is to help you look and feel your best by delivering exceptional results.

Schedule a consultation and visit us today and see for yourself why we are the top rated medical spa in Chicago, Illinois!

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Chicago Aesthetics
Reviews & Testimonials

    Excellent4.8254 reviews
 4.8
 Excellent254 reviews
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   Ruby Kelly 
 September 13, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been seeing Carol for Botox for over two years, and she is absolutely amazing! I trust her completely with my face. She always takes the time to listen to what I want and makes sure my results look natural and beautiful—she never overdoes it. I especially appreciate how honest she is; she will tell you when you don’t need something rather than trying to sell you more treatments. Carol truly cares about her patients and always makes me feel comfortable, welcomed, and at home. She is professional, knowledgeable, gentle, and incredibly attentive. I always leave feeling confident and happy with my results. It’s hard to find someone you can trust this much, and I’m so grateful I found Carol. I wouldn’t trust
  
 
      
   Daniella Bella 
 September 13, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had Lipo 360 and a Skinny BBL this summer, and I am so happy with my results. I was always extremely nervous about going under the knife, but I really wanted to do something that would help boost my self-confidence. Dr. T and his entire team were truly amazing throughout the whole process. I am naturally pretty skinny, so I was always worried about whether this procedure would work well for my body type, but I honestly wish I had done it sooner. I am currently about five weeks post-op, and I am already so pleased with how everything is turning out. My results continue to improve as I heal, and I’m excited to see the final outcome. I’m very grateful to Dr. T and his team for making me feel comfortable and confident throughout the experience.
  
 
      
   Stephanie Sanchez 
 September 9, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. carol’s the absolute best! very fast and great at what she does. My go to for any botox or filler!
  
 
      
   Roberta Livingston 
 September 6, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Tom is amazing!! Caring and knowledgeable very, very excellent experience.
  
 
      
   Kim Jones 
 September 2, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been seeing Carol for 10 + years She’s the best and has a perfect eye for what’s needed and what is not. I’ve always trusted her completely and highly recommend!
  
 
      
   Mary S 
 August 29, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Wonderful service, everyone is knowledgable and friendly. Dr. Rachel is fabulous and quadruple board certified. I would not trust any other company.
  
 
      
   Laura Rosenhauer 
 August 28, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Carol is the best in the business! She is professional, kind, and incredibly attentive throughout my experience. She took the time to understand my concerns and made sure I felt comfortable. I love my results! I truly appreciated her expertise and attention to detail. I highly recommend Carol!
  
 
      
   Angel 
 August 28, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Nurse Carol always does an outstanding job no matter the procedure. She literally has light hands and you barely feel a thing. She brightens my day whenever I have an appointment with her. Very kind, professional and very knowledgeable. I have never had anyone as thorough as her. She communicates with me before and after all appointments and reaches out to ensure I safely drive there sooner due to the weather conditions. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I cannot say enough wonderful things about Nurse Carol Donohue. After four years as her client, I can genuinely say that the trust, care, and relationship we have built over the years means so much to me. Carol has always been incredibly easy to communicate with and accommodating with my schedule. She consistently goes above and beyond for her clients—even coming in early before her shift to make sure she can see me when needed. That level of dedication and care does not go unnoticed. What I appreciate most about Carol is her integrity. She doesn’t simply recommend a cosmetic procedure because she can perform it. She takes the time to honestly tell me what would be beneficial, what may be unnecessary, and what she believes is best for me. My health, well-being, and safety have always come first, and that has given me an incredible amount of confidence and trust in her. Carol is knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and genuinely welcoming. She explains everything in detail, makes sure I understand every step of the process, and always makes me feel comfortable and cared for. She values her clients as people, not just appointments. Beyond her professionalism, Carol’s kindness has touched me personally. There have been days when I walked into her office feeling at my lowest, and simply being met with her warmth, compassion, and kindness helped me leave feeling a little more confident and a lot better than when I arrived. That is something I will never forget. Thank you, Nurse Carol Donohue, for four wonderful years of professionalism, honesty, compassion, and exceptional care. I am incredibly grateful for the client-and-nurse relationship we have built, and I look forward to many more years to come. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a provider who combines expertise with integrity and truly cares about the people she serves.
  
 
      
   Julie Rosenhauer 
 August 28, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been getting Botox from Carol for several years now, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience! She is incredibly kind, knowledgeable, and professional, and she always takes the time to make sure I feel comfortable and confident throughout the process. I truly trust her expertise and appreciate how carefully she listens to what I want while providing honest, thoughtful recommendations. My results have always looked natural and beautiful, which is exactly what I’m looking for. I highly recommend her to anyone considering Botox or looking for someone skilled, trustworthy, and genuinely caring!
  
 
      
   Diana T 
 August 26, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Carol was great! She made the experience comfortable and pain-free while also being efficient. Would definitely return!