Month: November 2019

Many people get tattoos without knowing it may affect their laser hair removal. We see clients every week with a new tattoo and have to tell them we are not able perform laser hair removal over the area where the fresh tattoo is. (IPL cannot be performed either). This blog will hope to clear up the confusion about laser hair removal and your tattoos.

Tattoos everywhere

Today there is almost no part of the body that cant and hasn’t been tattooed! Places that used to be off limits like face, neck and hands are no longer off limits. This presents challenges for people wanting to be hair free and also for laser clinics.

Not long ago, tattoos were mainly on upper arms so hair removal wasn’t much of an issue. Also laser hair removal or tattoos were not as common as they are now.

Get Laser hair removal before tattoos

If you do not have a tattoo yet, but are thinking about getting one, and it is going to be in an area where you are concerned about hair growth, the best thing to do would be to be prepared, have laser hair removal before you have your tattoo – if you want to keep the area smooth and hair free after the tattoo.

Some areas are naturally hair free so there is no need to worry. If you are planning your next tattoo on your forearms or legs, which are hairier, then plan ahead and get laser hair removal before you get the tattoo done.

Can you get a tattoo after laser hair removal?

You will have to wait a number of weeks after the laser hair removal before you are able to get your tattoo done. This gives the skin a chance to heal as laser hair removal does destroys hair follicles and you need to give your skin a chance to recover. So once you have a tattoo lets discuss what your options are.

Location, location, location

One of the key questions if you are thinking about laser hair removal and have tattoos is where is the tattoo located? If you have a tattoo that is on your ribs and wish to have laser hair removal you are unlikely to face any issues.

Large tattoos in areas where hair growth is unavoidable such as on your arms, if you have a sleeve, or back or on your legs or in more discreet places!

Can laser hair removal be used over a tattoo ?

Now for the bad news laser hair removal cannot be done over tattoos. Only the surrounding areas around the tattoo itself. The larger the tattoo, the greater the problem removing hair by laser.

There have been stories in the press of laser hair removal being done over a tattoo, usually by an unregulated clinic or untrained, inexperienced employee, which have resulted in serious third degree burns requiring hospital attention.

How to cover up a tattoo for laser hair removal

If you still want to do laser hair removal with a tattoo, then experienced practitioners will be able to create a cover for the tattoo and then target the surrounding area, usually keeping around 2-3cm between the tattoo and the lasered skin. 

As long as the laser does not go near the tattoo you will be fine. You can ask the practitioner to mark around the tattoo with their white pen as an extra precaution. Medical tape or plasters are not necessary. Although be warned using this treatment may lighten the colour of the tattoo and could still damage the tattooed skin. The most important thing you can do is find an experienced practitioner you can trust.

What is the process for removing hair and how does it affect my tattoo ?

Laser hair removal treatment works by targeting the melanin or pigment in the skin using wavelengths of light.

This light energy attacks the hair follicle and prevents it from growing back. Lasers cannot tell the difference between dark pigment in a hair follicle or in a tattoo. A dark colour is a dark colour to a laser. Laser light is automatically drawn to the dark colour to destroy it. Unfortunately laser hair technology that can tell the difference between the two doesn’t yet exist, but may one day.

The effect of laser hair removal on tattoos.

If laser hair removal was performed  over a tattoo the laser would have trouble accurately finding the pigment in the hair as there would be pigment from the tattoo surrounding, confusing the laser.

So you have the double effect of poor laser hair removal and exposing tattooed skin to the laser which could cause severe scarring or long term issues to the skin. So bad all round.

Also different lasers are used for laser tattoo removal and hair removal. What about IPL?

Can you use IPL on tattoos?

IPL are not classified as lasers. They are essentially full-spectrum flashlamps. Like a flash on a camera. They are good for treating certain skin conditions like sunspots and rosacea. Not as effective for laser for hair removal. We would not recommend IPL for laser hair removal and you encounter the same issues with your tattoos that you have with IPL.

So what are my other options?

If you are eager to remove the hair on a tattoo, don’t fret as there is a process that can be used as a substitute.  Electrolysis treatments avoid the risk of scarring and damage to the tattoo itself.

Professional treatment is advised and the results are highly effective and can ease your concerns about excessive hair. You will not get the same results as having laser hair removal but it is the next best thing.

