Technology and Treatment
Laser technology can sound intimidating, but in reality it is very straightforward and safe when practised by a skilled professional. This is always the case at Skin Medical.
Skin Medical’s laser hair removal procedure has been used to remove hair for over a decade and has been approved by the USA's Food And Drug Administration (FDA) for the achievement of permanent hair reduction.
Skin Medical is registered with the UK's Care Quality Commission and complies with the Health And Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010.
Laser hair removal technology
Laser light is uses the pigment in the hair, known as melanin is used to transmit light energy to the hair root where it converts this energy into heat that damages and disables the hair follicle, stopping hair from growing back.
Melanin exists in both hair and skin, but the frequency of laser hair removal is to target only the melanin in the hair. The scientific name for this principle is selective photothermolysis (SPTL).
The type of technology and equipment used are essential factors in achieving and maintaining a satisfactory result. Many high-street beauty salons and cosmetic centres use low-specification IPL (intense pulsed light) machines, which have limited success.
Skin Medical’s experts use diode lasers for hair removal: the LightSheer ET and the Lumenis One.
Diode lasers are widely believed to be the safest and most effective models in existence – and these particular models have an excellent reputation in the industry, regarded as the ‘gold standard’ in laser hair removal.
Cool tip technology
Skin Medical’s Lumenis diode lasers have a cool tip, which makes the procedure far more comfortable for patients.
As the laser is applied to the skin, the gentle, cooling contact reduces the sensation caused by the laser light.
Other advantages include:
- Recovery time - A diode laser uses pulses of light instead of a continuous beam - which means the targeted hair follicle is heated more quickly, but the surrounding skin is exposed to smaller amounts of heat. The treatment area therefore recovers more quickly.
- Dark skin treatment - Due to high levels of melanin in darker skin, it can be difficult to treat hair with lasers without affecting the skin around it. Because the diode laser has a longer wavelength than most lasers, it penetrates more deeply and safely and is less likely to damage the skin.
For more information about your suitability for laser hair removal, please visit our Introduction page.
For more information about laser hair removal for people with dark skin types, please visit our Dark skin types page.
Treatment
An initial course of 6 treatments is usually recommended, about 6 to 8 weeks apart.
The length and cost of each procedure varies depending on the size of the area being treated, but it is normally thirty minutes and longer for larger areas.
In smaller areas, such as parts of the face or neck, the actual procedure can take as little as 5 or 10 minutes.
For more information about the treatment itself, please read the Treatment advice section of this page.
For more information about laser hair removal for different body areas or genders, please visit our Male, Female and Transgender pages.
Results
Hair reduction is sometimes immediate, but most of the results should become apparent within three weeks of treatment and can be assisted by gentle exfoliation – such as a loofah or washcloth in the shower.
Any apparent new growth that occurs within 10 days afterwards is actually dead hair that will soon be shed.
Any new growth that occurs after about 15 weeks will be the next set of hair, which comes from the untreated follicles from other phases of growth. This means that it is time for further treatment.
To book a free consultation today, or request a quotation by telephone, please visit our Contact page.
Hair growth
After the initial course of procedures, patients will usually see a substantial reduction of hair in the treated area, representing the proportion of hair which was in the correct growth stage for treatment.
There are three phases in the cycle of hair growth:
PHASE |
IMPACT OF LASER TREATMENT? |
WHY? |
PERCENTAGE OF HAIR IN THIS PHASE AT ANY TIME? |
LENGTH OF PHASE? |
Anagen |
Hair growth can be disabled. |
The hair follicle is connected directly to the blood vessels and the hair has an abundance of melanin. |
85% |
Several weeks. |
Catagen |
None. |
The hair is no longer connected to the blood supply. |
3% |
Two weeks. |
Telogen |
None. |
The hair is preparing to fall out. |
12% |
Six weeks. |
Preparation
There are several steps you can take to make the process more comfortable and achieve better results.
These include:
- Informing your Skin Medical consultant about any medications or other treatments you are receiving.
- Avoiding sun exposure and tanning machines for 8 weeks beforehand.
- Not using fake tan.
- Not bleaching any hair.
- Not waxing, tweezing, plucking or threading; or using depilatory creams or electrolysis (as the hair must be in the follicle for treatment to work).
- Not exfoliating skin for a week beforehand, as this can make skin sensitive.
- Avoiding alcohol and aspirin for 24 hours before the procedure.
On the day of treatment:
- You should not use any perfumed soap or moisturisers on the skin.
- Ensure that the treatment area is closely shaved.
The procedure
Skin Medical’s clinical professionals ensure that laser hair removal is a quick, safe, straightforward process.
You will be provided with goggles to protect your eyes from the laser light; and your Skin Medical practitioner will ensure that the laser is set to the correct setting to achieve the best results for your personal situation.
Application can take anywhere between a few minutes and a couple hours, depending on the size of the area being treated. This will be fully discussed with a consultant when your procedure is organised, so that you know what to expect.
The sensation is most commonly described as being like a rubber band snapping the skin; and the laser’s cool tip will reduce any discomfort you may feel.
Aftercare
There are several steps you can take to help achieve the best possible results.
These include:
- Avoiding hot baths and showers (for 24 hours).
- Avoiding contact sports (for a week).
- Avoiding sun exposure and tanning machines (for 2 weeks).
- Moisturising with aloe vera or vitamin E, using light massage.
If there is anything you are unsure about, you should contact Skin Medical to obtain advice.
To book a free consultation today, or request a quotation by telephone, please visit our Contact page.
Skin Medical carries out all procedures at its superbly-equipped clinics, based in Manchester, Leeds, and consultations in Liverpool and Sheffield. For more details, please click here.