LASER HAIR REDUCTION
Everything you need to know about laser hair reduction before booking or coming in for a treatment Two Dimensions Laser&Skin Clinic. Laser hair reduction works on just about any area of the body where smooth skin is desired… underarms, face, neck, back, legs, shoulders, bikini line, you name it. Our clinic offers the finest in laser hair removal for men and women….What to expect during the consultation and treatment? Prior to your first treatment, you will have a consultation. During the consultation, we will determine your skin type, review any medications you have been taking and get a general health history.
If you are on medications that could create photosensitivity, or if there is an issue in your medical history that could result in a less than ideal treatment, we will either perform a patch test or inform you that laser hair reduction may not be safe or effective at this time.
Following the consultation, if we determine you are a good candidate, we will proceed with treatment starting with a patch test (typically done inside the arm). While we wait a few minutes to see what effect the test has on your skin, we will ask that you specifically let us know what hair you want removed. Excessive sun exposure either before or after laser treatments is not advised and we will not perform laser hair removal on individuals who have had or will have excessive sun exposure immediately before or immediately after laser treatments. Individuals who go to tanning beds are never good candidates for laser hair reduction as this concentrated form of UVA light is considered by many to be far more dangerous than traditional sun exposure.
Each person receiving a laser treatment will be wearing protective eyewear. You will still be able to see a flash of light, but your eyes will be completely covered and protected. The laser technicians wear a type of eyewear, as well. During the procedure only the areas to receive laser treatment will be exposed. We are always mindful of your comfort and your peace of mind. There won’t be any surprises as we will let you know ahead of time what to expect.
We ask that you arrive on time for your appointment. We also ask that you shave the area(s) you would like to be treated day before the procedure. Patients are typically much more comfortable shaving themselves, however if you have problem shaving your hair in less accessible areas, we can do it for you. We also ask that you are freshly showered or bathed with completely clean skin, without lotions, creams or fragrances of any kind before coming in.
Following a treatment you may feel a little sensitive, but generally people just feel very clean and sleek. More good news is you don’t need to wait for hair to grow in like waxing, you can continue shaving any hair you see (it will be reduced immediately).
Contraindications and pretreatment care prior to any laser treatment:
New patients will first have a consultation with a therapist who will perform a brief history to determine that laser hair reduction can be safe and effective for the client. Skin irritation, sunburn, rashes, etc. would be a contraindication to laser hair reduction. Some medications that cause photosensitivity could also be contraindicated. Those include : Retinoids (such as Roaccutane) within 6 months prior to the laser treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is an issue of perception in our industry; while everyone calls it Laser Hair Removal, the correct term is actually Permanent Laser Hair REDUCTION. There are no lasers that have achieved permanent hair removal, only permanent hair reduction (Lasers have not been used long enough to claim a lifetime of effectiveness). One can achieve anywhere from a 70% – 95% reduction in hair growth, although we have had cases where hair is completely gone for over 15 years, we cannot give a 100% guarantee the hair will be gone forever. These results will be influenced by certain conditions such as skin and hair colour and hormones. For example, pregnancy can result in totally new hair growth in the same area.
Laser therapy works by using focused beams of light to remove hair. The heat from a laser is absorbed by your pigment (melanin) of hair follicles, the roots of hair responsible for its growth. By targeting follicles, laser treatment achieves permanent hair reduction and loss as part of your skin responsible for growing hair is dealt with. This makes it so much better than techniques like shaving which remove hair above the root, allowing it to grow back quickly, and is much less painful and much more long-lasting than waxing. At any given time, 20–40% of the hair in a particular area may be in a growth phase. Therefore, more than one treatment needs to be scheduled, preferably at 4–8-week intervals. With multiple treatments, we can ensure that all hair follicles are being disabled.
While laser hair reduction can be performed on virtually any skin colour, the colour of the hair is the most important factor. The laser i attracted to the melanin (the dark pigment) in the hair follicle. Thus, darker hair is treated most effectively. If your hair has a blonde, red, or dark grey root, you may not be a good candidate for laser hair reduction.
No. We actually recommend that you shave the area to be treated. Waxing, bleaching, tweezing, or any other method that removes the root of the hair must be discontinued at least two weeks prior to treatment. Since the laser targets the root of the hair, it must be present for the treatment to be effective.
None. All areas of the face or body can be treated with the laser that is suited for your skin type.
While everyone’s pain tolerance is different, the majority of clients do not think it is painful. Patients report that treatment with our lasers is much more comfortable than other lasers and far more comfortable than waxing. Our lasers are equipped with a cooling tip that makes the treatment both comfortable and safer to the skin than other lasers. Because the lasers we use have a very large spot size, treatments are very quick. Any discomfort one experiences is over very quickly.
The percentage of hairs removed per session varies in different parts of the body, with areas of thin skin (e.g. bikini and armpits) generally showing a better response than areas of thick skin (e.g. back and chin). Approximately a 15-25% reduction in hair growth can be expected with each treatment. Treatments are repeated every four to eight weeks and our laser-certified aesthetician will let you know when your next treatment will be. The hair that re-grows tends to be lighter and finer in texture. Usually, after the first treatment, you will notice a marked difference in the thickness and density of the hair that regrows. Individual treatments will differ according to skin and hair colour. The lighter the skin and darker the hair, the better the results will be. On average it’s about 6 treatments but one may need more depending on certain conditions. Treatments should be every 4-8 weeks apart depending on the growth rate of ones hair.
