Laser Hair Removal

Laser treatment varies depending on the size and extent of the area being treated.

yes if …

• If the laser is a medical grade laser that is FDA approved for permanent hair removal.
• Correct laser and settings are used for your hair/skin type
• Your hair is in the anagen hair growth stage, only 15% of hairs are in this stage at any one time, this is why multiple treatments are necessary.
• Follow up treatments are carried out when majority of hairs are in the next anagen cycle. Ie 4 weeks for face, bikini, underarm hairs and 4-6 weeks for legs and back

No if….

• If the laser is a low energy and approved for hair maintenance, most beauty IPL lasers are only approved for hair management, as they put the hair into a resting period for longer but will grow back
• Incorrect laser settings were used, low joules will not generate enough heat to disable the follicle from producing a new hair
• Your hair has missed the anagen growth stage and is in the catagen stage
• You missed the hair cycle and had your treatment too late.

The Laser can only disable the hair follicle and permanently remove the hair when it is in the anagen hair growth cycle, therefore the treatment timings must be strictly adhered to.

The hair growth cycle may vary in different people as some people may have hormonal imbalances where the hair growth is stimulated and can appear faster and thicker.

A few days before or after does not matter, however any longer and the hairs will grow out of the anagen stage and go into a resting phase and the laser treatment will not be as effective.

We recommend that you start with a course of 6 treatments and then we can review your progress and assess if you need any more.

The amount of treatments you will need may vary dependent on factors such as polycystic ovaries, pregnancy, steroids and genetic factors.

• Majority of IPL lasers’ can treat light skin and light hairs effectively.
• Many IPL lasers in the beauty salons are low energy lasers and treatments should be sold as hair maintenance, not permanent hair removal.
• IPL hair removal laser cannot treat dark skin III-VI, hence why there is much publicity about skin burns with IPL lasers.
• IPL lasers are very effective for skin type III on pigmentation and skin rejuvenation, where the skin burning action is required.

Immediately following laser treatment, the area may appear a bit red and swollen but you will be able to return to your normal activities (no heat related activities). After 7 days, you may experience what seems to be ‘regrowth’ of hair but most of these hairs are the lasered hairs that are shedding as a result of your treatment and are not new hairs growing.

You can shave or cut the hairs however, you should not wax or pluck your hairs, stimulating the hairs will work against the laser treatment which is trying to disable the follicle from producing a new hair.

The most common side effects are slight reddening, local swelling of the skin, similar to sunburn for a few hours.

The risks with the Cutera laser are minimal due to the laser technology and also down to the fact that our therapists follow the correct protocol.

In our opinion the side effects and poor results are usually down to incorrect laser settings or incorrect skin typing.

Barnet council have graded Revival as a low risk clinic for the last 12 years and this is due to our highly skilled therapists who have many years’ experience operating laser machines.

Yes, the Cutera CoolGlide’s outstanding technology was designed for all skin types from light to dark skins.

Generally the Nd:YAG laser is bearable but can be slightly painful over sensitive areas for example bikini, top lip or bony areas e.g. fingers.

The thicker hair and darker skin can be more painful but the results are remarkable on this combination.

Advice applies specifically to the laser treated area.

• Avoid make up after face laser
• deodorant after underarm laser
• Loose clothing after bikini
• No body lotion after body laser
• Keep all treated areas clean and apply aloe gel and cold compresses if hot and sensitive immediately after the treatment.

Nd:YAG lasers don’t target the skin like IPL lasers, that is why you can go in the sun after the treatment, as long as you wear a sunblock. If your skin was reactive after the treatment avoid heat exposure for 72 hours to calm it.

Laser is the only method of hair removal that helps ingrown bikini hairs, as the laser beam is attracted to the melanin in the hair and therefore treats the hair inside the follicle and also loosens the dead skin allowing the hair to ease out.

4 weeks

• Face
• Bikini
• Underarm

4-6 weeks

• Leg
• Body areas

Your therapist will calculate these for you

People suffering from the following should not have laser treatments,

• Epilepsy
• Heart condition
• Auto immune diseases
• Pregnancy
• Metal plates on treatment area
• Cuts and abrasions

Yes, firstly our insurance requires us to patch test all out clients on their first treatment and secondly the patch test is a safety test for us to determine the settings for our laser machine and evaluate your skin’s suitability.

You may have to wait 72 hours after the patch test to have your treatment.