Photo Facial: The New FotoFacial In Los Gatos, CA
Serving Cambell, Saratoga, San Jose, and Silicon Valley
Serving Cambell, Saratoga, San Jose, and Silicon Valley
A Fotofacial is a versatile, light-based therapy representing the gold standard in intense pulsed light (IPL) technology. The Fotofacial procedure is a full face, neck, and chest treatment using high energy rapid output pulses of visible light that effectively improve facial redness and flushing, acne, and the visible signs of sun damage and aging.[1]
World-renowned, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr., is the pioneer and inventor of the Fotofacial. He was the first to introduce this innovative, non-invasive method to rejuvenate and improve the skin without any downtime. Today, his Los Gatos and Beverly Hills-based practice, Advanced Aesthetic Dermatology, elucidates the citizens of Silicon Valley and Southern California with revivifying rays of BroadBand Light (BBL) and IPL technology.
We serve Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area & South Bay and Monterey/Carmel Peninsula – our patients come from all over!!! To learn more about this remarkable procedure, contact Dr. Bitter and schedule a consultation. To speak with our front office, please call (408) 358-5757.
IPL FotoFacial is an advanced light-based skin rejuvenation treatment that uses Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology to target and correct sun damage, redness, uneven skin tone, and visible signs of aging. By delivering precise bursts of broad-spectrum light deep into the skin, IPL stimulates collagen production while breaking down pigmentation and vascular irregularities. The result? A brighter, smoother, and more youthful complexion—without surgery or downtime.
Developed by Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr., the inventor of the world-renowned FotoFacial, this treatment represents the gold standard in IPL skin therapy.
Your Fotofacial specialist will learn about your goals and skin type to determine if Fotofacial is a good match for your needs. A cooling gel is applied to the skin before treatment to enhance comfort. Using BroadBand Light (BBL), an advanced form of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology, your provider delivers precise pulses of light energy to the targeted areas. This light penetrates the skin, stimulating collagen production, breaking down dark spots and visible blood vessels, and improving overall skin tone and texture. After treatment, a gentle cooling application soothes the skin, and patients can return to their normal activities immediately.
Fotofacial with BBL is a fast, easy, and effective procedure. Perhaps it is because of this that we get so many questions about how it works. We address our most common procedural inquiries below.
Dr. Bitter can use Fotofacial treatments on any area of the skin. This innovative treatment is especially effective for improving the appearance of the face, neck, chest, and hands.
Each Fotofacial treatment takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
There is minimal discomfort during the Fotofacial treatment. For those who have more sensitive skin, Dr. Bitter can use a topical anesthetic cream 30 to 60 minutes before treatment. There is no discomfort after the treatment.
Dr. Bitter recommends multiple Fotofacial treatments to ensure the best results. The number of treatments needed will vary based on your skin type and your desired results. Most patients receive a series of five treatments at three-week intervals to impart optimal improvement.
The sun’s rays are among the most harmful contributors to aging. Sun damage often leaves spots, fine lines, irregular pigmentation, and an uneven skin tone. Significant sun exposure can also lead to skin cancer. Fotofacial treatments improve sun-damaged skin on the face and body.
As you age, your skin loses elasticity and begins to sag to some extent—no matter how well you take care of it. Fotofacial treatments boost collagen levels to tighten the skin, add plumpness, and improve sagging. The results are smoother, healthier, and younger-looking skin.
Those who suffer from rosacea understand how embarrassing this chronic facial condition can be. Fotofacial treatments dramatically reduce the overall redness, flushing, and dilated capillaries.
Over time, capillaries beneath the skin become raised and may even burst. Fotofacial treatments effectively get rid of these damaged capillaries without harming the surrounding tissue.
The BroadBand Light used in Fotofacial offers a low-impact alternative to ablative laser treatments. The versatile BBL device is virtually painless and requires no post-procedural downtime. When applied to the target areas on your skin, the technology provides high energy rapid output that diminishes the site of many age-related skin irregularities.
Dr. Bitter will assess your candidacy for a Fotofacial at your personal consultation. The best candidates for Fotofacial treatments are:
Fotofacial treatments are non-invasive and require no downtime to recover. Immediately following a Fotofacial treatment, the skin may appear red and flushed. Tiny capillaries may appear more visible. Brown spots may appear darker. However, all of these changes gradually fade over a period of a few days. Most patients can return to work and resume normal activities as soon as the treatment is complete.
Following your Fotofacial treatment, you can expect to see a gradual decrease in overall redness, flushing, and dilated capillaries. People with visible aging and sun damage can expect to see a decrease in fine lines and wrinkles. Patients report smoother skin, smaller pores, and reduced sunspots. Many people with rosacea see an improvement in breakouts, allowing them to decrease or discontinue their medications.
These improvements are gradual and will be more visible after each treatment. Dr. Bitter recommends four to five treatments for the best outcome. Some patients may find they benefit from an ongoing series of Fotofacial treatments.
Fotofacial with BBL produces satisfying results that last anywhere from one and two years. Patients who undergo regular Fotofacial treatments can expect to see continuous age-defying results.
