How does the treatment work?

Intense pulsed light (IPL) systems produce a pulse of high intensity broadband light that passes through the skin and heat the hair follicle. Heating the hair follicle stops any further regrowth of the hair.

Is the treatment permanent?

The permanence of laser hair removal is often questioned. In practice no single laser system destroys all hair follicles. Some follicles are destroyed, others are miniaturized and some enter a prolonged resting phase. It is possible that with a sufficient number of treatments, true permanent hair removal can be achieved.

How does hair grow?

Hair is made up of a shaft and a root. The shaft is the hair you see and the root is buried beneath the skin. The normal growth cycle of hair includes anagen (active hair growth), telogen (resting phase), and catagen (where the hair falls out). The length of the cycle varies but continues throughout an individual's lifetime.

What methods of hair removal are available?

There are a number of traditional methods of removing unwanted hair. These include shaving, plucking, waxing, depilatory creams and electrolysis; all of which can be painful and time consuming, or only temporarily effective. Lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL) systems are now the gold standard method of hair removal.

Can all types of hair be treated?

Lightly coloured and blonde hair do not respond as well as dark and black hair.

How many treatments are needed?

On average 3 to 6 treatments are needed at 4 to 6 week intervals.

Are there any after-effects following treatment?

Redness, and some discomfort of the area (like sunburn) may be present for the first few days following treatment. Blistering may occur in a minority of patients, and this settles without treatment in a few days. Rarely, the pigment in the skin may be effected resulting in the treated area appearing lighter or darker. This almost certainly settles in time.

What are the costs?

Detailed pricing will be discussed at initial consultation. More details are given in the pricing section.

Is laser treatment safe?

There is no evidence whatsoever to suggest that laser treatment can lead to skin disorders or an increased risk of skin cancer.