Skin Rejuvenation

The flash-lamp in the unique Ellipse I2PL system produces light that is carefully filtered in two ways to ensure that only light with the correct characteristics (wavelengths) is allowed to reach your skin. The light that is allowed through has been chosen because it is the sort that two natural body substances respond to. Age spots contain a substance called melanin, and diffuse redness contains a substance called haemoglobin. When cells containing a lot of melanin or haemoglobin are hit with the right type of light, they heat up and are destroyed within a few thousandths of one second.

As skin rejuvenation is based on light absorption in melanin and haemoglobin, treatments are most efficient in patients with light skin who are not sun-tanned at the time of the treatment. The lighter the skin, the more pronounced the contrast between the age spots/blood vessels and the skin, making treatment easier. However, Ellipse has pre-programmed settings for different skin colours that deliver the correct energy output for your complexion.

The glass prism within the Ellipse applicator that guides the light to the skin is 10mm by 48mm, so a large area can be targeted in one flash of light. A full-face treatment takes less than 20 minutes. You should expect a total of 1-3 treatments before you obtain the desired results.

Tolerance of pain is very individual from person to person. No anaesthetics are required, and many patients describe the discomfort as a warming sensation similar to the feeling one has after a day on the beach. The lighter the skin colour, the less pain.

The light used is completely safe, visible light. Potentially harmful wavelengths are removed by the unique Ellipse Dual Mode Filtering system. Since tanning takes place by accumulation of pigment (melanin) in the skin, it is, however, important to avoid tanning (sun, solarium or self-tanning cream) before and during the treatment period. Otherwise your tanned skin will absorb more light, which makes treatment less effective. Generally, no post-treatment care is necessary. But people with sensitive skin may benefit from applying an ice pack to the face immediately after treatment or applying an ointment prescribed by the doctor. Furthermore, it is recommended to use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 60) for a few weeks following treatment.

You may notice that the skin looks a little “dirty” for a few days following treatment. After that you will find that your skin looks smoother and fresher. You might choose to have 1 – 2 annual maintenance treatments in order to keep your youthful appearance.

Clinical trials documenting Ellipse’s safety and effectiveness are carried out by leading doctors prior to the release of the product. The results of these tests are then published in respected, refereed medical journals. You are welcome to view these scientific papers on the Ellipse website at www.ellipse.org. The settings used for your treatment will be based on the settings recommended by the clinicians who carried out the clinical trials.