It’s not necessary, although some of our clients prefer to apply numbing cream in advance of the session. The therapist will advise you of any particular types that will be suitable for you.
Laser hair removal / reduction is a ‘lunch time’ procedure. There is generally no recovery or down time. Patients can return to their normal activities immediately. These lasers do not injure the dermis so the risks are extremely low. As with any procedure, you will be given an informed consent to read over that explains all the possible risks. Sun exposure or tanning beds and certain medications could possibly make the skin more sensitive to the thermal energy of the laser. For this reason, it is important to seek laser hair removal / reduction treatment only from a medical office that requires information about medications, health history, etc. prior to receiving a laser hair removal / reduction treatment. One should keep the area to be treated out of the sun 1 month before a treatment and at least 1-2 weeks after a treatment. Sun exposure will interfere with ones treatment by causing hypo and hyper pigmentation and sometimes even burn marks. If this occurs the pigmentation is not permanent, but can take up to 6 months for the marks to disappear. So it’s important to wear 30+ SPF daily!
Understand the Difference Between Laser Hair Removal and IPL
What is the difference between IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and Laser Hair Removal?
We are aware that there is some confusion for patients in understanding the difference between those types of those types of hair removal systems. The main advantages of using Laser over IPL based technology are: Laser technology is simply much more effective, and achieves substantially better results that IPL. Ninety percent of patients have permanent hair loss after 3-5 sessions. Lasers are far more precise, and can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Each laser pulse takes a fraction of a second and can treat several hairs at a time. Laser hair removal can be used to treat larger body areas. Laser settings can be adjusted to suit your specific skin tone and hair colour. Lasers are safe for all skin colours, whereas IPL can cause burns on darker skin tones.
The main differences between Laser and IPL, used as a hair reduction treatment, mainly lie in the technology that each use to generate the light, as well as the different properties of the light being used. Laser Laser machines produce a single wavelength of light (pure light consisting of one single colour and form), which has a very concentrated beam and specific target (the melanin in the hair follicle). The type/colour of your hair and skin will determine the tuning settings of the machine and will be discussed with you during your test patch consultation. Laser machines are tuned to emit the exact wavelength required to treat your hair.
IPL’s are not lasers. The machines produce a broad spectrum of wavelengths (like a light bulb) and cannot be focused to a concentrated beam. Because a range of different wavelengths are dispersed at a variety of depths only some of these will be effective for hair reduction. A more shallow penetration in comparison to laser means that deeper, thicker hairs are not treated effectively. In addition, some of the light can be absorbed into the surrounding tissue as well, leading to heating of the pigment in the skin. This is why there is more of a risk of burns for a darker skin type.
Laser machines create more heat directed at the hair follicle than IPL systems, hence achieving better results. Because the heat is absorbed by the follicle, and not the skin, there is a decreased risk of burning when using Laser machines. This also makes Laser a safer option for darker skinned individuals. Laser treatments may be more expensive than IPL, but the effects are much more prominent. IPL’s have an important place in treatment of the skin too. The non-specific nature of an Intense Pulsed Light is what makes the treatment so effective when we are targeting skin problems, such as superficial pigmentation and fine blood vessels.
There are things to REMEMBER
• Avoid sunbathe or use sun beds within a 30 day period prior to treatment.
• Do NOT use Self Tanning Products 2 weeks prior to treatment.
• Avoid glycolic or chemical peels on the treatment area for 30 days before laser procedure.
• You should not have electrolysis within a 30 day before laser hair reduction and throughout the entire treatment period.
• Avoid waxing, threading, pulling out hair with tweezers within a 30 day period prior to the initial treatment and throughout the entire treatment period.
• You should not bleach the hair within a 30 day period prior to the initial treatment and throughout the entire treatment period.
• Do NOT shave within a 7 day period prior to your patch test. Be sure to shave the day before your schedule treatment.
• Do NOT apply gels, oils, deodorants or perfumes to the area to be treated. •You must inform you practitioner of any adverse reactions or side effects from previous treatments as well as any changes in your medical history (illnesses or operations) or medications (including herbal and those bought over the counter-St John’s wort or calendula tea).
POSTTREATMENT CARE:
• Avoid sun exposure or sun beds for a minimum of 4 weeks after treatment.
• Remember to use a sun protection factor of at least SPF 30 for a minimum of 4 weeks.
• Avoid glycolic or chemical peels on a treated area throughout the entire treatment period.
• Refrain from using saunas, steam rooms, hot baths/showers or take excessive exercise for 48 hours after treatment.
• Avoid swimming for 48 hours after treatment.
• Avoid make up on the area for 24 hours.
• Do not pick or scratch the area.
• You must keep the treated area moisturised, (we recommend Aloe Vera Gel).
• In hair removal treatments the hair may appear to continue to grow for 1 – 2 weeks after treatment before falling out – this is normal. You may shave the area after 48 hours.
• Keep your appointment for review as discussed with your doctor/nurse.
• In the event of side effects or concerns, please contact us immediately on 01482 212 351