Frequently Asked Questions
- How does the treatment work?
- Lasers produce pulses of coherent light at a specific wavelength that passes through the skin and is absorbed and converted into heat at the hair follicle.
- Heating the hair follicle stops any further regrowth of the hair.
- Is the treatment permanent?
- The permanence of laser hair removal is often questioned. In practice no single laser system destroys all hair follicles. Some follicles are destroyed, others are miniaturized and some enter a prolonged resting phase.
- It is possible that with a sufficient number of treatments, true permanent hair removal can be achieved.
- How does hair grow
- Hair is made up of a shaft and a root. The shaft is the hair you see and the root is buried beneath the skin.
- The normal growth cycle of hair includes anagen (active hair growth), telogen (resting phase), and catagen (where the hair falls out). The length of the cycle varies but continues throughout an individual's lifetime.
- Can all types of hair be treated?
- Efficacy of laser hair removal is directly proportional to the amount of colour in the hair shaft.
- The best results are obtained on individuals with dark hair and fair skin.
- Is laser treatment safe?
- There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that laser treatment can lead to skin disorders or an increased risk of skin cancer.
- How many treatments are needed?
- On average 6 treatments are needed at 6 to 8 week intervals.
- What can I expect after treatment?
- Redness, and some discomfort of the area (like sunburn) may be present for the first few days following treatment.
- Blistering may occur in a minority of patients, and this settles without treatment in a few days.
- Rarely, the pigment in the skin may be effected resulting in the treated area appearing lighter or darker. This almost certainly settles in time.