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| Lasers and Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Systemes
continue to revolutionise the field of aesthetic surgery,
and now specially engineered lasers are combating excess
or unwanted hair - effectively and permanently, removing
it faster, more reliably, and more comfortably than other
methods including electrolysis. |
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| A Range of Lasers? |
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As no one laser or IPL is suited to all, our
clinic uses a range of technologies, to effectively
and safely remove excess
or unwanted hair on any skin colour or type, including
Mediterranean, Asian, and darker (eg. Indian)
skin. Their advanced technologies make them delicate
enough for a woman's fine sensitive skin and robust
enough for a man's beard, back, or arms!
The procedure is fast, gentle, and precise. Treatments
that might take months or even years with electrolysis
take only a few short visits with these lasers.
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| For women |
| As a woman, you're probably not happy with
hair in places you don't like or expect - such as the
face, neck, abdomen, breasts, or arms and underarms. Or
maybe you're just tired of all the shaving, waxing, or
all the chemical depilatory applications it takes to look
good in a high-cut bathing suit, shorts, or even a skirt. |
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| For men |
| Grooming tasks, such as shaving or trimming
your beard or moustache, are part of your normal routine.
But what you may not like is that bothersome excess hair
on your back, shoulders and abdomen, in the ears and nose,
or between the eyebrows that seems to grow back faster
than you can pluck or shave it. Or, perhaps you are a
competitive athlete or gym enthusiast for whom regular
shaving of body hair is an annoying chore. |
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| Here's how it works |
 The
new laser or IPL beams allow greater penetration and so
they better target the pigment located in hair follicles
(pigment gives hair its colour) vaporizing it and destroying
or significantly impairing the hair's ability to regrow.
Cooling devices on the tips of the hand pieces cool the
skin on contact, protecting the skin while directing the
laser energy to the hair follicle, further increasing
its effectiveness, comfort, and safety.
All procedures are performed in the office, and in some
cases, an anaesthetic (numbing) cream may be required,
although in most it is not necessary. Recovery is rapid,
and patients return to normal activity right away. |
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| Why is more than one treatment required? |
| Everyone's hair grows differently, depending
on age, weight, metabolism, hormones, ethnicity, and other
factors. But all hair goes through three distinct phases: |
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Since all lasers target the pigment present in the
follicle to destroy it then they will most effectively
disable hair in the growing, or anagen phase when pigment
is most abundant. Because hairs are at different phases
at any one time then more than one treatment may be
necessary to remove all the hairs as they subsequently
enter anagen phase.
Most commonly, 6 or more treatments are required, but
this may vary according to the area being treated and
how fine or coarse the hair is (the coarser the hair
the easier it is to remove).
The skin appearance immediately after the treatment
may include redness, mild swelling, and "goose-bumping".
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| A consultation |
| Is required to assess individual needs,
potential difficulties, and possible hormonal problems. |
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| Patient selection |
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Because of the absence of sufficient pigment in the
hair follicles patients with grey, white, or very blonde
hair cannot be successfully treated, although we are
currently trialling a product that may make that possible.
Patients must avoid a tan in the treatment area during
the course of treatment as this increases the risk of
burning the skin.
As it is essential that the hair is present in the
follicle at the time of treatment patients are not to
pluck, wax, or have electrolysis for at least 2-3 weeks
before the treatment. Shaving and depilatory creams
are allowed because they leave the hair shaft in the
follicle.
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| Side effects |
| These are generally few and temporary and
the majority of cases are completely trouble free. Light
crusting may occur in areas where coarse hair is treated.
Light surface burns and pigmentary changes occur infrequently,
mainly in darker skins, and are reversible. Serious or
lasting side effects or complications are rare. |
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