Technology
Three-pulse energy delivery: what it is and why it matters
In short
How does three-pulse energy delivery differ from a single pulse?
Three-pulse energy delivery splits the energy of one flash into three pulses with pauses, instead of one powerful pulse. The total energy is the same; what changes is how it is distributed over time. A single pulse delivers all of its energy at once, and the heating peak also falls on the skin surface. If the pulses are equally long, each of the three peaks is lower. The pauses give the epidermis time to partly cool: a thin epidermis needs about 10 ms for this. A large follicle cools more slowly. How much heat stays in the follicle between pulses depends on the length of the pauses. The principle itself has been known for a long time: in IPL, pauses between pulses are used to protect the skin. In IPLASER technology one flash contains three pulses, and Innovatione devices have worked this way since 2013. Handpiece cooling solves a similar task, but by a different method: it removes heat. The pulse shape works together with cooling, not instead of it. The specialist chooses the treatment parameters. Below: how this looks over time and what it changes for a salon.
How do three pulses differ from one?
| Parameter | One pulse | Three pulses with pauses |
|---|---|---|
| Total energy | The same | The same |
| Peak power | High | Lower at the same duration of each pulse |
| Surface heating | One high peak | Three smaller peaks with pauses |
| Epidermis cooling | Only after the pulse | Also during the pauses between pulses |
The energy is the same. What changes is how it is distributed over time and, with it, the peak load on the skin.
Why are pauses needed between pulses?
A thin epidermis and a large follicle cool at different rates. An epidermis about 0.1 mm thick needs roughly 10 ms. The pauses are chosen so that the epidermis has time to partly cool.
Whether heat stays in the follicle until the next pulse depends on the length of the pause and the size of the follicle.
The aim is the same as for handpiece cooling: to protect the skin. The difference is that here it is achieved by the pulse shape, not by removing heat.
What does this change in practice?
- At the same total energy, the peak load on the surface is lower.
- In principle, this delivery shape leaves headroom in total energy. The specialist chooses the working parameters according to the protocol.
- The pulse shape works together with cooling, not instead of it.
The step-by-step scheme is in the section “Three pulses” on the IPLASER technology page.
The pulse shape does not replace the choice of wavelength. How this is done is covered in the article on 755, 808 and 1064 nm. For how IPL differs from a laser, see IPL, IPL hair removal and lasers.
Where IPLASER fits in
The iPRO MINI hair removal handpiece is not a diode laser or an alexandrite laser; it uses IPLASER technology. It is IPL with narrow-band filtering and three pulses per flash, and this is how Innovatione devices have worked since 2013. How the technology works and how it differs from lasers is described on the IPLASER page.
What three-pulse energy delivery does not do
- It does not replace the choice of wavelength. Skin type and hair type still determine the parameters.
- It does not cancel cooling. They work together.
- It does not guarantee the result of the treatment. The result depends on the protocol and the specialist's qualifications.
- It does not make the device universal. The wavelength range matters more than the pulse shape.
Questions and answers
What is three-pulse energy delivery?
A way to split the same energy into three pulses with pauses between them, instead of one powerful pulse.
Why are pauses needed between the pulses?
A thin epidermis cools faster than a large follicle. The pauses let the skin partly cool between pulses. How much heat stays in the follicle depends on the length of the pause.
Is the total energy reduced?
No. The total contribution is the same. With the same pulse duration, the peak power of each pulse is lower.
Does this replace handpiece cooling?
No. The pulse shape and cooling work together and address the task from different sides.
Where is three-pulse energy delivery used?
In IPLASER technology: IPL with narrow-band filtering and three pulses per flash. Innovatione devices have used it since 2013.
Does the pulse shape affect the choice of wavelength?
No. Skin type and hair type determine the wavelength, regardless of the energy delivery shape.
This material describes how the technology works and is not a promise of a clinical result. IPLASER is an Innovatione technology; the specialist chooses the treatment parameters. Reviewed on 14 October 2026.
