Are you looking to treat sunspots, discoloration, scarring, or transform your skin? Let’s explore the differences between IPL and BBL treatments so you can decide which is right for your skin goals. At Revive Med Spa, we offer cutting-edge laser treatments to rejuvenate your skin and bring out its natural beauty.
What is the difference between an IPL & a BBL laser treatment?
By now, you may have heard the acronyms IPL & BBL when speaking about laser treatments – but what do these do? IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and BBL (BroadBand Light) are popular non-invasive laser treatments that target various skin concerns. Both use light energy to promote skin rejuvenation but differ in terms of depth, effectiveness, and treatment comfort.
Although these lasers do have some similarities, they also have many differences which allows us to provide a customized treatment for each individual.

What is IPL?
IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light – and that is exactly what it is! During IPL treatment, a flashing bright light will be dragged over the area of concern. When the light flashes, it heats the melanin and hemoglobin in your skin to trigger natural skin repair. As your skin is repairing itself, the outer layer will gradually shed revealing smooth, vibrant skin. Here are the main concerns it treats:
- Sun spots
- Acne scarring
- Enlarged pores
- Visible blood vessels
- Rosacea
What is BBL?
BBL, or BroadBand Light, is an advanced version of IPL that delivers high-intensity light with greater precision and effectiveness. Revive offers the latest and greatest in BBL technology, which includes a cooling feature which allows for a more comfortable treatment even though it is penetrating deeper underneath the skin’s surface.
This innovation enables the use of high-powered energy while causing only minimal pain, side effects and post-treatment downtime. BBL can address the same issues as an IPL but is much more effective and powerful, requiring fewer treatments with better results.
Which Treatment is Better for You: IPL or BBL?
The main difference between IPL and BBL lies in their effectiveness and versatility.
Feature Comparison
Feature | IPL | BBL |
---|---|---|
Effectiveness | Addresses surface-level issues | Targets deeper skin layers |
Comfort | Moderate discomfort | Enhanced cooling for comfort |
Number of Sessions | 3–5 for optimal results | Fewer sessions needed |
Best For | Mild to moderate concerns | More severe or broad concerns |
For advanced results with fewer sessions, BBL is often the superior choice. However, IPL remains an effective option for those seeking a simpler solution.
The Next Level IPL/BBL
The Forever Young BBL is the latest and greatest in BBL technology. This device is the only device that has been shown to change the expression of genes associated with aging, longevity, and increased lifespan.
With regular Forever Young BBL treatments, patients’ skin looks clear, smooth, and much younger.
Here’s how it works:
- Step 1: Primer Pass – addresses the overall appearance of the skin
Step 2: Correction- diffuse redness, telangiectasias, pigmented lesions, and sun spots
Step 3: PhotoFinish- Delivers light and heat to the deeper tissues for collagen stimulation
Treat the following issues with Forever Young BBL:
- Sun damage
- Irregular skin texture
- Acne and acne scarring
- Age spots
- Birthmarks
- Fine lines
- Freckles
- Rosacea
- Sagging skin
- Visible, broken blood vessels beneath the skin
The Downtime
Now that we have broken down the differences of each treatment, we can take a look at the downtime that follows. Both treatments are fairly quick and do not require much downtime. Most patients return to their daily activities right after their treatments. It is important to stay out of the sun and always wear sun protection while your skin is healing and beyond. You will notice with both treatments that over the following week or two you will begin to shed the dead skin, revealing bright, beautiful and fresh skin.
Give us a call 866.618.1523 to schedule your appointment today or book online below!