Sciton BBL treatment in Birmingham
Broadband Light Treatment
At Midland Skin we offer Sciton BBL treatment for patients in Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Worcester and the Midlands.
Quick Facts about Sciton BBL
Best for
Pigmentation, redness & rejuvenation
Treatment
Broadband light
Recovery
Minimal; allow 1–2 days
Sessions
Usually 3–5 initially
Provider
Doctor or practitioner
Price
See below
Sciton BBL (Broadband light) in Birmingham and Solihull
Sciton BBL (BroadBand Light) is an advanced form of intense pulsed light (IPL). Hundreds of different colours of light penetrate the skin with each flash. The light targets unwanted pigmentation, redness, thread veins, sun spots and freckles. Treatment aims to even out skin tone. Periodic maintenance treatment can help sustain the improvement.
The dermatologists at Midland Skin use BBL to correct skin conditions and maintain healthy-looking skin with minimal downtime. Most patients see brighter, more even-looking skin after a course. Maintenance treatment can limit the return of pigmentation and redness, although it does not prevent new sun damage.
What does BBL treatment do?
Sciton BBL is an advanced skin treatment with the following benefits:
Clearing pigmentation with BBL
BBL is effective at reducing darker freckles, age spots and sun spots and improving the general colour of skin which may have darkened with time from ageing and sun exposure.
Reducing facial redness and thread veins with BBL
BBL can reduce redness, including general redness, thread veins, broken capillaries and Poikiloderma.
Rejuvenation photofacials with BBL
A course of BBL treatments can give clearer, brighter and smoother-looking skin reducing the need for any injectable treatments. In addition, BBL often improves the appearance of fine lines and pores.
Improving skin quality with BBL
BBL can improve fine lines by stimulating collagen production and elastic fibres. Alongside treating reds and browns, it may improve overall skin quality.
Treatment of rosacea with BBL
BBL is a well-established treatment for redness, rosacea and thread veins. The symptoms of rosacea that improve with BBL:
- redness
- thread veins
- flushing
- burning
- inflammatory papules
Treatment of acne with BBL
BBL helps reduce inflammation in the skin and improve active acne spots and reduce redness from acne. This is known as Forever Clear treatment. A course of 6 to 8 treatments is required.
Beverley Barton
How does Sciton BBL treatment work?
BBL is short for Broad Band Light and is an advanced form of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), used to tone and, with regular treatment, possibly to slow visible skin ageing.
Sciton is the name of the company that has pioneered this device.
During treatment, a handpiece comes in contact with the skin, and hundreds of colours of light are flashed at the same time. Your practitioner at Midland Skin will carefully select the cut-off filters, energy levels, cooling and other settings to your skin’s needs. The light simultaneously targets and clears multiple elements in the skin, such as red areas, brown areas and collagen.
A small pilot study found that BBL shifted gene expression in aged skin towards a more youthful pattern (see below).
The science behind the long term results
In a retrospective study of 15 patients who had regular BBL over eight to nine years (Bitter & Pozner, 2013) reported that blinded physician assessors judged the patients’ photographs to look younger than their actual age at the end of the study. Patients did not have any surgical procedures. In 9 years, those who had BBL regularly did not appear to look any older despite the passage of time—having a BBL treatment once or twice a year for maintenance of good skin called Forever Young BBL. Forever Young BBL is one of the best non-invasive treatments that someone can do to slow down the ageing process.
Research from Stanford University School of Medicine explained how skin is rejuvenated after BBL treatments.
In a pilot study from Stanford (Chang et al., 2013), three full-face BBL treatments in women over 50 shifted the expression of over 1,000 genes towards a pattern seen in younger skin, with clinical improvement in fine lines, redness and pigmentation and more uniform collagen on biopsy.
These findings suggest BBL may do more than treat pigment and redness.
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What is Forever Young BBL?
Forever Young BBL is the name given to a full-face BBL for maintaining and preventing skin ageing once the skin has been corrected with an initial course of BBL treatments.
All full-face BBL treatments, whether part of the initial correction course or done two to four times a year for maintenance, aims to support collagen and maintain skin quality.
