November 2011 – London Premier Laser

Planning for your summer 2012

It may seem a long, long way away – but you should prepare for summer 2012 now. No, this doesn’t mean booking your holiday in the sun just yet (although, you can if you like) but preparing your skin by investing in a permanent hair reduction solution – laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal is ideal for any section of your body where you have unwanted or unsightly hair, such as on your legs, armpits, chest or back. Instead of shaving or waxing, having laser hair removal ensures that you have smooth, hairless skin summer after summer.

Preparing for your summer now by getting laser hair removal in the winter will ensure that any red patches clears up in good time after your course of treatments. Sometimes, the skin can be left slightly red where intensive laser removal is required.

Treatment length can vary, but generally you will expect about 6 weeks of regular treatments. This is so that all of your hair will be removed, making it a thorough and cost effective hair removal solution.

Starting now and planning ahead is a great idea, and will get your skin hair free and in perfect shape for those glorious summer months which will be long awaited.

The only thing you’ll need to think about now is, where do you fancy flying off to?

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair removal works by beaming an invisible, high concentration beam of light directly into the skin. The constant heat of the laser means that the light can penetrate deep into the layers of the skin where the hair follicle, or the hair root is situated.

There are four types of lasers which can be used for laser hair removal. This includes the

Ruby Laser
Alexandrite
Diode
Nd: YAG

Different lasers or wavelength are used for different skin types and tones. The Alexandrite 755nm wavelength is used on lighter skin tones where the Nd:YAG 1064nm is used on darker skin tone. The Ruby laser is fairly old and not used as much these days as the technology has improved since the early day of laser hair removal.

Top of the range lasers like the Candela Genltemax Pro operate on the 755nm and 1064nm wavelength so can treat a wide range of skin types and tones.

The beam of light can then cauterise or destroy the hair follicle so that the strand of hair is safely killed without damaging surrounding tissue or skin. This is a very safe procedure which is also virtually painless. Some people report a mild discomfort during the treatment, like an elastic band snapping on the skin.

how laser works The skin may be left slightly red afterwards, but this returns back to normal within a few hours. This makes it one of the most effective and efficient method of hair removal to date.

In order for the laser hair removal to be fully successful, a series of treatments is advisable. This is because laser hair removal works when the hair is in the active growth phase, which 90% of hair usually is.

However, to be sure that the full area of skin remains hair free, the remaining 10% also needs to be treated. This means that some people book in for a series of five, six, seven, or even eight sessions to be completely thorough.

How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last? [Updated 2020]

If you are thinking about getting laser hair removal one of the first questions on your mind is probably…

“how long does laser hair removal last?”

It is a fair question to ask before spending hundreds or thousands of pounds of your hard earned money on laser hair removal.

It is also one of the most popular questions we are asked in our London clinics and call centre every day.

Unfortunately the answer you don’t want to hear is….

….. “it depends!”

Sadly, that is the only answer any laser clinic can give you. This is because your results will depend on:

your skin type and tone
your hair
your response to treatment
hormone levels

All of these combine to determine how effective your results will be.

If your friend is ecstatic or disappointed with their long term results it doesn’t mean you will have the same good or bad results.

Is there anything you can do to guarantee you the best longer lasting results possible?

Yes, there are a few things you can do to give yourself the best chances for long lasting success and not waste your money. You should try and do the following:

Firstly you will need more then one session (usually 6-8).
Set realistic expectations. No clinic can remove 100% of hair – forever.
Use top of the range medical grade lasers.
Find an experienced practitioner you trust and feel comfortable with and give feedback every session.
Be consistent and committed to your appointments.

How many times do you need laser hair removal?

Most people require 6-8 sessions spread around 6 weeks apart. A couple of laser sessions will destroy some of your hair permanently but the rest of your hair will remain unaffected by the laser. This is because the laser can only kill hair actively in the growth phase of the hair cycle.

How much hair do you lose after your first laser session?

When you attend a hair removal session for say your underarm. Only around 15% of your underarm hairs will be in the growth phase. This means only 15% of the total underarm hairs can be destroyed at that session.

The laser or practitioner cannot tell which of the hairs are in the growth phase. That is why the laser will go over the whole area.

Why is my hair growing back after laser?

At your next laser session six weeks later the laser will destroy another 15% of your hair (hair in the growth phase).