With 20 years of pioneering research and extensive experience in sun damage treatment in Los Gatos, CA, with light, Dr. Bitter is the world’s expert and premier authority on using intense pulsed light (IPL) and BroadBand Light (BBL). There is no one more knowledgeable or experienced in treating the skin with light than Dr. Bitter. His true passion is to give his patients the healthiest, clearest, and youngest-looking skin at any age.
Dr. Bitter is a sought-out teacher of the Fotofacial approach. He’s taught Fotofacial BBL Preceptorships across the country—from Seattle to New York City and beyond! For the past two decades, Dr. Bitter has lectured extensively around the world regarding his breakthrough treatment. He has trained over 6,000 doctors on how to use light therapy to make skin healthier, clearer, brighter, and younger-looking Sun Damage treatment in Los Gatos, CA.
Many of us fear aging. The years are hard on our skin. But you can fight back against time with the power of BroadBand Light! Rejuvenate your skin with Fotofacial at Advanced Aesthetic Dermatology. Your future looks bright.
Discover more of Dr. Bitter’s amazing work by reading our blog.
To schedule your personal consultation at Advanced Aesthetic Dermatology, we encourage you to call (408) 358-5757 and contact us today. As a board-certified dermatologist and innovator of the original world-renowned Fotofacial procedure, Dr. Patrick Bitter is dedicated to helping his patients rejuvenate their appearance and achieve healthier, clearer, and younger-looking skin.
Pairing your Fotofacial with complementary treatments like Hydrafacial MD or dermal fillers gives you maximum control over your results, delivering comprehensive rejuvenation. Our highly trained specialists will help you develop a treatment protocol tailored to your unique needs.
Hydrafacial MD
Hydrafacial MD is commonly paired with Fotofacial to enhance its results. Hydrafacial is an exfoliating procedure to clear away dead skin cells and replenish vital nutrients. As BBL’s light energy penetrates the skin’s surface to even your tone and brighten your appearance, Hydrafacial provides superficial rejuvenation to the skin’s uppermost layers so fine lines and wrinkles fade away.
Dermal fillers are a great addition to your Fotofacial procedure because they help enhance your rejuvenated, youthful facial features. The gradual loss of collagen in our skin causes the rise of wrinkles and fine lines in our complexion. Using our suite of dermal fillers, Dr. Bitter and his team can erase those trouble spots from your visage. Whether around your cheeks or under your eyes, age-related volume loss can make you appear older than your years. Fillers are exceptional at restoring this lost volume in your face by adding organic solutions that add contour and definition to your facial profile.
If you would like to see how Hydrafacial MD and dermal fillers can enhance your results from a Fotofacial, please don’t hesitate to schedule a personal consultation at our Los Gatos offices today!
The exact cost of a Fotofacial treatment depends on the number of areas that need improvement and the amount of skin damage that needs to be repaired. During your personalized consultation, Dr. Bitter will evaluate your skin and determine the total price for your Fotofacial treatment.
Watch our specials page for the latest package deals!
BBL is a light-based skin therapy that utilizes multiple bands of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) to achieve its rejuvenating results. This is quite unlike laser light therapy, which sprays narrowly focused electromagnetic energy at a single wavelength. BBL is more like pure white sunlight, containing multiple wavelengths that we can all observe in the multicolored rainbow when its rays are refracted through falling water droplets. It is because BroadBand Light is polychromatic that it is such a versatile modality. BBL can effectively treat rosacea, acne, vascularity, fine lines, and uneven texture.
BBL is an improvement on the traditional IPL Fotofacial. As the popularity of laser and light-based modalities have risen in recent years, many IPL devices of varying degrees of quality have come onto the market. BBL is the gold standard of pulsed light procedures. It is a one-of-a-kind flash lamp technology that is enhanced by interchangeable Smart Filters, Finesse Adapters, and precision thermoelectric cooling so that your physician can customize your treatment and tailor your results.
A series of no fewer than three to four BBL treatments are needed to derive maximum benefit from the procedure. Many patients have found that ongoing treatments lead to healthier-looking skin. Your experienced cosmetic dermatologist will make the best recommendation.
Many patients notice an improvement in their skin’s tone and texture after just one treatment, with continued enhancement over the course of 4–5 sessions. Sunspots and redness fade gradually as the skin heals, revealing a brighter, more even complexion.
Dr. Bitter has extensive experience treating diverse skin tones. While IPL works best on Fitzpatrick skin types I-III, patients with medium to darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV-VI) may benefit from alternative laser or light therapies tailored to their unique needs.
Yes! IPL and BroadBand Light (BBL) treatments help reduce inflammation, kill acne-causing bacteria, and minimize post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. For patients with severe acne, Dr. Bitter may recommend combining IPL with other medical treatments for optimal results.
IPL is a gentler, non-ablative treatment that improves skin tone and texture with little to no downtime. In contrast, laser resurfacing removes layers of skin to treat deeper wrinkles and scars, requiring a longer recovery period. Learn more about our laser treatments here.
Absolutely! Regular maintenance treatments, a high-quality skincare routine, and daily sun protection will help prolong your IPL results. Many patients choose to schedule annual or semi-annual Fotofacial sessions to keep their skin looking its best.
