IPL Hair Removal

Written by on August 24, 2009 · Leave a Comment

You may have heard of IPL hair removal and wondered what it is as it often often talked of alongside laser hair removal as a permanent method of hair reduction.

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is actually one of the most common forms of “laser hair removal” used though it doesn’t actually use lasers in the strictest sense of the word!

The difference is that lasers (or Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation) produce a precise high energy beam of light in a single wavelength while Intense Pulsed Light systems use hundreds of different wavelengths of light. The bursts of light in IPL are filtered so that the flashes can be targeted at the hair in as precise a way as lasers would be.

In fact there are very few differences in the effect of laser and IPL hair removal treatment. Both work in the same way. The high energy light (whether from a laser or IPL hair removal machine) is designed to burn the hair and damage the follicle while leaving the skin relatively unscathed. The hair follicle is affected by the light energy heating up the cells at the base of the hair and damaging them causing them (hopefully) to be unable to produce further hair growth.

IPL Hair removal on legs and feet

IPL Hair removal on legs and feet

The benefits of IPL hair removal over lasers are that it treats a much larger area of skin per light pulse than laser hair treatment. It is therefore extremely popular with patients and clinics alike as it is both faster and cheaper without appearing to have any reduction in effectiveness. However the costs of laser hair removal you see quoted are generally those for the IPL form so this reduction has already been taken into account.

Another benefit of IPL over laser treatment is that there is less risk of damage to skin. That’s because the light is sent out in 4 or 5 pulses. The skin heats up less rapidly with each pulse than the darker hair and follicle and cools down faster between pulses resulting in damage to the hair follicle but not to the surrounding skin. Skin is generally treated with a cooling gel to reduce any burning sensation too.

While it will always be easier to treat patients with fair skin and dark hair (where the difference in hair and skin color is greatest) some IPL machines have been designed to deal with different skin colors these days.

The problem with treating other shades of hair is that it is the melanin in dark hair which absorbs the heat from the IPL machine. If you have blond or gray hair it has very little melanin to absorb the heat energy and so it does not get destroyed.

If you have dark, olive or tanned skin then the skin will also absorb some of the heat energy and may get damaged. This has been tackled by controlling the light in different ways for different skin types. Your treatment will probably take longer than someone who has fair skin and dark hair but it is now possible. Make sure you discuss these details during the initial consultation to ensure that the treatment and machine being proposed for IPL hair removal treatment are matched to your specific requirements.

Unfortunately just as with laser hair removal treatment IPL only damages follicles that are in their growth phase. This means that each Intense Pulsed Light treatment will only be effective on about 60% of the hair follicles that are actively growing at that time. (This percentage varies a little across different parts of the body). You have to rely on further IPL hair removal treatments to tackle the remaining hair. This means that everyone needs a course of at least 3 treatments and possibly 6 to 8 for best results.

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Cost of Laser Hair Removal

Written by on August 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment

When looking at the cost of laser hair removal always ask yourself what is included in the price that you are quoted.

You can get more information on the average cost in the post on Laser Hair Removal Prices, however you will find that clinics often use a different basis for their pricing so it may be difficult to compare costs across the various treatment options you have locally. It’s only when you go into more detail that you find you might not be making a fair assessment of one clinic against another.

When comparing one clinic’s laser hair removal prices with another consider whether the following are included or not and be sure to add the cost of everything up before making your final decision (although this should not be based on price alone, of course).

  1. Initial consultation and information provided. This is often free though th cost of giving free consultations will be built into the price you will eventually pay if you decide to go ahead as it is an overhead for the clinic.
    2. What is the FULL cost of laser hair removal?

    What is the FULL cost of treatment?

  2. Length and number of sessions included in your treatment package. If the treatment is priced on a per session basis, get an estimate of the number of sessions which will be needed in your case and compare this with the number being offered in a package with other clinics
  3. Exact area of the body to be treated. Does the back include the shoulders, for example? Whole leg or half leg?
  4. Any pain relief medication or after care lotions and products included or do you have to buy these separately? What do they recommend and how much do they cost?
  5. Are the results guaranteed? Or do you have to pay for follow up sessions if the hair is not removed? What is the cost of these sessions? You can reckon on needing a top up session every six months or so if you want to get an idea of what the ongoing cost might be
  6. If you require medical help to deal with any (rare) side effects, is this included in the treatment price?
  7. Are there any payment plans which help spread the cost of laser treatment? What are the additional costs for these?

In addition, ask the clinic whether there is anything else that you will have to pay on top of th things you have asked them just to make sure there are no misunderstandings.

As you can see there are a few factors which could influence the cost of laser hair removal considerably and even make it beyond your budget so make sure you get all the information you need from the laser clinics you are considering before signing up for a course of treatment.

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Laser Hair Removal Equipment

Written by on August 25, 2009 · Leave a Comment

When you’re at the stage of considering a particular treatment center or clinic, be sure to ask questions about which type of laser hair removal equipment they have and which machines you will actually be treated with.

