Posts Tagged ‘Laser Hair Removal’

There are many clinics, medical spas, and doctor’s offices that are now offering laser hair removal treatments all over the world. As a former engineer for a laser manufacturer, I can honestly say that I’ve actually installed lasers in people’s houses and even in their basements and that these people actually ran hair removal clinics from these locations. This may sound scary, but believe it or not, the technology is so advanced that it is certainly not as unsafe as it may sound.

Still, you may wonder what are some good resources for finding a reputable hair removal clinic in your area. Well, my first recommendation is to go to: www.laserhairremoval.com. This is a great resource for not only locating a clinic, but answering any questions that you may have. You can even ask questions and have them answered by knowledgeable people who can then refer you to a clinic in your area.

You can also go to: www.hairlasers.com. They also have good information and can refer you as well.

As a laser engineer and clinical laser technician I can say without any bias, that Candela makes the ideal hair removal lasers. They are preferred due to their superior epidermal cooling system (computer-controlled cryogen spray), and their larger spot sizes. The large spot size means fewer pulses and less time spent getting treated; and less time means less pain. The cooling system is best because it is the only epidermal cooling method that has parameters that can be charted, so every treatment session produces the same results. It is also the safest method due to the fact that it does not vary with the operators speed or technique.

In order to find a clinic that uses Candela lasers, you can go to the Candela website, and click on the “Locate a Practitioner” link at the top-right of the page.

It has been my experience that these are the best resources available for locating a good, reputable laser hair removal clinic in your area, however it is important that you still do your research, ask questions, and compare them to find the best. Google each clinic that you find and see if there are online user reviews or complaints, but most importantly learn about the particular laser or light-based devices they use. Remember some clinics offer “Laser hair removal” and they don’t even own a laser, but an Intense Pulsed Light device or IPL. Ask them for the make and model of the hair removal device they use and research it. For hair removal, is should either be a diode laser such as the “Light Sheer”, an alexendrite laser, such as the Candela GentleLaser, or a long-pulsed Nd:Yag laser, such as the Candela GentleYag. If you are not familiar with the device or the manufacture, check it out on the internet and make sure it’s an actual laser before proceeding. IPL devices are not very effective at all for removing hair.

The desire for a fuzz free body has recently sparked a growing interest in hair removal services.  Women have shave their legs and under their arms for generations and waxing, sugaring, and other methods of hair removal have been around a while too and these methods are now used on more body parts than ever and by men as well as women. It’s no surprise that technology has found a way to step into this growing part of the beauty industry as well by introducing us to the concept of laser hair removal.

The cheapest way to remove unwanted hair is probably still a razor.  It has the advantage of requiring no power, can be done at home, and rarely requires assistance unless the hair is in a hard to reach place such as the back.  A disposable razor can be bought for less than a quarter a piece so using a new one every day for a year could keep the body hair free for under a $100.  The down side is the twenty minutes it takes to shave ‘everyday’.

Waxing and other professional hair removal services such as sugaring and threading are not required as frequently.  The cost of waxing is dependent on the size and complexity of the area to be waxed and on the provider of the waxing service. A small area such as the chin or upper lip can cost fewer than $20 while a leg or back wax might easily be priced at $150.  These methods are repeated at 2 to 4 week intervals depending on the growth rate of the hair in the waxed area.  At a mid-range price of $60 and a schedule of once every three weeks, that adds up to over $1,000 a year to stay smooth.  The down side is that the hair has to grow back out to a shaggy fuzz between each service.

Laser hair removal, like waxing, is often priced based on the size of the area being treated and the provider of the service. A single treatment on the lower legs (ankle to knee) can cost anywhere from $80 to $300 dollars depending on the provider. It takes 5 to 15 treatments over an extended period of time to see the results of laser treatments. The length of time between treatments is based on the growth cycles of the hair being removed so treatments are performed about once a month. Assuming mid-range price of $150 a treatment and 10 treatments that would mean it would take 10 months and $1,500 to have fuzz free lower legs. 

