1. How many treatments of laser hair removal will I need to permanently remove all hair?
The number of treatments needed to remove hair is individual and may differ, depending on the epilated place. Underarms, bikini and legs require about 3-4 regular treatments. During our long-standing practice we have come across cases when remarkable effects were visible after the second treatment. Face, cleavage, back, stomach and arms require 5-6 treatments.
Men, due to a high amount of hormones responsible for production of hair and its growth, need to repeat the treatment about five times for every body part. It's very important that you can see a huge difference after the first treatment, 30-50% of hair is removed.
Women who suffer from diagnosed hormonal disorders but don't treat them need to have much more treatments and more frequent retreatments. In that case laser is the only effective help, often recommended by endocrinologists.
To remove 96% of unwanted hair, you need regular treatments – every 2 months (it's very important for the first three treatments). Longer intervals between the treatments have a negative final effect.
2. Will my hair never grow back after a series of treatments?
About 96% of unwanted hair is removed after a series of treatments. The remaining hair is more delicate, fair and weak. As time passes by, the human body tries to regenerate so single hairs may regrow. That is why we suggest doing one retreatment once or twice a year to keep your skin smooth. However, if you don't have retreatments, your hair won't return to the condition before the laser hair removal for some years, but its number will be increasing more and more every year. Hair regrowth is very individual – some of our patients have retreatments every 3-5 years because they don't need to repeat the treatment of laser hair removal.
3. Are there any contraindications to the treatment?
We present a complete list of contraindications to laser hair removal below:
4. How should I prepare myself to the treatment of laser hair removal?
5. Is laser hair removal painful?
Unfortunately, laser hair removal is not a pleasant treatment. When hair is burnt by the laser, you are hot and feel some "pricks". The pain intensity depends on epilated places. Armpits, deep bikini and upper lip are the most sensitive places. Arms and legs are definitely less sensitive.
Obviously, discomfort is an individual issue. We provide a complete range of anaesthetizations – cold compresses (Coldpack), freezers (Active Ice Spray) and anaesthetic creams (Emla).
6. Can I have laser hair removal if my skin is tanned?
Suntan and solarium tan, tan acquired by self-tan lotions and bronze creams are the main contraindications to the treatment of laser hair removal. It is related to absorption of laser beam by melanin (dark pigment in the skin and hair). Unfortunately, as for the tanned or dark skin, a laser beam will be dispersed all over the skin and burns will occur, instead to go straight to the hair follicle and destroy it. Fair skin and dark hair is recommended for laser hair removal. After tanning you should wait at least a month to be able to have the treatment.
If your skin is still tanned after a month, we suggest that you visit us for a consultation and to do a laser test. If the beautician thinks your skin may be problematic, we do a test and wait 24 hours to see its reaction. The test performed on your skin is a safe method to check if you can have a treatment. It makes selecting the most effective way easier.
7. Do I have to shave my hair before the treatment?
Before the treatment you need to shave your hair, preferably on the day of treatment. The laser affects hair roots, i.e. the part under your skin. The shaft (part above the skin surface) would burn if using a laser beam, causing epidermal micro-injuries.
When preparing your skin for the treatment, you should shave it wet and use shave foam or gel. When doing that, remember not to damage your epidermis and not to cut yourself. Bleeding or strongly irritated spots must be omitted by the laser.
8. Do I have to shave on my upper lip?
Many women have qualms about using a shaving machine to shave their face. It's usually related to the belief that hair which regrows after shaving is stronger and darker. This myth was debunked a long time ago. Studies carried out by scientists have proven that cutting some part of hair doesn't change its structure and doesn't affect its regrowth.
The structure of human hair is similar to a pencil which is narrower at the end. When we shave our hair with a shaving machine, such hair seems to be thicker and darker when regrown. Besides, a newly regrown hair is not affected by any external factors – light, water, cosmetics which could weaken its structure.
Occurrence of strong and dark hair in places where it wasn't before is usually related to changes in your endocrine system, not to the way of hair removal.
As for delicate and thin hair on the upper lip, you can have a treatment without shaving it earlier. The beautician will assess if your hair is suitable for the treatment and shave it immediately before laser hair removal.
9. What does the skin look like after the treatment?
After the treatment erythema and small swelling around hair follicles appear. Such reactions are normal and indicate an effective laser treatment. The level of irritation depends on the hair type - whether strong, dark or more delicate hair was removed.