Of course, if you are genuinely concerned about the hair on your body then you could also decide what is more important: a tattoo or hair-free skin? If it is the latter, you could look at having the tattoo removed then waiting for a period of time, before undertaking the laser hair removal. At Premier Laser we do offer tattoo removal and laser hair removal.

Why not book a  free consultation so we can have a look at your tattoo and hair growth and discuss any treatment plans along with performing a patch test to check your suitability.

Alternatively epilation could be the way forward although not as effective as laser hair removal it is still an option for you to be hair free. Then there are always the traditionally ways of shaving or waxing. Yes, they are a hassle and need to be constantly done but they are the options so you can enjoy hair free skin.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Is laser hair removal painful?

Does it hurt?

These are two of the most often asked questions in our London clinics.

So what is the answer?, is there such a thing as pain free laser hair removal ?, well it depends…( areas treated, laser used, your pain thresholds!)

 

As painful as an elastic band but not pain free

Having laser hair removal has been described as having an elastic band flicked against your skin. Something most people can tolerate. Different areas of the body will be more painful then others. Underarms are more painful then legs. Pain levels also depend on the thickness of the skin in the area being treated.

Laser can also be more painful during periods when women’s skin may be more sensitive.

Does the area treated affects pain levels?

The laser can cause slightly more discomfort on areas with thinner skin such as the upper lip and temples.  To put it into perspective, in terms of pain laser hair removal is a lot less painful then waxing and less painful then tattooing or the dentists so there is really nothing to worry about.

Area	Pain 1-10 (10 most – 1 least)	Score	Tips
Face	Thin skin areas – lips – Thicker skin areas – chin / side burns	8 2	Upper lip is the most painful as the skin is thinner. Small price to pay for losing the moustache!
Underarm	The most painful area	9	Results are amazing. No more shaving!. Hang in there!
Bikini Line		8	Not as painful as waxing!
Arms	Thicker skin on forearms	3	Arms tolerate pain well.
Legs	Upper & lower legs	6	Occaisional tweak of pain otherwise not too painful.
Stomach	Thicker skin	4	Has been described as tickling more then painful
Back	Large area / Many hairs	8	Numbing cream* can reduce the pain levels to a 2-3

*Topical numbing cream when applied can reduce the pain levels for any area down to the 1/10 to 3/10. Although this will add time to your visit to your clinic as the numbing cream can take up to 30 minutes to be effective.

Your pain threshold

Everyone is different and can tolerate pain differently. Women are known to tolerate pain better then men.

With laser hair removal some people do not notice a thing while others will have their fists tightly clenched with every zap of the laser.

Can anything be done to reduce the pain of the laser to stop it hurting?

Modern lasers have cooling devices attached, blowing ice cool air on the skin.

Other laser brands like Soprano ice use a cooling gel over the skin.

This can get messy though and most prefer the cooling air. Also numbing cream can be applied 30 minutes before your session by your practitioner to reduce the pain.

 

Does technology make a difference to the pain levels?

With the latest  Candela medical grade equipment we use here at Premier Laser your treatments will be more effective and less painful. Medical grade equipment is more powerful and they have a built in cooling system which cools the skin as the laser works away.

Older technology = more pain

Other older machines use a messy cooling gel on your skin which then has to be washed off and is not as effective as the air cooled machines.

As mentioned clinic machines are also a lot more powerful then machines that are sold on the high street. So less sessions are necessary and you will get quicker, longer lasting results then other clinics which are not using the latest medical grade technology.

Is there pain-less Laser hair removal ?

In a word no. Try and find a clinic using top of the range laser technology as this can make a difference. If you are thinking about laser hair removal for the first time ask the clinic what machines they use.  The top of the range machines costing over £100,000 are made by a US firm called Candela.

This cost can be an barrier for many smaller or independent clinics so they opt for cheaper versions.  Cheaper versions can be bought on the internet for £3,000 ! are not reliable, potentially dangerous and can damage your skin if you are not careful with painful burns and blisters.

At Premier Laser our clinics use the latest Candela technology.

Will experienced practitioners lead to less painful laser?

It takes skilled technicians with many hours of training to use lasers effectively. Clinics using inferior machines doing laser hair as an add-on staff may have received minimal training and lack experience or not busy enough to build up their skills. So there is a risk going to a smaller non specialist clinic.