This makes laser treatments seem the more costly approach to hair removal. But looking at the costs over a three year time frame changes the picture. At one year out the cost of using a razor everyday would be cost $100 and take 121 hours, waxing would cost $1,000 and take 17 hours, and laser treatments would cost $1,500 and take 10 hours.  Move the calendar out three years and shaving cost $300 and uses up 363 hours, waxing costs $3,000 and uses up 52 hours, while laser treatments have still only cost $1,500 and taken up 10 hours.

Anyone considering laser hair removal should consider their hair removal goals and find out from their provider how effective the treatments are likely to be for them. Dark hair and light skin is the best combination for hair removal. Blonde and grey hair is mostly unresponsive to laser removal treatments. Dark skin usually calls for extra treatment sessions. 

The only person that can decide if laser hair removal is worth the price is the person getting the treatments. Someone that is a good candidate for the service will save time and money in the long term. Someone that is a bad candidate will be throwing both away.

Unwanted hair, one of women’s worst nightmares! Currently a lot of men and women are recurring to many types of ways to remove their unwanted facial and body hair; razors, wax, tweezing and creams. But not all of us are aware, and if we are, are not so sure about doing it, of laser hair removal. Does it really work? How long does it last? Well, here’s the scoop.

Laser hair removal is the usage of laser energy to greatly reduce hair production. They do this by producing heat upon the hair and introducing it into the hair follicle which inflammates it and sends it into a “resting stage”. Doing this is a little tricky in terms of time, the laser has to be upon our hair long enough to heat the hair but not too long that it actually begins to damage our skin, concurrently burning it. This is why there are three types of laser hair removal depending on our skin type and thickness of our hair.

One of the laser hair removal systems, Sona laser hair removal consists of piercing our skin with a strong laser and removing the root of the hair. The second type of laser hair removal would be Alase laser hair removal debilitates the hair root stimulating re growth of thinner and finer hair thus increasing treatments until hair is completely gone. The last system, Epila laser hair removal, which is a personal system we can use in our own homes, emits the same kind of laser as the first two systems, but it does not work on very dark skin types.

Sometimes we may think that because it is a laser treatment, there are only so many of our body parts they can be produced on because of skin sensitivity and laser strength. But really, we can have laser hair removal on most of our body parts. Treatment areas mainly consist of bikini line hair, facial hair, underarms, back hair, arms, legs, chest and abdominal hair removal.

Now, while laser hair removal system can be effective, it can also be a little costly, prices ranging from $429 to $900 depending on the area or areas we desire to be treated. Also need to be taken into mind is the quantity of treatments needed to be completely successful, thus price ranging increasing over this.

As I said before, depending on the quantity of the treatment we will know how much it’s going to cost us, so how many treatments do we need to have in order to have our hair fully removed? Hair Removal Journal 2006 advises us that up to three treatments will be able to give us good results, averaging from person to person.

No matter which method we choose to remove our unwanted hair we should always make sure to talk to our physicians about it and make sure we choose an experienced laser hair removal doctor to ensure the safety of our skin and of ourselves.

One of the common questions and misconceptions associated with laser hair removal is the difference between laser and IPL (Intense Light Therapy). Many people are unaware that there is a difference, few understand how each works and the dangers associated.

IPL was originally created as flash lamps to treat other skin conditions (such as skin rejuvenation and thread vein treatment) and doctors and patients observed hair loss as a result. Therapeutic lasers were specifically developed to deliver premium hair reduction results.

SPL is another recently released hair removal technique and stands for Square Pulsed Light – it’s from the same family of devices as IPL or Intense Pulsed Light, but an SPL pulse lasts a fraction of a second longer. The light wavelength isn’t as intense, meaning it does the same job but your skin is less likely to be overheated and results may take longer.

In theory, laser hair removal , IPL and SPL all work in very much the same way. Both emit light to target the melanin (or colour) within the hair and kill the follicle. What characterizes laser and IPL is the light source and how it is distributed.

