Laser and IPL hair removal are the most common laser and photomedicine procedures done in the United States. None of us like to be too hairy, I guess it reminds us too graphically of our friends in the animal world! Especially women do not like dark excess hair on the face, legs, bikini line and under arm, especially women in the US and Asia. I assume, dark facial hair makes a young woman feel less feminine. This is a cultural phenomenon, as many cultures do not have this obsession.
Laser and light based hair removal has improved dramatically in the past 5 years. Early lasers were not fully effective and were so powerful that burns and scars were a possibility. In addition, early lasers could not be used on dark skin and were effective at removing only very dark black hair. Newer IPL and some lasers are a vast improvement and can be used on darker skin and can also remove lighter colored hair. The newer IPL machines are less painful and there is less chance of burning and skin scarring.
The best earliest laser for hair removal was the Lightshear Diode invented by Palomar Medical. Palomar subsequently developed the IPL hair removal method to be able to treat darker skin types and remove lighter colored hair. The advantages of the new IPL method became clear when they sold their rights to the Lightshear Diode to Lumenis to pursue what they felt was a superior IPL removal method.
These machines are sophisticated medical grade instruments that should only be used under the supervision of a physician. While the popularity of this procedure has resulted in light based laser and IPL treatments being offered in Salons and Spas without a doctor present, new legislative action will soon limit most of these devices to a physician supervised office. I recommend that you stay ahead of the curve and receive the safest most effective treatments in a board certified plastic surgeons or dermatologists office. Your safety should be your first concern.
How Does IPL or Laser Remove Hair?
All light based therapies which include laser and IPL, also called Photomedicine techniques, work on the same principle. This principle is that a specific color of light can be directed to be absorbed or taken up by one specific color of tissue on the skin. Light is energy, and energy can produce heat. When light energy, the IPL or Laser beam, is absorbed by a specific colored tissue on the skin, the tissue is heated, injured, and is removed. The follicles are black or brown, thus a black or brown laser or IPL light is flashed on the skin that contains the follicle, the follicle absorbs the light energy, is heated, damaged, and the follicle shrinks and loses color. The new smaller follicle is then able to grow only fine light colored peach fuss after treatment.
This light based technique is called target specific photothermolysis-a specifically colored target receives color matched light energy (photo), is heated (thermo) and damaged or dissolved (lysis).
The color of light used is very important because follicle color is different for different colors of hair. Thus the same color light will not remove all colors. Most commonly an 800nm laser wavelength (Lightshear Diode) has been used, however the newer Intense pulsed light based systems can quickly treat in a range of 525-1200nm (Palomar LuxRed and LuxYellow) to treat a wider variety of colors.
These machines do not really remove the follicle. Rather they damage and shrink the follicle so that new growth is small, thin, blond peach fuzz. The follicles can only be damaged during one of three growth phases. Only 1/3 of the follicles in any area are susceptible at any one time, so at least three treatments separated by 6 weeks are necessary to achieve the best result.
When Will I See A Result?
Soon after your first treatment the hair falls out and your skin will be smooth and bare. However in 6 weeks 2/3 of the follicles will re-sprout new growth. It will take at least two more sessions to catch the follicles in a susceptible phase to complete the removal processes. Very heavy thick growth may require touch ups even after the first three sessions.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Almost any body area can be treated. The most common are:
In Women:
o Upper lip
o Chin
o Under arm
o Legs
o Bikini line
o Cheeks
o Arms
o Back
In Men:
o Back
o Chest
o Neck
o Beard
Special Treatments for Medical Conditions
There are two very painful medical conditions that can be treated with these light based techniques.
Ingrown follicular shafts and razor bumps, called pseudofolliculitis barbae, is a painful condition affecting millions of African American men. These new light based techniques can provide dramatic effective relief for these conditions.
Pilonidal cysts, a very painful recurring infectious draining condition affecting the sacrum or tail bone area is caused by abnormal follicular and sebaceous cell growth in this area. These new light based techniques can significantly help this painful debilitating condition.
Where Should I go For Treatment?
As I mentioned earlier , Intense Pulsed Light and light based therapies are very sophisticated medical technologies. While they can achieve remarkable results, success is very dependent upon the skill with which they are used. Furthermore, protective eyewear is essential, as powerful light beams can damage the unprotected eye. In addition, these machines work by using controlled heat applied to the skin, and heat can create a burn or scarring if not applied properly.
Photomedicine is a very complex field and the doctor must understand light physics and light tissue reaction of the skin. It truly takes years of study and experience to understand how to properly use light based therapies.
Too often these technologies are perceived as push button devices that anyone can safely use. That could not be further from the truth.
Currently only the residency training programs in Plastic Surgery and Dermatology provide formalized training and testing for board certification in these fields which apply light therapies and Intense Pulsed Light to the skin. I recommend that you seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist before having any light based therapy. Not all plastic surgeons and dermatologists are experienced in these techniques, so you will have to search their websites and ask appropriate questions.
Please avoid salons and spas, in my opinion they should not be using these techniques without direct medical supervision, and many state legislatures agree with this concept and are taking action.
Who Should Do My Treatment?
A well trained and experienced medical aesthetician, nurse, PA or Nurse Practitioner who works with and is supervised by a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who is trained in Photomedicine, can safely provide these treatments.
The best practitioners agree with this concept and would not try to practice Photomedicine in any location other than a medical office where the doctor supervision is on site. If there is a problem it is very important that the doctor be present and not supervising from an office 10 miles away.
More importantly, in my opinion, is the knowledge and experience of the doctor in diagnosing your particular skin condition and deciding which of the many light based treatments will work best for you. In addition, often prescription medications and other treatments are required for you to achieve the best result, and a doctor will be able to provide you with these added benefits.
Do your homework, start on the Internet. Read enough to become knowledgeable about Photomedicine and how these techniques work and what they can achieve. Then seek consultation with 2 board certified plastic surgeons or dermatologists and decide who you are most comfortable with. This is your best chance for a safe effective result.
See before and after pictures of laser and drseckel.com/laser-hair-removal/boston-laser-hair-removal%E2%80%94how-to-get-rid-of-hair-with-ipl-and-laser IPL hair removal. Learn more about drseckel.com/ipl-intense-pulsed-light/boston-ipl%E2%80%94ipl-removes-acne-hair-sun-damage-and-spider-veins laser and IPL rejuvenation techniques.
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