It is why some clinics which have lower prices that seem too good to be true, now you know why !. It is a risk many won’t take once they realise they are being lasered with cheaper machines and inexperienced, untrained staff.

Does laser hair removal get less painful with every treatment?

It is worth knowing that the results of laser hair removal do take a few weeks to become apparent. After your first treatment, you will be looking at two to three weeks to see a notable difference, whilst it will take around 8-12 sessions to ensure you see the very best results. The pain will not reduce greatly but you may be better able to tolerate it so will feel less painful.

• no more shaving and painful waxing!

Most of our customers would never go back to shaving or waxing once they have discovered the benefits of Laser Hair Removal.  After your course has completed most people then return every now and again for a top-up session.

After the treatment & how to deal with any pain

The laser emissions used during the treatment stay within your skin for a full 24 hours.

This is perfectly normal and safe. If you feel uncomfortable you can place ice packs against your skin for the redness and soreness.

In order to avoid bacteria multiplying you will need to avoid anything that would increase your core body temperature, such as going to the gym, saunas or hot baths or bikram yoga.!

So you have the perfect excuse to take it easy for a day or two and in most cases it is well deserved downtime, just go easy on the ice cream!

Avoiding sunlight

Whilst having the treatment, the dermatologist will advise about how best to protect your sensitive skin.

However, you may want to avoid exposure to the sun and sunbathing in general which is not too difficult when living in the UK but can be a bit more trickier during the summer months.

Just cover up the areas being treated, so a hat or long sleeves or trousers or long skirt depending on which areas have been treated.

If you have recently been on holiday or developed a tan, you will need to wait for this to fade before beginning treatment we usually recommend around four weeks, you are able to come in for a patch test though if you are thinking about laser hair removal for the first time.

You may need to alter your beauty regime plus avoid fake tan & sunbeds

Certain beauty products have chemicals that could cause painful complications during the treatment process and therefore scrubs, retinol creams and glycolic acid should be avoided for two days before and after treatment. Also all traces of fake tan should be removed and sunbeds avoided up to 2 weeks before.

So a simple change in your routine in preparation for your laser hair removal sessions will guarantee you get the best results possible for your treatments.

Also you should refrain from any chemical peels for around two weeks before and after the laser process and wait 1-2 weeks after until you apply a fake tan.

The same advice goes for tattoos if you are thinking about having any speak to your consultant if you have any questions as they will be able to advise you.

Don’t wax or dye your hair

During the process, you may feel more comfortable being hairless so we would recommend shaving rather than plucking, waxing or bleaching any hair. Plucking and waxing can damage the skin and cause complications with the potential success of laser hair removal treatment.

Does laser hair removal treatment work on darker skin and is it more painful ?

Treatments only requires the hair to be dark enough to draw the laser. So if your hair is very fair, white then laser hair removal may not be for you. Also is you have red hair then laser hair removal will not work for you.

There is a different type of laser used for people with darker skin. It is called an Nd:YAG laser and is as effective and safe for people with darker skin. The pain reported by clients using Nd:YAG laser has been reported as being like a pinprick.

Patch test lets you experience how painful laser is first hand

Before you purchase a laser hair removal package you will need to have a consultation. During the consultation your practitioner will do a patch test on your skin. This is to test the laser on your skin to see how it reacts. So you get to feel the laser sensation and if it is something you are able to tolerate.

Next steps if you live in London

If you live in London are are looking for laser hair removal then contact us for a free consultation. Talk over your concerns and goals with us and get expert advice. We have 9 clinics across London and have performed over 500,000 treatments on Londoners of all colours since 2008.

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Can You Trust Online Reviews For London’s Laser & Skin Clinics?

With Laser and Skin clinics on every high street and in shopping centres across London it is hard to find a clinic to choose. One way most of us decide is by reading reviews.

• How often have you been influenced to buy a product because your friends told you how great it was?.
• Or you went to a new restaurant, booked a hotel or bought a car because you saw amazing online reviews?

Whether we like to admit it or not, we’ve all been influenced by reviews and ratings. With the internet at our fingertips we are only seconds away from all the information you ever need about a product, service or company.

