Results of a Split Face Comparison conducted at the Department of Dermatology at Stanford University Medical Center (Volume 34 Issue 6, Pages 763 - 772, Published March 3, 2008) found that of nine participants who underwent three treatments each, using erbium resurfacing on one side of the face and intense pulsed light phototherapy on the other. They experienced no significant difference between the randomly assigned sides. The conclusion of this study was that patients preferred the light-based treatment because it resulted in less downtime.

BBL Photo Rejuvenation uses concentrated light to selectively target deep into the dermis without injuring the surface of the skin. It improves a range of cosmetic concerns including: discolourations, unsightly veins and redness. BBL has the added benefit of providing an overall "rejuvenated" effect to the skin and because the surface layers of the skin remain intact there is minimal downtime and less risk and discomfort than more invasive lasers such as the erbium MicroLaserPeel.

The MicroLaserPeel uses the power of heat and light in a targeted beam to remove and resurface the skin to diminish wrinkles, discolourations and other surface irregularities along with improving the overall texture and tone of skin. Removing the surface layers requires downtime for the skin to shed and fully heal, and carries a risk of infection, pigment changes and scarring. Another significant difference that cannot be overlooked is the cost! A MicroLaserPeel costs several times more than a BBL Photo Rejuvenation treatment