IPL Treatments with InMode – Lumecca
Years of sun exposure leave their mark as brown spots, freckles, and a general unevenness of tone, often alongside redness across the cheeks and nose. Lumecca is an intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment that addresses brown and red discoloration across a whole area rather than spot by spot. Patients visit the Beverly Hills office from West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Century City, and across Los Angeles for Lumecca treatment of the face, neck, chest, and hands.
Dr. Kami Parsa trained first as an ophthalmologist, completing his residency at USC’s Doheny Eye Institute, and he is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Los Angeles Society of Ophthalmology. Intense pulsed light demands respect near the eyes, because the light can pass through closed eyelids and injure the iris, which is why treatment stops at the bony rim of the eye socket and protective eyewear is worn throughout. That caution comes naturally to a surgeon whose training began with the eye itself.
“IPL is wonderful for sun damage, but it is light, and light does not stop at the skin. Around the eyes, where I treat and where I stop matters as much as the settings I choose.” — Dr. Kami Parsa
What Is Lumecca?
Lumecca is an intense pulsed light device made by InMode. Unlike a laser, which emits a single wavelength, IPL emits a broad band of light. Filters narrow that band so the energy is absorbed mainly by melanin in brown spots and by hemoglobin in small blood vessels. The absorbed light turns to heat, which breaks up pigment and collapses fine vessels while sparing the surrounding skin.
IPL devices are FDA-cleared for treating benign pigmented and vascular lesions. Because IPL targets pigment, it is generally suited to lighter and medium skin tones, and it is not used on tanned skin.
What Lumecca Can Treat
- Sun spots, age spots, and freckles
- Uneven skin tone from sun damage
- Facial redness, including redness from rosacea
- Small broken capillaries and spider veins
- Poikiloderma on the neck and chest
Common treatment areas are those most exposed to the sun, including the face, neck, chest, hands, and arms. Individual vessels and isolated spots are sometimes better treated with the 532 laser, while texture and wrinkles need a resurfacing treatment such as Clear + Brilliant or CO2 resurfacing. Larger leg veins are addressed with Vasculaze.
Is Lumecca Right for You?
Lumecca may be a good fit for adults who:
- Have sun damage, brown spots, or facial redness across a broad area
- Have lighter to medium skin tones and are not tanned
- Can avoid sun exposure before and after treatment
- Want visible improvement with little downtime
IPL is not appropriate for tanned skin or recent sun exposure, and it carries a higher risk of burns and pigment changes in darker skin tones, so other options are recommended for those patients. It is also not used over active infections, and it is avoided during pregnancy. Melasma can worsen with light-based treatment and needs a different approach, explained on the Hyperpigmentation page. Tell your provider about isotretinoin use, photosensitizing medications such as certain antibiotics, and a history of cold sores. Any new or changing spot should be evaluated before treatment.
What to Expect During Lumecca Treatment
Your visit begins with a consultation with Dr. Parsa or licensed members of his clinical team, who review your skin type, medications, and recent sun exposure. Protective eyewear is worn by everyone in the room, and treatment near the eyes stops at the bony orbital rim. A cooled applicator is placed against the skin, and each pulse feels like a brief snap of heat, similar to a light rubber band flick.
A facial session usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Redness and mild warmth are common and usually settle within a few hours. Over the next day or two, brown s
pots typically darken and look like coffee grounds, then flake away over the following week. Treated vessels may fade or briefly change color. Most patients return to normal activities the same day. Many people see improvement after one session, and a series of two to three sessions spaced several weeks apart is common for more significant sun damage.
Risks and When to Seek Care
Common effects include redness, mild swelling, temporary darkening of pigmented spots, and brief stinging. Less common risks include blistering, burns, lightening or darkening of the skin, and cold sore outbreaks. These risks rise with tanned or darker skin. Contact the office if you notice blistering, crusting that spreads, signs of infection, or pigment changes that do not fade. Seek prompt care for eye pain, light sensitivity, or any change in vision after treatment.
Why Choose Dr. Parsa for Lumecca in Beverly Hills
- Eye Safety Protocol: Protective eyewear is standard, and treatment stops at the orbital rim rather than crossing onto the eyelids.
- Skin Type Screening: Skin tone, recent sun exposure, and medications are reviewed before any light-based treatment.
- Lesion Evaluation: Spots are examined before treatment so nothing suspicious is treated cosmetically.
- Matched Technology: When a laser, a resurfacing treatment, or a different approach would work better, you will be told.
- Complementary Planning: Lumecca can be combined with injectables or skin tightening as part of a broader plan.
Schedule a Lumecca Consultation in Beverly Hills
If sun spots, uneven tone, or facial redness are affecting how your skin looks, a consultation will help you decide whether Lumecca fits your skin type and goals. Visit the office at 465 N Roxbury Dr, Suite 1011, in Beverly Hills, or request your consultation online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lumecca
Medically reviewed by Kambiz K. Parsa, M.D. on
- How many Lumecca sessions will I need?
- What areas can be treated?
- How should I prepare for treatment?
- What does recovery look like?
- Is Lumecca safe for darker skin tones?
- How is Lumecca different from a laser?
- How quickly will I see results?
Many patients see improvement after one session, and two to three sessions spaced several weeks apart are common for more significant sun damage. The number depends on your skin, the concern being treated, and the settings used.
Go To TopThe face, neck, chest, hands, and arms are treated most often, since these get the most sun. Treatment stops at the bony rim around the eyes.
Go To TopAvoid sun exposure and tanning for about four weeks beforehand, including self-tanner. Tell your provider about any medications that increase sun sensitivity and about recent isotretinoin use.
Go To TopExpect redness and warmth for a few hours. Brown spots usually darken over one to two days and flake off within about a week, and most patients return to normal activities right away with daily sunscreen.
Go To TopIPL targets pigment, so darker or tanned skin carries a higher risk of burns and pigment changes. Patients with darker skin tones are usually guided toward other options, which your provider will review at your consultation.
Go To TopIPL uses a broad band of light to treat widespread pigment and redness, while a laser uses a single wavelength for more targeted work. Compare options on the Laser Skin Treatments page.
Go To TopSun damage and skin complexion results can be seen a few days after the first session. The skin will continue to look younger and more brilliant over time with most visible results after 1-2 weeks. Having multiple photofacial sessions will improve the final result. For vascular treatments such as spider or leg veins, results can be seen in up to 2 weeks.
Go To TopBefore and After