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Results, treatment course and maintenance
How effective is Sciton BBL?
Most patients see an improvement in pigmentation, redness and overall tone after a course, and periodic treatment helps maintain it. Response varies, and a particular outcome cannot be guaranteed. BBL can be used on most body areas.
How many treatments are required?
It is possible to see a difference after one treatment, but a series of treatments is usually required. A course of 3 to 5 treatments is generally initially needed to correct the skin from pigmentation and redness. Each treatment is given once every 3 to 4 weeks. Certain individuals can require more than five treatments in the initial course.
How often is maintenance treatment required?
Following initial treatment, a treatment every 3 to 6 months keeps the skin in its best condition.
How can I ensure I get the best possible outcomes with Sciton BBL?
Ensure you plan to have enough treatments and consider a maintenance schedule after that. Also, avoid the sun and use appropriate skincare alongside treatment.
BBL may suit people with sun damage, pigmentation or redness, and some choose periodic treatment (e.g. two times a year) to maintain skin quality. Suitability is confirmed at assessment.
BBL is most popular on the face, and the neck, decollete and chest & back of the hands are other top areas. The entire arm from the shoulder to the wrist and the upper back are also commonly sought treatments.
Who should consider Sciton BBL?
Sciton BBL is a treatment for anyone with sun damage, sun pigmentation and redness, and signs of ageing that they would like to improve. BBL is also for those who want to actively reduce skin ageing and keep their skin healthy looking.
- Sciton BBL may suit younger patients in their 20s and 30s who want to maintain skin quality alongside sun protection.
- Sciton BBL is also popular among middle-aged patients with skin issues that cause an uneven complexion. However, it is also suitable for those with healthy skin who have looked after their skin and want to keep their skin healthy and slow down ageing of the skin.
- Sciton BBL can be considered for darker skin types up to type 5, including patients of Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and Hispanic descent, with appropriate filter and energy selection. The risk of pigment change is higher in darker skin, and test-patching may be advised.
Which skin types can be treated with Sciton BBL?
Sciton BBL is safe on skin types 1 to 5, white through to darker complexions, including Asian and Indian skin types.
Which areas of the body can be treated with Sciton BBL?
Sciton BBL can be used on most areas of the body. Body skin heals more slowly than the face and may need more sessions. Commonly treated areas include:
- Face
- Neck
- Décolletage
- Chest
- Back of hands
- Forearms
- Arms up to the shoulders
Treatment Pathway for Sciton BBL
Initial laser assessment
Your skin concerns, medical history and treatment goals are assessed to decide whether Sciton BBL is appropriate for you.
Treatment Plan
Your clinician plans the treatment areas and discusses the likely number of sessions, expected outcome, recovery, aftercare and any suitable alternatives.
BBL Treatment
Once treatment has been agreed and planned, the skin is cleaned, clear gel is applied and the selected areas are treated with multiple flashes of light.
Review & Maintenance
Your response is assessed and further sessions or an ongoing maintenance schedule can be planned where appropriate.
What happens during a Sciton BBL treatment?
The doctor or nurse will clean the skin and apply a clear gel. The treatment comprises multiple flashes of light. The treatment is relatively quick and takes 15 minutes for the face and 10 minutes for the neck.
On the day: what to expect FAQs
How should I prepare for BBL?
Detailed instructions on how to prepare for BBL are provided once you have made a reservation for this treatment. In summary, it is essential to avoid the sun for 4 weeks before treatment and to be absolutely tan-free when you have treatment. Also, you must not have any fake tan on the skin either. You should arrive at your appointment make-up free. You should stop retinoids about a week before BBL treatment.
How does treatment with Sciton BBL feel?
Some people feel relatively little, and others feel a hot snap. However, there is no lingering discomfort afterwards.
After treatment: recovery and aftercare FAQs
How will I look after treatment?
There may be some redness that can last between 1 to 8 hours. Freckles may appear darker before breaking up. There may be swelling on the face, especially around the eyes.
What happens after treatment?
