We can vouch for the Polaris laser we use as being 100% safe, but it is difficult to assess other types of equipment. We use a long-pulsed Nd YAG laser which penetrates the skin to the level of the follicle without having any ill-effects to the surrounding areas. Hair removal lasers have been in use since 1997 and are approved by the FDA.

Although by law one is not allowed to say ‘permanent’, the patients who were treated 14 years ago are still clear of unwanted hair. A patient can tell how much reduction was achieved from a course of treatments after waiting 6–12 months from their last treatment. Any hair that grows after this period is new hair that the body can develop due to numerous factors such as age, diet, hormonal changes and medical conditions such as PCOS. Patients who experience new growth later in life can get touch-up treatments.

In order to achieve 100% clearance of hair in any one area, some people may need to follow up laser treatments with electrolysis to remove any remaining finer hairs. Electrolysis is the only other proven permanent hair removal method, which involves treating one hair at a time, and is a good option for smaller areas where precision is necessary (like eyebrows or upper lip).

Generally, laser hair removal is no more painful than waxing, though the sensation is different. Each pulse lasts for only a second, and the sensation is only felt whilst the laser is targetting the skin, and doesn’t last.

Any after-effects soon remedy themselves in aproximately 30–60 minutes, and can include itching, tingling or redness, and erythema which is quite normal on darker skins.

Our laser is very suited and extremely successful for these types of skin.

Very pale blonde, red, grey or white hair is not suitable for laser. For these tones we would recommend either electrolysis or Alkaline Wash.

Age does not affect the results for laser hair removal.

The number of treatments of laser hair removal required depends on the colour and thickness of hair in relation to the colour of skin. Dark thick hair on pale skin will have the quickest clearance. Most people need anything in the region of 5–10 treatments to clear the hair, at intervals of 3–4 weeks.

Because hair grows in cycles, several sessions are necessary in order to affect all hair on any given area. Hair cycle lengths vary depending on the body part. Facial areas usually requires more frequent treatments whereas legs and the back need less frequent. The shedding of the treated hair should be expected within 2 weeks of each treatment. Sometimes, shedding doesn’t start until about 10 days after the session. Once the hair sheds, patients should experience a hair-free period for a short time. Once new hair grows again, patients should come in for their next session. Patients should continue treatments until remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until they’ve reached their desired reduction. The hair that doesn’t shed and is growing as usual after 2 weeks has been not affected due to the growth cycle.

Patients should not wax, epilate or remove hair from the root using any hair removal method for at least 10 days prior to their first session, and should after that cease removing any hair throughout their course of treatments. The hair needs to be in place in order to be targeted by the laser since it is the pigment in the hair that absorbs the laser energy. The area to be treated should be shaved on the day of treatment so that the energy is targeted towards the hair follicle and not wasted on the hair above the skin’s surface.

After the treatment, applying pure aloe vera gel can help soothe the skin. During the shedding phase, hair may look like it’s growing, but it is actually shedding. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the shedding process. Some patients may see small black dots remain in the hair follicles after one or two weeks, referred to as ‘pepperspots’, which eventually shed on their own. Exfoliating may help speed up the process.

Our charges are by time, which is £37 per 10 minutes, making it very affordable and fair for everyone.

The free laser consultation and patch test takes approx 20–30 minutes and includes a thorough check on medical history and an explanation of how hair removal with laser works. A patch test is then carried out on the skin to enable you to monitor the effects, before making any decision to proceed.

Currently, there are three popular types of hair removal lasers made by various manufacturers: Alexandrite, Diode, and Nd:YAG. Intense Pulse Light systems (IPLs) are also used for hair removal. Different devices can be used on different skin types* for best results:

• TYPE I: Highly sensitive, always burns, never tans. e.g. red hair with freckles or Albino.
• TYPE II: Very sun-sensitive, burns easily, tans minimally. e.g. fair-skinned, fair-haired Caucasians.
• TYPE III: Sun-sensitive skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown. e.g. darker Caucasians, European mix.
• TYPE IV: Minimally sun-sensitive, burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown. e.g. Mediterranean, European, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian.
• TYPE V: Sun-insensitive skin, rarely burns, tans well. e.g. Hispanics, Afro-American, Middle Eastern.
• TYPE VI: Sun-insensitive, never burns, deeply pigmented. e.g. Afro-American, African, Middle Eastern.

Nd:YAG lasers were specifically created to cater to dark-skinned patients. Nd:YAG lasers are best for all skin types, especially IV and darker and will not affect the surrounding tissue. Nd:YAG are the only type of laser that should be used on skin types V and darker; using any other types of lasers on this type of skin can result in burns if they are used at settings that disable the hair permanently.

Intense Pulse Light (IPL) machines are not lasers. These machines use a highly concentrated beam of traditional incoherent light, often in conjunction with a cream or gel, to burn the hair shaft. These systems lack the laser’s ability to produce a selective bandwidth of light that will only affect the hair shaft (selective photothermolysis). IPLs produce a wide bandwidth of light that can heat up all of the surrounding tissue, making it less effective in disabling hair and putting the patient at a higher risk for burns, especially on darker skin.  IPL devices are generally cheaper than laser devices. Generally, true hair removal lasers (alexandrite, diode, and ND:Yag types) tend to achieve better and faster results than IPLs.

*Using the Fitzpatrick Skin Chart classification system for skin typing, based on a person’s response to sun exposure in terms of the degree of burning and tanning the individual experienced.