Plexus Fractional Intense Pulsed Light

The Plexus is a device that uses fractionated pulsed light (FPL) for skin rejuvenation. It targets:

• age spots
• sun damage
• pigmentation issues /freckles
• vascular lesions, spider veins and rosacea
• acne

It can be used on several areas of the body, with the most common areas of treatment being the face, neck, décolletage and hands.

Intense pulsed light is a treatment suitable for all ages for improving skin clarity and fighting ageing. If you have sun damage this treatment can help reverse some of that damage to give you a more even skin tone and smoother skin. If you have acne the device has a special filter whose wavelength targets and kills acne causing bacteria and another wavelength aimed at decreasing the red inflammation from acne spots.

If you have a darker skin tone, which is darker than Fitzpatrick levels I-III then Plexus FPL is an unsuitable treatment for you. Intense pulsed light is suitable for brown pigmentation associated with sun damage and ageing but is not a suitable treatment for melasma (for which we have other treatments). This is one of the reasons why a medical consultation before your treatment is mandatory.

Pulses of light specifically target either brown pigment or red pigment. With brown pigment lesions such as age spots or freckles the heat breaks up and damages the pigment causing it to flake off the skin. With vascular lesions and redness, the laser selectively heats the broken thread veins to coagulate or dry up the vessels. The vessels then get absorbed and removed from the skin.

The treatment feels like small rubber bands snapping against the skin for a fraction of a second. You will feel a heat sensation and may have pinkness or redness in the area for a short time.

An hour or so after the treatment you’ll notice a significant difference – your skin will have a more uniform tone as pigmentation lightens and any vascular lesions are addressed.
For pigmented lesions such as age spots, sunspots and freckles the pulsed light breaks up the pigment and damages it. This means that over the next week to ten days any pigment you had will appear much darker as it moves to the surface of the skin, it will them simply flake off leaving the skin with a more even skin tone. 3-5 sessions may be required for the best photorejuvenation results.

FPL also stimulates collagen production, so you will notice over the next week that your skin appears smoother, tauter and will smaller pores.

Photo-rejuvenation: FPL photo rejuvenation is the process of removing sun damage, stimulating new cell growth and increasing collagen production. It gives the skin a “blank canvas”, a more even tone and appearance.

The FPL treatment protocol can be targeted at the signs of ‘photo-ageing’ which includes wrinkles, pigmentation and age spots.

A Plexus FPL PhotoRejuvenation treatment will not only remove pigmentation and sun damage but also improve skin tone and reduce wrinkles by stimulating the fibroblasts in the dermis to produce collagen and elastin.

Thread veins can be caused by excessive exposure to UV radiation, but some people are simply more susceptible to them, and they can be present from childhood. Many people also suffer from a chronic medical skin condition called rosacea and they suffer from diffuse redness and thread veins.

If thread veins and redness are present, the FPL treatment protocol can be adjusted to emit wavelengths of light that are filtered to target the haemoglobin in the thread veins/broken capillaries.

When the pulsed light is absorbed by a spider vein, the light converts to heat and coagulates the vessel.

Vessels may darken initially and then the body will remove the vessel over time.

Pulsed light systems are not designed to treat leg thread veins and typically will NOT resolve veins effectively which are greater than 2mm in diameter and at greater than 2mm depths.

We can combine the photorejuvenation wavelengths when doing a vascular FPL treatment to target any brown pigmentation as well if brown spots are an issue.

The blue light (415 nm) destroys the bacteria that live in the skin and cause inflammation, while the deep red light at 560 nm directly targets the overactive sebaceous glands that block pores and cause outbreaks of pustules and it stimulates new collagen production helping to improve the appearance of acne scarring. The multipulsed 640 nm calms the inflammation caused by acne.

Treatment Schedule for Acne:

Standard: 3-5 sessions 30 days apart

• High efficiency of treatment due to high peak power and optimised output.
• Reduces treatment time thanks to large spot size and high pulse repetition rate.
• Plexus uses multi pulse technology and multi wavelength protocols to target different layers of the skin to deliver optimal results
• Strong sapphire cooling tip results in higher treatment comfort. 
• The pulsed of light are delivered through a fractional sapphire tip making the treatment safer with less potential for side effects compared to traditional intense pulsed light systems

Each treatment takes about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area. You will wear protective goggles for the duration of the procedure. We will also apply an ultrasonic gel to your face, which aids treatment application and cools the skin for increased comfort.

During treatment there will be a bright flash of light from the Plexus handpiece, and a sensation on your skin that feels like a light snap from an elastic band. The treatment is customised, with various modes and passes designed to address your specific skin concerns.

