How many BBL or laser treatments do I need?

The number of BBL or laser treatments required to achieve optimal results varies depending on skin type and the condition being treated. Small lesions such as angiomas can be treated with a smaller number of treatments, while long-established skin conditions such as rosacea may require multiple treatments.

For some individuals, a single BBL or laser treatment may be sufficient to completely remove an angioma or freckle, especially if the person is fair-skinned and the skin lesion is markedly different from the underlying skin.

However, for more complex skin conditions such as rosacea or severe solar damage, a series of treatments may be necessary to achieve the desired outcome.

In general, four treatments are recommended for rejuvenation and pigment treatment, while six or more treatments may be necessary for scar remodelling and rosacea treatment.

In some cases, Medicare will pay a rebate toward rosacea and vascular laser treatments; this is limited to four times in a 12 month period.

Individuals with darker skin types may require additional treatments to achieve optimal results.

Treatment for onychomycosis (fungal nail infection) is a course of four sessions a week apart, which sometimes needs to be repeated after several months. Other treatments are usually four weeks apart, although laser scar treatments may be six weeks apart.

Not all BBL and laser treatments lead to “perfect” results. It’s useful to examine photos taken before and after treatment to understand its effects. There’s often a dramatic improvement after a single treatment, and some people decide this is all they need. Others will seek the best treatment for face pigmentation and might require a series of multiple treatments to get the result that satisfies them. It’s worth noting that when comparing BBL versus IPL treatment, fewer BBL treatments may be required due to its ability to deliver more energy to the skin with less discomfort.

In darker skin, it’s important to tailor the BBL or laser treatment parameters to avoid over-treatment and burning. Often, more gentle treatment settings are required, which may result in a longer overall treatment course requiring more sessions.