This is how and why multiple sessions are needed.

It is also why you will experience hair growth in between sessions. Fewer and fewer hairs will grow back as you have more sessions. After 6-8 session all the hairs should have been destroyed.

Using the underarm example, by session 6 or 8 all your underarm hair would have been in the growth phase at some point during your previous sessions, so would have been destroyed.

As you can see, one or two laser sessions will destroy some hair but leave many.

It would be a waste of money if you were expecting total hair loss.

Does hair grow back thicker after laser hair removal?

Some people only want a slight reduction in hair loss. They are happy to continue shaving. They will only have 3-4 laser sessions to get their hair under control.

Slightly less hair grows back and the hair that does, usually is not as thick and is much finer then before. This makes managing the hair much easier.

The bikini area is where this option is usually chosen.

Is it worth getting?

People that get the best long term laser hair removal results have lighter skin and darker hair. This is because lasers are most effective when there is contrast.

The contrast between the light skin and dark pigment help the laser light beam find the root of the hair follicle and destroy it.

The laser recognises melanin found near the base of the hair follicle.

That is also why people with grey hair, very light blonde hair and red hair are not suitable candidates for laser hair removal due to the lower levels of melanin found in lighter hair. Laser also finds it difficult to recognise red pigment in the case of red hair.

How long does laser hair removal last for dark skin?

Until recently, people with darker skin posed problems for laser technology and hair removal. Todays lasers are more advanced then the earlier models.

They use a much deeper wavelength called Nd:YAG which gets around any issues previously experienced. The same results can now be experienced regardless of skin tones.

How can I speed up the shedding after laser hair removal?

During the course of your laser hair treatment you will find that it usually takes about 5-14 days for hairs to shed. Exfoliating, tweezing and plucking can be done but are not necessary as the hair will fall out naturally.

After the shedding period a re-growth phase of around four weeks happens. This is the reason treatments are set approximately six weeks apart to allow for shedding and regrowth.

After 6 to 8 sessions further sessions are often unnecessary for a few months for most. However, this depends on how successful the procedure has been in removing hairs over the months.

Is laser hair removal permanent?

Lasers can remove up to 90% of hair permanently. Because of the way skin and hair types affect the results as mentioned earlier it is hard to accurately predict how long hair removal will last. We have used two case studies below to highlight how laser hair removal can work.

CASE STUDY 1

Lucy is 30 years old and is from Japan. She has dark black hair and a light skin tone. She makes an ideal candidate for laser hair removal. She has purchased 6 sessions of a full body laser hair removal package.

She is using a clinic with the latest medical grade lasers, has an experienced practitioner and has not missed or cancelled any sessions. After 4 sessions spaced 6 weeks apart she is virtually hair free and is delighted with the results.

Fast forward four years and Lucy is still hair free but needs a top up session once a year or every two years to keep on top of her results.

CASE STUDY 2

Anna is 25 years old she is from Cyprus. She has thick curly black hair and a darker tanned Mediterranean skin tone.

She has purchased 8 sessions for full legs and bikini. Like Lucy she is using a clinic with the latest medical grade lasers, has an experienced practitioner and is consistent with her appointments over the course of a year.

As she gets to the end of her 8^th session, she is still experiencing hair growth albeit very reduced. She decides to purchase a top-up package of 3 to remove the remaining hairs. In total she has now had 11 sessions and is finally happy with her results.

Fast forward a few years and Anna is having a top up session once a year to keep any hairs that are growing at bay.

Takeaways

As you can see laser works differently for different people.

Laser can reduce hair growth by up to 90% which for most people this has a really big impact on their lives.

Compare this with the the non stop cycle of shaving and waxing and most people are happy to invest in laser as a long term solution to their hair removal needs.

It certainly saves money and time in the long run.

Next steps

If you live in London and are looking for a laser hair removal clinic using the latest Candela lasers, has experienced practitioners and has been performing laser hair removal across its 9 London clinics since 2008, then get in touch with us for a free consultation.

We would love to hear from you.

Things To Consider Before Opting For Laser Hair Removal

There are various things that you should consider before opting for laser hair removal as a permanent method of hair removal.

