1. What is the goal of treatment?

Long term hair reduction, not permanent or complete hair removal is the goal of treatment ! 60-80% hair reduction is what can be expected.

2. What instructions have to be followed before it is attempted?

No tan for 4-6 weeks.

No bleached hair
CANNOT be plucked, waxed, epilated
CAN be shaved

3. Which hair and skin types can be treated?

Dark hair on fair skin responds best.

Diode laser and NdYag lasers are safe on Asian skins. Black skins cannot be treated.

Grey, very fair /blonde and red hairs do not respond to laser hair reduction treatment

4. Requirements for first consultation.

Need to get a good assessment of hair growth Atleast a week`s growth of hair should be left for the Doctor to assess or make sure a couple of day’s growth is visible for the consultation.

5. What happens during the consultation process?

Your full medical history will be taken.The procedure and the side effects will be explained. Clinical photographs will be taken. Consent forms will need to be signed. Test patch is done to determine the skin`s reaction. The patient then knows what it feels like.

If the Diode laser Soprano is the choice of machine preferred for your skin type according to the doctor, the treatment can be done 45 minutes after the patch test.

On the other hand if the IPL/NdYAG laser is the machine of choice for your skin type as judged by the Doctor, the patch test can be done on the day of the consultation, but the full treatment can only be done one week later.

6. How many treatments may be needed?

Not all hair will be in the growing stage at any one time so course of treatments are needed. Laser needs to target hair in the growing stage for best results.

Only hair that is effectively growing is affected by the laser teatment, therefore multiple treatments are needed. Conducted every 4-6 weeks, depending on the area treated. Typically 6 or more treatments are needed for optimum results. Some people have more laser resistent hair growth and will need several treatments on a recurring basis.

7. How long will it take?

It can take as little as 10 minutes or upto 30-40 mins depending on area treated.

8. How does it work?

The melanin in the hair follicles trap the heat and the hair follicles get destroyed by the diode laser/pulsed light energy/ or NdYAG laser. The Doctor will choose the equipment best suited for your hair/skin type. If one type of laser treatment does not work at all, other modes can be attempted.

It works best with people who have fair skin and dark hair. Dark hair is more easily treated as it has a higher level of melanin. Grey/white hair has no melanin so is not suitable for treatment, also red hair does not respond very well to laser treatment

9. What is the treatment sensation like?

Diode laser feels like a warm massage on the skin. IPL/NdYAG laser feels like a flick of an elastic band. Most patients say it is tolerable.Cold air may be blown on the skin while it is being treated.

The hair follicles are damaged by the heat but hairs remain in the follicles. The dead hairs shed after 1-3 weeks. The hairs may seem to grow as they are pushed out by the new epidermis.

10. What are the side effects?

Skin may be red immediately after treatment and hair follicles may be swollen and bumpy but this usually calms down within a few hours.

Superficial burns and scars or pale spots can occur, but generally fade fast.