The skin may appear red for a few hours after treatment, and swelling can be minimal or last one or two days in some people (longer in those over 45y). It is best to allow one or two days to recovery from your first treatment, and it is possible to wear make-up on the same day if required and return to work. Brown spots may darken and take a week to resolve. Occasional bruising can occur too, which lasts one week.
What is the aftercare?
It is important to stay out of the sun and regularly use a high factor sun block before and between treatments.
What is the downtime with Sciton BBL?
For most individuals, there is minimal downtime, and you can apply make-up and sunblock immediately and get on with day-to-day activities.
What can I do to ensure I get the best possible outcome?
Begin using sunscreen before the treatment and commit to using it regularly for at least three months after the treatment.
Use sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of 30 or more daily and reapply every two hours when in the sun.
Avoid sun exposure for at least two months after the treatment.
Don’t wear make-up until your skin has peeled, and avoid strenuous exercise until your skin has healed.
Follow any other skin care advice your Dermatologist has provided to you.
Alison Freeman
Why choose Midland Skin for Sciton BBL?
Midland Skin was among the first clinics in the Midlands to offer Sciton BBL, and our practitioners have used BBL and other IPL systems for over ten years. Settings are selected for each patient rather than applied as a standard protocol, which matters for both results and safety.
Because we also have several other lasers, treatment is not limited to BBL. Where another device suits the problem better, we can use it or combine them.
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Ready to get started? Book a consultation with our team at Midland Skin. Friendly, expert advice tailored to you.
Fees for Sciton BBL & BBL Hero
BBL (Broadband Light) Show pricing
Book ConsultationInitial laser assessment with a consultant
Up to 25 minutes
Initial laser assessment with aesthetic practitioner
Laser rejuvenation – Small area
Laser rejuvenation – Intermediate area
Laser rejuvenation – Face (excluding eyelids)
Laser rejuvenation – Face and neck (front and sides)
Laser rejuvenation – Face, neck & décolletage
Laser rejuvenation – hands
Laser rejuvenation – forearms
Laser rejuvenation – upper arms
Laser rejuvenation – lower legs
Laser rejuvenation – Thighs / upper Legs
References used for this article
- Chang ALS, Bitter PH Jr, et al. Rejuvenation of gene expression pattern of aged human skin by broadband light treatment: a pilot study. J Invest Dermatol 2013 (133): 394-402.
This is the first study that shows that Sciton BBL reactivates genes that get turned off in the skin as we age. Three Sciton BBL treatments were given, which caused a boost in genes associated with youth – the rejuvenated genes included several known key regulators for longevity, lifespan and tumour suppression. - Bitter, P, Pozner, J. (2013) Retrospective Evaluation of the Long-term Antiaging Effects of Broadband Light Therapy. Cosmetic Dermatology, February 2013, 34-40.
A blinded panel of physician evaluators determined that BBL-treated patients appeared 9 years younger than their actual age. Patients who maintain a regular regimen of BBL treatments annually can reduce and delay the long-term signs of skin ageing in a way that looks very natural. BBL-treated skin ages more slowly than non-treated skin. 1-3 treatments per year for 9 years after 5 or more treatments at the start. Maintenance BBL reduces the speed of ageing.
About the Author
This page has been written and/or medically reviewed by Dr Sajjad Rajpar, Consultant Dermatologist and Medical Director of Midland Skin, Birmingham.
Dr Rajpar is on the GMC Specialist Register in Dermatology and has over 20 years’ experience in clinical dermatology. He provides clinical oversight to ensure the information on this page is accurate, balanced and consistent with current dermatology practice.
Dr Sajjad Rajpar
Date last updated: 28th Sep 2026
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Expert, consultant led care in dermatology, skin surgery, eyelid surgery, lasers and aesthetics.
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The content on this website is provided for general information only. It is not, and must not be treated as, medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation for any particular treatment. We make reasonable efforts to keep information accurate and up to date, but medicine and technology change, and content may not reflect the most current evidence, guidance, product information, or individual practice. You should not rely on this website to make decisions about your health or treatment. Always seek personalised advice from an appropriately qualified healthcare professional. Any examples, images, testimonials, and outcome descriptions are illustrative only. Results vary between individuals and no outcome can be guaranteed.