Pinkness and a slight warming of the skin are normal after treatment and usually subside within an hour. You may feel a slight tingling sensation of the skin at the sides of your nose if you had thread veins treated at the sides of your nose. There could be some temporary slight puffiness on the treated area..

Over the next 24-48 hours you may see a darkening of pigmented lesions and then they will flake off naturally during face washing or showering. After treating thread veins, you may see the vein blanch and disappear or a colour change in the colour of the vessels to a darker colour which dissipates after a few days. Usually, you can go straight back to your normal daily activities after a intense pulsed light treatment.

The patented fractional pulsed light technology ensures maximum safety and minimum side effects.

Generally, a course of treatments is required, usually 3 – 5 sessions and then a yearly or biyearly maintenance FPL treatment to maintain results.

Before any full FPL treatment, you will come for a thorough consultation and patch test to ensure your suitability. This includes checking for light-sensitive medications and conditions affected by flashing lights, such as epilepsy. It’s important to stay out of the sun and refrain from using sun beds or fake tanning products for at least two to three weeks prior to the treatment. These precautions ensure a safe and effective treatment process.

You will receive a small laser treatment in usually three different areas to rule out any sensitivities to the treatment and to obtain an understanding of the required and tolerated energy levels for your skin.

– Tanned skin (active tan), through sun exposure or tanning bed use in the previous 30 days (increased risk of hyper-pigmentation).
– Hypo-pigmentation (e.g. vitiligo).
– Any inflammatory skin condition e.g. eczema, active herpes simplex, etc… at the treatment area
– Skin Cancer or any other Cancer. Taking medication to treat cancer (Dacarbazine, Fluorouracil, Methotrexate, etc.).
– History of keloid scarring (A Laser or IPL burn may produce a keloid scar)
– Epilepsy (repeated consecutive flashes may induce a fit).
– St John’s Wort (Hypericum – herbal remedy) for depression and can cause photosensitivity.
– Oral Roaccutane (isotretinoin) in the previous 3-6 months for the treatment of acne or other dermatological conditions.
– Topical Tretinoin or Retinol or glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide within the last 2 weeks before your treatment
– Pregnancy or breast feeding, as hormonal imbalance may reduce treatment efficacy.
– Diabetes (if history of poor skin healing).
– Severe concurrent medical conditions such as cardiac disorders, uncontrolled hypertension and liver or kidney disease
– Any topical medication (e.g. hydrocortisone) or is wearing perfumes, deodorants, sun block, essential oils or other skin lotions in the treatment area (which could cause photosensitivity). The area should be fully cleansed prior to treatment.
– Surgical metal pins or plates under the area to be treated.
– Tattoos or permanent makeup in the area to be treated (not including permanent eyebrows which can be covered, and we don’t treat over eyebrows anyway)
– Pacemaker or internal defibrillator
– Any surgical, invasive, ablative procedure in the treatment area in the last 3 months or before complete healing
– If patient is under the age of 18yrs (unless there is parental consent)

– Do not expose skin to UV (sun exposure, tanning beds) or fake tan for a least 4 weeks prior to treatment.
– Do not use bleaching creams, or perfumed products (e.g. aromatherapy oils) for 24hrs-48hrs prior to treatment.
– Avoid swimming in strong chlorinated water immediately prior to treatment.
– Avoid exfoliating, microdermabrasion or skin peels for 1 week prior to treatment.
– Area of treatment should be clean and dry.
– Keep the body hydrated.
– Protect the skin from sun exposure and SPF 30+ should always be used during the treatment programme.
– Hot and humid weather can make the skin more sensitive prior to treatment.
– Avoid any irritants to your skin. such as any products containing tretinoin, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic/salicylic acids, astringents or Vitamin C for 2 weeks before your treatment. Do not wax or use a depilatory on treatment areas for 2 weeks prior to your treatment.
– Allow 14 days post anti-wrinkle injections

– No exposure to UV, tanning beds (during treatment). Self-tan can be used 1 week after treatment and must be completely off the skin prior to next treatment.
– Do not shave for 48-72hrs after treatment in the area
– Do not use bleaching creams or perfumed products for the first 24-48hrs after treatment.
– Do not pick or scratch the treatment area.
– Avoid rough handling of the treatment area.
– Avoid hot baths, showers, sauna etc. for the first 48hrs after treatment.
– Avoid swimming in strong chlorinated water for up to a week after treatment, if the skin feels sensitive.
– Avoid exfoliating or skin peels for 1 week.
– Avoid rough sports or gym for at least 24 hrs after treatment.
– Keep the area clean and dry.
– Always wear SPF 30+
– The use of Aloe gel after treatment can improve any discomfort in the treatment area. Do not use ice directly on the skin.
– Makeup can be applied the day following your treatment if you wish