Skin reactions seem to be stronger in case of thicker, black hair than thin and fair one. As for the former (besides reddening and swelling), dark, tiny spots appear on the skin – these are burnt hairs which crumble within 3-4 days. The skin needs about one and a half week to recover completely.
In case of delicate hair there is only reddening which disappears within the next few hours. After the treatment you can feel warm on the epilated place for 2 hours max but no pain appears. A few days after the treatment you can experience itching. It's very important not to scratch and irritate the skin. Occasionally, such reactions can last longer – for a few weeks. That's why it is so important to follow our instructions and care for your skin properly.
10. Can I apply make-up after the treatment?
Immediately after the treatment we smear the skin with Panthenol and ointment improving healing – Solcoseryl. It's better not to apply make-up on very irritated skin, you should wait a few hours to recover. There are no contraindications in case of smaller irritation to apply a delicate powder and cover the reddening.
11. What should I avoid after the treatment?
12. What is the difference between the deep bikini and the standard one?
Both bikini versions vary with the range of epilated area. Standard bikini includes only a 3-4 cm wide area running from the groin to the tight. It costs PLN 300. Deep bikini, besides the standard bikini area, also includes the mons, labia and G-string line. Deep bikini can be full but you can leave some part of your hair (for example a strip on the mons or labia). It's important to shave your hair which you don't want before the treatment, and leave only the hair you want not to be removed. The cost of deep bikini is PLN 400.
13. I have fair hair – can I do laser hair removal?
The diode laser affects melanin – a pigment responsible for dark hair colour. Blond, red and grey hair has too few pigment or doesn't have any. Unfortunately, laser doesn't remove fair hair permanently – either delicate or stronger and harder. However, hair with some amount of pigment may shed after the treatment. Its regrowth can be stopped even for a month and a half. Unfortunately, there is no other method available in the market for permanent removal of fair hair.
14. Is ingrown hair a contraindication to the treatment?
Hair often tends to ingrow when you use wax or an epilator. Small, purulent spots can occur on the skin – this is called folliculitis. Both afflictions are an indication to have a treatment of laser hair removal. After a series of treatments your hair is removed permanently – the cause of skin problems disappears forever. The skin starts to recover, all marks disappear (besides scars) after previous methods of hair removal.
15. Can teenagers do laser hair removal?
Unfortunately, nowadays more and more young people have problems with excessive hair growth all over the body. It is greatly related to the environment we live in and, in particular, to what we eat. Much food which we consume is stuffed with growth hormones which badly affect our body. Hair growth is strictly related to changes in our endocrine system.
Laser hair removal can be carried out at any age, however, it is not advisable for very young people because their hair growth can change. The amount of hair can increase or decrease due to so-called raging hormones in adolescence. Even the youngest patients usually start their laser hair removal at the age of 16, when hormones start to balance. Patients under the age of 18 have to go with a parent for their first treatment.
16. Is laser hair removal safe?
Comfort and safety of our patients are the priorities for us, so we use only medical devices which obtained all necessary attests and permits. Our staff has years of experience and great skills in laser hair removal.
The LightSheer™ Diode Laser System obtained a renown worldwide safety and quality certificate issued by the American Food and Drug Administration. A positive opinion issued by FDA is also considered beyond the US to be a quality indicator and confirmation of non-occurrence of negative effects on health. Furthermore, the LightSheer™ Diode Laser System also has other certificates of relevant European institutions such as ISO 9001.
17. Will laser hair removal leave any permanent marks/scars?
Complications after laser hair removal occur very rarely. They usually include burns: burning blisters or red spots which form a scab a few days later. Burns heal within 1 or 2 weeks, depending on their depth. Complications concerning pigment changes in the skin occur more rarely, i.e. staining or discoloration. They can last even for several months. There is also a risk of bacterial or viral infections, usually related to non-compliance with the post-treatment instructions. Nearly all the complications can be treated without leaving any permanent marks on the skin (scars).
18. What is the difference between the LightSheer diode laser and the IPL?
Both devices have different effectiveness and technology. The IPL, incorrectly named a laser, is only an intense light. The device includes Xenon lamp which irradiates hair, delaying its regrowth. The IPL is not able to remove hair permanently, it can only weaken it or make it fairer. Unfortunately, regrowing hair after a series of 8 or 10 IPL treatments loses partially its pigment, so it's definitely more difficult to remove it with a diode laser. That's why you should think about a proper hair removal method from the very beginning.
If you want to get rid of unwanted hair for good, you're welcome to visit us and have laser hair removal in one of our salons in Warsaw, Poznań or Częstochowa.