What is a BBL? And why is it the new skincare obsession?

The world of skincare and aesthetics is constantly evolving.

Where once a face lift was the only way to gift yourself a brighter, more youthful look, nowadays there are countless advanced, less invasive, treatments on the market, developed to tackle just about any skin concern.

BBL is one of them – and no, we’re not talking about the bum lift.

Broadband Light Therapy has been around for a few years now, and is used to treat (deep breath) sun damage, age spots, broken capillaries, redness, signs of ageing, acne, rosacea and uneven skin tone. That’s a lot. 

Valerie Osborne, Advanced Skincare Specialist and Founder of Elysium Skincare Clinic, says that BBL is considered the “gold standard” in light therapies, and that’s why it’s become so popular in recent years. 

“It’s an excellent choice for individuals seeking noticeable improvements in skin clarity, tone, and texture without the need for invasive procedures or lengthy downtime,” she says. 

“There’s often talk about BBL being the same as IPL, but I can say from firsthand experience that they are not comparable. As an experienced skincare and laser specialist with over 30 years in the industry I have had the privilege of working with some of the world’s leading IPL devices and have achieved some amazing results… Up to a point!” 

So what is the difference? Well, while both treatments use pulses of broad-spectrum light to treat skin imperfections, Broadband Light Therapy is far more advanced and can rejuvenate and refine the skin in ways that IPL can’t. 

BBL uses a patented dual-lamp system, allowing for higher energy output, better results, and more customisation to ensure each patients’ individual skin concerns are met. 

With BBL, the light penetrates more evenly, reducing the likelihood of patchiness that can sometimes occur with traditional IPL. This means that fewer sessions tend to be needed before results are seen. 

An advanced cooling system also ensures that the process is more comfortable compared to IPL.

Valerie says that these days, clients are looking for treatments that make them look better without drastically altering their appearance. Gone are the days of (well, mostly) invasive skin treatments that leave you sore and uncomfortable, taking refuge at home desperately waiting for your face to heal.

These days, people are looking for treatments with minimal downtime and subtle results. Something that’ll make people think you look great, without thinking that you’ve had anything done.

“BBL fits perfectly into this trend, providing subtle but noticeable improvements over time, which helps maintain a more youthful, vibrant look,” she says. 

“As clients become more informed about skincare and the benefits of maintaining healthy skin at a cellular level, non-invasive treatments like BBL are becoming the go-to choice for those wanting long-term skin rejuvenation without the downtime or risks of surgery.”

But how does it work? The BBL treatment process is similar enough to IPL, though you’ll probably need fewer sessions.

First, you’ll be asked to wear special kinds of glasses to protect your eyes from the light. Then, your therapist uses a wand-like device to target specific areas of the skin, and deliver the broadband light pulses to the upper layers of skin.

Patients have reported varying levels of pain from BBL, but most say that the treatment feels like a rubber band snapping across the skin.

An average session will last around 20-30 minutes, depending on the issues being tackled, and clients are able to return to everyday activities right after a treatment (wearing sun cream, of course).

While BBL can address a number of skin issues, it’s not recommended for everybody. Those with fair to medium skin tones can enjoy the treatment with minimal risk, but clients with darker tones (Fitzpatrick types IV to VI) may be best avoiding due to the potential for hyperpigmentation and inflammatory issues post treatment.

Valerie explains: “Because darker skin has more melanin, there’s a higher risk of side effects like hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or even burns. The excess melanin can absorb more of the light energy, leading to complications. For these clients, we often explore alternative treatments that are more tailored to their unique skin needs or prep their skin for longer with home care products pre-treatment.

“Also, clients with Melasma, which is a complex pigmentation disorder, can be triggered or worsened by heat and light exposure. Since BBL uses intense pulsed light to target pigmentation, it may actually exacerbate melasma, causing the pigmentation to deepen.”

So there you go, everything you need to know about Broadband Light Therapy. It’s a lot less invasive than a Brazilian Butt Lift, for sure.

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