So so many times we have people who come in for laser treatments and are completely uneducated about the dangers and benefits of laser hair removal. That is very reckless! | Because of this ignorance, a lot of our clients have previously suffered burns, fraud and ineffective results. Our advice to all is to do your research on the procedure and the laser facility. And, be prepared to ask important questions of your certified technician (absolutely make sure they are certified and experienced). The best way to get great results is to know how the treatments work and what to expect. |
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
How experienced the technician is. The technician has to have at least half a year experience. Inexperienced technicians are more likely to burn your skin resulting in pigment spots and discoloration of the skin which would eventually go away. But you better off avoiding this in the first place. Sometimes, the burns can be very severe causing permanent scarring. This is very rare. Darker skin types are more prone to laser burns as the skin is more sensitive. During your consultation, which may take 15 to 30 minutes depending on questions you may have, an experienced laser technician should evaluate your skin type and identify the appropriate treatment procedure. The laser technician should describe the treatment process and what to expect during and after your treatment.
If the technician is certified. Technicians that are not certified have never taken the required courses to learn how to use the machine properly and how to administer the best possible treatments in order to achieve the best results.
What kind of machine do they use. A lot of machines on the market are outdated and are less effective and generally less painful than the newer ones. Look for the newest machines out there. We recommend Candela GMAX Pro W/DCD - it is the latest on the market and is equipped with Dynamic Cooling Device (a device that releases Cryogen - a cooling liquid that shoots out after every laser shot that effectively cools off the treated area and minimizes the discomfort). GMAX Pro is also best for both dark and light skin types.
If the technician is certified. Technicians that are not certified have never taken the required courses to learn how to use the machine properly and how to administer the best possible treatments in order to achieve the best results.
What kind of machine do they use. A lot of machines on the market are outdated and are less effective and generally less painful than the newer ones. Look for the newest machines out there. We recommend Candela GMAX Pro W/DCD - it is the latest on the market and is equipped with Dynamic Cooling Device (a device that releases Cryogen - a cooling liquid that shoots out after every laser shot that effectively cools off the treated area and minimizes the discomfort). GMAX Pro is also best for both dark and light skin types.
Make sure you sign all the required forms. Prior to your treatments the laser facility should provide you with certain forms that you have to fill out in order to determine your skin type and to make sure you don't have any medical conditions that may prevent you from getting the treatments. You should also receive post and pre treatment requirements that you will need to follow.
When is the best time to get the treatments. You can not receive treatments if you have been or are planning to tan or be exposed to the sun for a long period of time. The way that laser works is that it detects your skin color and hair color via the settings that the technician entered on the machine (the settings are determined by the "Skin Type Questions" which you should have answered in the form you should have been provided with). If you tan, you skin color gets darker then your original color - since the settings on the laser correspond to your true skin color, the treatment that is meant for your true skin color will cause burns to your darker skin. Even worse, it is very unhealthy to heat up your skin so extensively as so much exposure to heat may cause allergies, burns and may ultimately lead to skin cancer. But these are the absolute worst case scenarios - we have never encountered such dire consequences in our day to day operations. For those of you who love to tan, you need to wait for your tan to subside in order to start or continue your treatments.
How many treatments are required and how long should you wait between the treatments. The number of sessions depends on the area you want to be treated and the condition of your skin. The standard and most effective wait time between sessions is about 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the area you are treating. The reason for the wait, is to target as much actively growing hair as possible. You see, the hair does not grow at the same rate - in fact, there are three phases of hair growth (Active Growth Phase, Transition Phase and Resting Phase).
When is the best time to get the treatments. You can not receive treatments if you have been or are planning to tan or be exposed to the sun for a long period of time. The way that laser works is that it detects your skin color and hair color via the settings that the technician entered on the machine (the settings are determined by the "Skin Type Questions" which you should have answered in the form you should have been provided with). If you tan, you skin color gets darker then your original color - since the settings on the laser correspond to your true skin color, the treatment that is meant for your true skin color will cause burns to your darker skin. Even worse, it is very unhealthy to heat up your skin so extensively as so much exposure to heat may cause allergies, burns and may ultimately lead to skin cancer. But these are the absolute worst case scenarios - we have never encountered such dire consequences in our day to day operations. For those of you who love to tan, you need to wait for your tan to subside in order to start or continue your treatments.
How many treatments are required and how long should you wait between the treatments. The number of sessions depends on the area you want to be treated and the condition of your skin. The standard and most effective wait time between sessions is about 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the area you are treating. The reason for the wait, is to target as much actively growing hair as possible. You see, the hair does not grow at the same rate - in fact, there are three phases of hair growth (Active Growth Phase, Transition Phase and Resting Phase).
The laser only works on the hair follicles that are in their active growing phase. As you can see in the image above, some of your hair might be in its transition and resting phases which last for approximately 7-8 weeks altogether. The wait period between sessions allows a sufficient amount of time for the remaining hair to move into its active growing phase so that your next treatment removes the maximum amount of hair. With every session, about 10-20% of your active hair gets treated. This is the reason why most laser facilities offer at least 6 treatments in their packages. Hair follicles in their active growing stage will die and fall out in approximately 2 to 10 days.
Always do a patch test before committing to treatments with the facility. Patch test is important to make sure that you are not allergic to the laser and establish the right setting. It is an important precaution that all technicians should administer. Following the consultation and a patch test, technician should prepare area to be treated and based on your skin type the technician should adjust the equipment to provide you with the most effective treatment.
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