IPL for décolletage and neck
The décolletage shows sun damage and crepiness earlier than the face because the skin is thinner and rarely protected. At ALBA Skin & Beauty Clinic in Cirencester it is treated with the Zemits QuantumPeak ELOS system, combining pulsed light to clear pigment and redness with radiofrequency to firm the skin. A course of three sessions four weeks apart is typical.
3
SESSIONS TYPICALLY NEEDED
XX
PRICE
4 weeks
SESSIONS INTERVAL
How it works
The same session addresses two different problems. Light at the pigment and vascular wavelengths clears sun spots and the mottled redness common on the chest, while radiofrequency warms the dermis to stimulate collagen, which is what improves the crepey texture.
What it treats
Sun damage and mottling on the chest, the V-shaped pigmentation from years of open necklines, crepey texture, fine lines between the breasts and loss of firmness on the neck.
RESULTS TIMELINE
Pigment clears within 2 weeks. Firmness builds over 8 to 12 weeks.
AVERAGE NR OF SESSIONS
3
TREATMENT TIME
45 minutes
SESSION INTERVAL
4 weeks
DOWNTIME
Minimal. Pigment darkens and flakes over several days.
After Treatment
Do
✔️ Apply SPF 50 to the chest daily, not only in summer
✔️ Let pigment flake naturally
✔️ Moisturise the area twice daily
✔️ Wear a high neckline in strong sun for 4 weeks
Don’t
✖️ No sunbeds or sun exposure for 4 weeks
✖️ No scrubbing the treated area
✖️ No saunas or steam for 48 hours
✖️ No acids or retinoids on the area for 5 days
Is it right for you?
Suits most people with sun damage or early crepiness on the chest. Results here are slower than on the face because the skin is thinner with fewer structures to regenerate from, and it is fair to expect improvement rather than transformation.
NOT SUITABLE IF YOU ARE
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Recent sun exposure, sunbed use or fake tan in the last 4 weeks
Taking photosensitising medication, including isotretinoin within the last 6 months
Active infection, broken skin or an outbreak of cold sores in the area
Photosensitive epilepsy
History of keloid scarring
Tattoos or permanent makeup in the treatment area
Under 18
Questions people ask
Why does my chest look older than my face?
Skin on the décolletage is thinner, has fewer oil glands and is almost never protected with SPF the way the face is. It also has fewer hair follicles and glands to regenerate from, so damage accumulates faster and repairs more slowly.
Can the neck and chest be treated in the same session?
Yes, and they usually are, since the pigmentation pattern typically runs continuously from the jaw down. It is priced as one area at ALBA rather than two.
How long do the results last?
The pigment cleared does not return, but new sun damage forms without daily SPF. Most people have a maintenance session once a year, and the collagen improvement from the RF gradually softens over 12 to 18 months.