Laser Hair Removal: All You Need To Know

After years of shaving, waxing and suffering, you have just decide to go for a permanent, long lasting, hair removal method: The Laser but, for sure, you must have more doubts and worries now!

 

That’s absolutely normal, every time we are going to deal with a new situation or face a new treatment, our mind gets full of questions … Should I? Will It be? And so on …

The best thing you can do before deciding, it’s to find as much information as you can, clarify every doubt and if possible, find out other people’s experience with the treatment you are about to try.

To make things easier, here you will find the answers to the 10 most common questions about permanent hair removal in Singapore.

YES! All you ever wanted to know about Laser Hair Removal, is now at the reach of the tips of your fingers.

Let’s start …

Laser Hair Removal: Benefits, Side Effects, and Costs. FAQ

1) Is it the same IPL and Laser?

NO, both methods are considered phototherapy but the physic principles behind each one, as well their interaction with human skin are very different.

IPL is based on a high intensity, short duration pulse of visible light at certain wavelength while the Laser concentrates all the luminous energy on a single, coherent, light beam focused on a very small spot.

Even when both methods are effective for hair removal, Laser is usually preferred because is more flexible and allows a better control of the energy delivered to achieve hair removal.

 

2) How does Laser work?

The effect of Laser on hair removal is based on a very simple principle: Selective Photothermolysis, that means: If you kill the hair follicle (the area where the hair is formed), the hair will never grow again.

To kill the follicle a Laser with a given wavelength that affects only the hair structures but not adjacent skin cells, travels inside the hair and reach the follicle, there the light energy becomes heat. The sudden release of thermal energy may not be handled by follicle cells which literally are fulgurated, hence that single follicle loses forever its capability to produce new hair.

It’s important to remember that only the hair on Anagen phase (active growing) are susceptible to the Laser and, while in a given area there are several follicles on different phases; not all of them will be affected by the Laser at the same time, hence, it’s mandatory to expose the area to the Laser many times (usually between 3 to 5) in order to allow follicles on other phases to achieve the Anagen phase to kill all of them.

 

3) How many types of Laser may be used for hair removal?

There are many types of Laser which may be used for depilation, the most popular ones are:

– Alexandrite Laser

– Diode Laser

– Nd-Yag Laser

Each type of Laser has its own wavelength and physical characteristics, so it’s mandatory to correctly match the skin phototype with the best Laser for it.

Usually, the Laser/Skin phototype matches are as follow:

Alexandrite:

Wavelength 755 nm (Near-Infrared)

It’s safe on all skin phototypes (Fitzpatrick I-VI)

Pulsed Diode Array

Wavelength : 810 nm (Near-Infrared) (for pale to medium type skin)

It’s safe only with pale and intermediate skin phototypes

Nd:YAG

Wavelength : 1064 nm (Near-Infrared)

Initially intended for darker skin types, today it’s known that it’s effective and safe in all skins. (actually, it’s the most widely used)

Argon and Ruby laser are not longer used for hair removal due to the high rate of complications.

 

4) What is a skin phototype?

The skin phototype is the type of skin according to the melanin content; the most commonly used scale to define the skin phototypes is the Fitzpatrick’s one, which based upon skin color, eyes color, and reaction to sunlight exposure, groups the skin types on six different classes:

 

Phototype	Main Feature	Reaction to Sun Exposure
I	Pale white skin, blue/green eyes, blond/red hair	Always burns, does not tan
II	Fair skin, blue eyes	Burns easily, tans poorly
III	Darker white skin	Tans after initial burn
IV	Light brown skin	Burns minimally, tans easily
V	Brown skin	Rarely burns, tans darkly easily
VI	Dark brown or black skin	Never burns, always tans darkly

 

5) Am I a good candidate for Laser hair removal?

If you have unwanted hairy areas, you are a perfect candidate for Laser Hair Removal. There is no medical contraindications and the technique may be applied to both men and women; so if you are tired of waxing, shaving and wasting a huge amount of money dealing with that unwanted body hair, you are the perfect candidate.

At this point, perhaps the right question might be: Is this hair removal center a good candidate for me?

Investigate about their equipment, their personnel qualifications as well current patients’ satisfaction; ask the staff about how do they choose the laser for a particular patient and try to take a look inside to evaluate the available Laser equipment.

Remember, not every Laser is suitable for every skin and even when the method is well known and safe, a bad choice of the right equipment or a poor execution of the treatment may lead to severe complications as skin burns and pigmentation.

 

6) Is the Laser Depilation painful?

Laser hair removal is not painful, even when some patients refer some discomfort, it’s well tolerated and does not last more than the Laser session itself.

Some very sensitive people may experiment a heat sensation on the skin (light a minor burning) but it’s only transitory and completely tolerable.

 

7) Which are the most common complications of Laser Hair Removal?

Complications appears only when the Laser does not fit the skin phototype or when the depilation technique is poor and inaccurate, thus choosing a good Hair Removal center you must not worry about complications.

However there are some transient side effects you must be aware of. All of them leave no sequelae and are a normal reaction of the skin to the Laser. The most common are:

– Itching

– Redness (it might last up to 3 days)

– Swelling around the pore (it lasts from 1 to 3 days )

– Tingling

– Numbness

The above are the only acceptable side effects, any other sensation such as Scab formation, bruises, and pigmentation changes are signs of inappropriate treatment and means complications.

 

8) How long will it take total hair removal of an area?

It depends on the area and the total hair density. An average treatment takes between 3 and 6 sessions (groins, underarms, legs) with a range from two sessions (some eyebrows) up to 8 and even 10 (populated beard and mustache, hair affected by hormonal changes)

Usually, the sessions will be 3 weeks apart, so if you need 3 sessions to complete a treatment of the bikini area, the whole cycle will take 9 weeks. (3 sessions, one every = 9 weeks)

 

9) How much does Laser Hair Removal Cost?

Even when the initial cost seems to be high, if you evaluate long-term results you will see that until now, your expenses due to shaving and waxing are much more than the total cost of the Laser treatment.

The prices widely vary depending on the area to treat and the depilation center, however, only as a quick guide, the price by session starts at 50 US$ and may arrive up to 200 US$

 

10) Are the results really long lasting?

Laser technology is the one with the best long lasting results; after a complete treatment (which could take up to a year depending on the area), the hair density must be reduced to almost imperceptible.

The objective once all sessions have been completed, is to eliminate all the coarse hairs, with only fine hairs remaining (Laser is not designed nor intended to remove such tiny, almost imperceptible hairs).

Of all available methods, undoubtedly Laser Hair Removal is the best choice due to its effectiveness, security and long lasting results. Now you have resolved all your doubts, it’s time to experience it for yourself!

Over at ONLY Aesthetics, we provide Unlimited Lifetime Hair Removal Programs. Call us at 62204434/62354434 today to enquire!

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