Lasers are single wavelength devices, meaning that the light source is focused and can target individual hairs. IPL on the other hand, emits a spectrum of various wavelengths meaning that the light source is scattered and not as targeted. Unlike authentic lasers, IPL is unable to use what is known as ‘selective photothermolysis’ (precise rapid heating of a select structure and surrounding areas ).

So, what does this mean for you? The spectrum of wavelengths emitted by IPL & SPL means many clients are needlessly exposed to unnecessary and or/ineffective radiation compared with the single wavelength from laser hair removal.

IPL hair reduction, unlike laser hair removal may cause skin damage of burning and scarring if not handled by a professional who knows what they are doing. As IPL nor SPL are not pin point accurate, the margin for error is much higher. Many also see inferior results and higher levels of regrowth from IPL as compared to laser hair removal.

The levels of pain experienced when undergoing laser hair removal, IPL or SPL are all very similar. The feeling is described as similar to being flicked by a hot rubber band. However, Candela lasers (used in most reputable clinics) features a dynamic cooling device in each machine to maximise client safety and comfort.

As laser hair removal IPL and SPL all target the hairs melanin, none are effective at treating grey, red or blonde hair. In the past, only IPL was successful at treating a range of skin types. This is no longer the case; laser hair removal now uses a range of lasers to treat the full spectrum of skin types.

Including:

 
Alexandrite lasers – Used to treat fair to mid toned skin with medium to course hair
Nd Yag – Used to treat darker types with course dark hair
Diode – Used to treat fair to mid toned skin and can also treat dark fine hair

If you’re looking for a permanent hair reduction solution, chose a reputable organization who use only medical grade lasers, these are specially designed for therapeutic use. Ensure all staff are fully trained to use the machines and the highest hygiene practices are up held.

IS IT WORTH GETTING BURNED FROM THE SIDE EFFECTS OF LASER HAIR REMOVAL?

As a light skinned person, who is interested in getting “Laser Hair Removal”, I am always looking into the potential benefits, and the side effects, -especially, the possibility that I might be “burned”!

(By the way, I have experienced many, different side effects from most of the other “safe and traditional” hair removal methods)!

First, I will weigh the possible side effects of “Laser Hair Removal. Finally, I hope to decide if I’m going to “bet the farm”, by trying the ‘latest and greatest’, “Laser Hair Removal” methods!

PLEASE, before listing the possible side effects, I would hope that a person uses: “common sense”: I sure hope that after reading this article, that a person will be more encouraged to choose a doctor with: the right credentials, along with a good track record (and, -not just because they’re the cheapest doctors in town)!

(1) FIRST SIDE EFFECT: I have read that there are short-term side effects, including redness and swelling. These are usually temporary and, as a rule -go away within one week.

(2) SECOND SIDE EFFECT: One should note that a person can truly get burned, from having this procedure -and not just from your burning pocket book! It is a rare, but strange phenomenon that (usually darker) people’s skin can get burned, if the skin absorbs the laser rays, instead of the hair follicle. You see, the darker skin absorbs the sun’s rays (when tanning) -so, I guess it makes some sense that this might happen while receiving “Laser Hair Removal”. What will happen if the skin does burn? Well, I will now try to explain this, along with other “Laser Hair Removal” side effects:

(3) THIRD SIDE EFFECT: This third, and more permanent side effect of “blotching” (or changes in pigment) can happen (especially, with darker skin). Thankfully, they say that this side effect, rarely happens! I will define the two types of changes in pigment, that may occur: “Hyper-pigmentation and Hypo-pigmentation. Hyper-pigmentation is defined as: the darkening of skin that might occur after laser hair removal treatment (similar to getting an “uneven suntan”). The opposite of the “uneven suntan effect”, is called: Hypo-pigmentation, which is defined: the lightening of skin that might (rarely) happen, after a laser hair removal treatment.

(4) FOURTH SIDE EFFECT: The “Laser Hair Removal” method does not completely (or permanently) remove the hair, as promised. Note: These ads also say that