Importance of reviews in the aesthetics industry

In the beauty and aesthetic industry reviews, referrals and ratings go a long way, with companies actively encouraging customers to leave them.

Studies show that around 1% of people leave reviews.  Or 10 people per 1000. People who have a poor experience with a company are more likely to post reviews then people who had a great one.

This can lead to an unbalanced or unfair view about a company or product. Negative reviews are on average much longer and detailed then positive ones.

negative reviews

One of the UK’s largest aesthetic clinics, with clinics nationwide, has absolutely terrible reviews.  Clinic after clinic average 2.3, 2.6 or 2.7 stars out of 5 on Google.  If potential customer were to judge them by their reviews they would not have any customers!.

But they have treated over 2 million customers, making £30 million a year, this would not be possible if the company was as poor as the reviews claim and we know from experience that they are a very good company who really care about their customers!.

If you have the time, look at the reviews for the Great Wall of China – It has an overall rating of 4.2.   4.2 out of 5!.

This is one of the wonders of the world and people travel thousands of mile to see it every year, yet not everyone’s happy or willing to leave it a 5 star review!.

It just goes to show bad reviews don’t paint a full picture.

So if bad reviews don’t give you the full picture, do positive reviews?.

These days good reviews can be:

1. genuine
2. fake
3. paid for

Having too many 5-star reviews may appear too good to be true.

Review sites also allow companies to delete negative reviews or only show reviews 4 stars or above.

After all, companies pay review sites so demand they are shown in a positive light. So again caution is recommended.

What are you supposed to do?.

When it comes to reviews in the beauty industry we believe customers should treat them as part of a bigger picture – not the whole picture. They are useful used as part of ongoing research about a clinic or procedure you are interested in.

Luckily at Premier Laser our Google reviews number over 1000 at a 4.7 average.

This is not to say we don’t have negative reviews.

We do.

It is part of the business we are in.

We take all our reviews, good and bad, seriously, it is always an opportunity to learn and improve our service.

5 steps to help you choose the best london laser clinic

If you are thinking about having laser hair removal in London or any other aesthetic treatment for the first time and are deciding on a clinic, we recommend you take the following five steps to help you make the right decision.

1.Online Reviews

Despite what has been said about online reviews they are a good starting point.  Instead of looking at the best and worse, one or five star reviews, you may learn more about a company by looking at average reviews or 3 star reviews. This is because they will not be at the extreme ends and be more balanced.

Also when checking reviews see if the company replies and how it treats poor reviews as you can learn a lot from that.

2.Referrals and Recommendations – Ask your friends or family

They may have personal experience or know people that have used the company and can recommend or tell you to avoid it at all costs.  Like reviews recommendations will help you form a picture and help your decision-making process.

It is worth remembering that in the health and beauty industry results vary from person to person. This could be for a wide range of reasons including:

• age
• skin tones
• hormonal levels
• medical history

…all of which are unique to the person having the treatment.

So if someone had great results it may not be the same for you and likewise if someones results were poor,  that does not mean you will have poor results.

3.Social media

Social Media is a great place to get opinions and feedback. If you have a friends, followers or fans online they may have used the company and you can get more information there. Search for the company on social media and check out its presence there.

Be careful a lot of companies offer free treatments to influencers who then promote the company so again use that as part of your overall research.

4.Free Consultation

Most companies offer a free consultation. This really is the best, low risk way to find out more about the company and the treatments on offer.  You will find out if you feel comfortable in their surroundings and if you would be happy to go ahead with any treatments.

When you arrive look around the clinic and see if it is clean and well organised. See if the staff are friendly and professional and you are welcomed and made to feel at ease.

5. Ask questions

Make full use of your consultation by asking a lot questions about the treatments you are interested. Don’t be afraid to ask about the experience of the practitioner and their qualifications. Ask about the results that can be expected, types of machines used (if any) and the aftercare routine that may be needed to be followed.

It is also a good idea to enquire if any top up treatments are required and what their procedures are if you are not happy with the results.

It is a lot to remember so write your questions down before you go so you don’t forget anything.

In Summary

We hope this helps you if you are thinking about visiting a laser clinic in London and are not sure which one to choose. With quite a few to choose from the more information you have the better decision you will make. The better the results you will get.

If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with us we will be more then happy to answer you.

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