BBL Corrective™

What is it?

Worried your freckles, age spots or rosacea make you look less radiant and older? With BBL™ (BroadBand Light) they will be a thing of the past! The light energy delivered by BBL will stimulate cells to regenerate and typically with the first treatment you will start to see smoother, more even and vibrant skin. The photo thermal energy will eliminate fine vessels that cause redness and reduce unwanted melanin that produces age and sun spots. Your skin will feel smoother, fine lines and pores will be less noticeable, and sunspots or uneven pigmentation will fade. BBL Corrective can be the foundation for and used in conjunction with all other BBL treatments.

Most physically healthy people who have not been overly exposed to natural or artificial light or are taking photo-sensitizing oral or topical medications can have and benefit from BBL treatments.

The BBL system is contraindicated for:

  • Patients who have a history of abnormal response to sunlight
  • Patients who use photo-sensitizing medications or drugs
  • Patients who have used isotretinoin (Accutane) within the last 6-12 months
  • Patients who are pregnant
  • Patients who have medical conditions that may affect wound healing
  • Patients who use anticoagulant medication or heavy aspirin use
  • Patients with active infections and/or compromised immune systems
  • Patients with tanned skin
  • Patients with a history of skin cancer, especially malignant melanoma
  • Patients who have a history of keloid scar formation
  • Patient who are Skin Type VI

2 (easily tolerable) The procedure is non-invasive, typically gentle and safe. Generally, there is no need for a topical anesthetic; however, your physician may choose to use it depending on his/her patients’ sensitivities. You may briefly feel a warm or “rubber band snap” sensation as the light is absorbed by the targeted areas.

$400-600 depending on size and location of treated area

It can take as little as 15 minutes, depending on the area you are looking to treat, as well as the treatment you are receiving. Treatment time varies from patient to patient.

The continued aging of your face and the exposure to natural and artificial light will affect how long your results last, but typically, you can expect to see first improvements within 1 week that will continue to reveal themselves for a time period of about 6 months up to a year.

Treatments with BBL are considered a medical treatment, therefore, as with all medical treatments, prior to your initial treatment, the medical spa should conduct an in-person exam by either a doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. While each state treats each procedure differently, AmSpa recommends that only an RN or higher-level practitioner perform treatments with BBL. Please check with your local medical board, nursing board or health care attorney for more information.

Complications, though rare, can occur and should be discussed and understood. The patient must understand the importance of the post care instructions, and that failure to comply may increase the potential for complications.

  • Scarring, though rare, can occur following any intense light procedure.
  • Histamine/Hives: some patients develop raised urticaria similar to hives. This irritation usually subsides in a few hours.
  • Pigmentary changes: hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation may occur. There is a higher risk in darker skin types.
  • Purpura, which is purplish bruising, may occur in the treated area and may appear to be the size and shape of the BBL crystal. These bruises may last for 1-2 weeks. Purpura usually results from having the pulse width too short and/or fluence too high during the treatment. Purpura could also occur from the concomitant use of anticoagulant medications.
  • Swelling around the eyes and bridge of nose may occur immediately after a BBL treatment and may remain for 24-48 hours.

You may experience some redness that should resolve within a few hours. Consult your physician if it does not. For some spots, you will see a darkening of the treated areas followed by fading and flaking off at a later stage. Results depend on your skin type, the number of treatments, and the area treated. In most cases, you are able to return to work, and resume most of your activities immediately. Your physician will provide you with complete information about the post treatment care and results.

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