The first is your budget. You should consider laser hair removal as an investment in your body. This is because you will never have to buy shavers, razors, or wax strips again. The initial one off cost will be regained within a short period of time. If money is an issue, you may want to consider treating one small area of your body at a time.

The second thing that you should consider is where you decided to have your treatment. You should always opt for a qualified, experienced and professional technician who you can talk to about your requirements. You should also visit the area where you will be having the treatment, and be sure to ask questions along the way. You should find out about the kind of laser that the clinic uses.

A final consideration is the type of hair you have as well as your skin type. This is also something which the technician should discuss with you and their expertise should help you to determine the best course of treatment. For example, If you have very pale skin and fair hair then you will need a different treatment then someone who has tanned skin and thick hair – it may be best to space out your treatments so that your skin is not exposed to too much of the laser in one go.

Again, the technician will be able to help you with all of these considerations before you agree to the treatment.

Different Laser Methods

There are many options available when considering laser treatments. These have become very popular in recent years due to both their celebrity endorsements and their safe and effective results.

These methods include laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, microdermabrasion, vascular vein removal, green peels, cellulite treatment, anti wrinkle, semi permanent makeup and even advanced skin peels. Four of the most popular treatments are discussed here.

Laser hair removal is the process of removing unwanted hair from your body. This is a great way for both men and women to remove hair on their chest, back, legs, arms and face. It can take place in just an hour and is virtually painless.

Skin rejuvenation is a non surgical face lift which helps to tighten and smooth skin on any area of the body, usually conducted on the face. This results in younger looking skin without the need for invasive surgery, a highly popular choice.

Microdermabrasion is a non invasive exfoliation of the skin. It is particularly valuable to those people with acne, red patches of skin or wrinkles as it can stimulate right into the skin. However, even people without skin conditions can get this treatment. Some people decide to use this as a kind of pick me up treat before a special occasion, as it can result in glowing looking skin!

Vascular vein removal is a laser treatment which anyone can use to remove unsightly veins in the skin. It stops the blood flow through the vein, which is perfectly safe, which can diminish the appearance of that vein. This laser treatment is also popular for people who are worried about their vein appearances.

What To Expect When Getting Laser Hair Removal

You may think hair removal laser treatment is a daunting prospect, but many thousands of men and women have undergone the groundbreaking treatment which isn’t as scary as it first sounds.

When you arrive at the salon or clinic you will naturally feel nervous, but there is nothing to be scared of. Relax where you are told to go and then when called in, the area of skin being treated will be washed properly and prepared. You will probably be asked to wear safety goggles and you should expect others in the room to also wear these.

The laser energy source will then be turned on and prepared. Laser Hair Removal involves the beaming of a laser right into your skin, where the hair follicle starts. This will allow the follicle to die so it no longer grows. The laser is incredibly accurate and there is hardly any pain; some report it to feel like an elastic band snapping against the skin, others say they don’t feel anything but slight warmth and discomfort.

Depending on the area of skin being treated, the laser procedure might only last half an hour up to an hour. For really small areas it might only take a couple of minutes for the follicle to absorb the energy from the laser beam.

After your procedure, you might need a further course of treatment but you can usually return to normal as soon as you leave the clinic! This makes it quick, worthwhile and highly effective.

Traditional Methods of Hair Removal vs. Laser Hair Removal

There are many different type of hair removal and you may have found yourself trying just about every method in the book. There is shaving, waxing, using an epilator, bleaching and even sugar waxing! Over the years, these methods have had varying success.

The problem with many of these methods is that they simply do not last long enough. Shaving may be a temporary success but the very next day you may find yourself needing to shave again. Waxing can last slightly longer, but can be painful to endure and DIY kits are often messy and unreliable.

Laser hair removal is not a new idea, but it is growing in popularity because of the permanent, lasting effects and benefits. After a short course of laser hair removal treatments, your hair can be removed from its root. This means no re-growth and no unsightly chunks of hair.

Laser hair removal is therefore a more cost effective solution as there are no longer any needs to buy shavers or waxing strips. It is also very useful for the modern woman (or man!) who leads a busy life and doesn’t have time to worry about their hair removal. Treatments can last around an hour so you can even go in your lunch hour.

As mentioned above, laser hair removal is not just a woman thing. Many men have the treatment to remove hair on their back, face, chest or even arms and legs.

Month: November 2011