Obviously the more state of the art the better. If their equipment is 20 years old, run a mile because equipment is constantly improving and if a clinic is not reinvesting in new technology then you are not getting the best results that could be achieved for your time and money. While these machines cost tens of thousands of dollars and clinics can’t constantly change them, that is not your problem and you do want to find a clinic which uses the latest and best.

Also remember that different types of equipment are suitable for different skin and hair types. When you go for your initial consultation ask why they recommend a particular piece of equipment for you over others that they may have. If they have only one type of laser equipment ask why they chose it and whether it is the best one for you.

laser hair removal equipment

Which laser equipment will be right for you?

The different types of laser equipment which you might encounter at clinics are:-

  • The Ruby Laser is a 694 nm wavelength machine. (Also see brand names Epilaser, Rubystar and Palomar E2000). This was the first laser hair removal system used commercially and has been extensively tested. The light waves are very selectively absorbed by melanin (the pigment in the hair and skin). It causes selective damage to hair follicles, minimising injury to the skin. There is a 2 second period between each laser pulse designed to allow the skin to cool down and cause less injury and pain. This type of laser also only works on light skin colors
  • The Alexandrite Laser Machine – This machine has a 755nm wavelength and works in a similar way to the Ruby laser. It is also only suitable for treating very white skin. It appears under the brand names of GentleLASE, Apogee and EpiTouchPlus.
  • The Nd: Yag (1064 nm wavelength) laser which appears also under brand names CoolGlide, Medilite IV, Varia, Athos, Lyra and Image is meant to be capable of treating all skin colors however the evidence is still lacking about whether long term hair removal can be achieved for everyone. It was not designed specifically for hair removal and is more often used for removing tattoos. It must be used with a carbon lotion to effect hair removal and there is the difficulty of getting the lotion to penetrate to the follicles. If it doesn’t skin damage can occur according to the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors. It appears this is not the safest option
  • The Diode laser (800 nm or 810 nm wavelength). There are lots of brand names for this type of laser including SLP 1000, FI Diode, Light Sheer, MeDioStar, LaserLite, Epistar and Apex 800. This kind of laser penetrates further into the skin than Ruby and Alexandrite lasers and may be used to treat darker skin although tests are still ongoing as to how effective they are at long term hair removal.
  • Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser also appears under brand names Ultimate Light, EpilLight, PhotoDerm, Quantum, AcuLight or Vasculight. These type of lasers can safely treat all skin colors as there are many parameters on the machine which can be adjusted by a trained operator to effect hair removal in a more personalized way. See IPL hair removal for more details.

Which laser hair removal equipment will work best for you?

Unfortunately the FDA only approves systems as being safe and does not compare how effective one system is over another. And with most of the machines tests are ongoing regarding how permanent hair removal actually is. So you are left with requesting the evidence from the clinics you are thinking of using about their particular system or researching on the web where you may be fed stories put about by the manufacturers. By the far the best is personal recommendation of laser hair removal equipment from someone who has had success with it and has similar hair and coloring to you. Failing that get as much information about any particular machine as you can from independent medical websites.

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Home Laser Hair Removal System

Written by on August 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment

If you prefer to remove hair yourself you have probably longed for an effective home laser hair removal system to remove your unwanted hair permanently and without fuss. It’s very appealing to zap your hair at home and not to have to make tedious appointments at a hair removal clinic.

As there are several laser systems for home use on the market you may think it’s just a case of choosing one and you’re done. But unfortunately most of them are not great so it’s a case of buyer beware.

We have already talked about a few systems in our reviews such as the Silk’n, the Epila and the Rio hair removal system but you may come across others (and we will eventually get around to reviewing them too.

Use a home laser hair removal system for smooth legs

Use a home laser hair removal system for smooth legs

Let us know if you have a particular one you would like us to look at). The problem with this kind of product is that you may find reviews online but many of them are from companies selling the systems rather than from those who bought a particular system doing a genuine consumer review. So don’t believe everything you read.

If you want to see genuine reviews of buyers here’s a link that will take you to the range of laser hair removal products available at Amazon. There you can look at the individual systems and get a feel for which are the good ones.

Be aware however that results will vary and opinions differ with EVERY system and that it is often (although not always) as much to do with the person operating the equipment as the laser hair removal system itself.

Remember

  1. Results won’t be instantaneous. Yes, the machine should remove hair with each laser pulse but it may come back if it was not at the right stage of growth to be destroyed. You can’t tell if that it the case by looking at your hair so you just have to keep carrying out the treatment so that you catch hair at the right time until it does not return.
  2. You need to take care with your skin and start at low levels and less sensitive areas until you are used to the process on YOUR skin. You may see a few reviews from those who have hurt their skin a bit so you need to take care. These machines are not toys. It’s a case of getting the balance right between destroying as much hair as possible and leaving your skin as unaffected as possible so go easy with this until you get the right level for you (although I know how tempting it is to want to zap that hair RIGHT NOW!
  3. You also need to have the right type of skin for these machines. Don’t buy a laser hair removal system unless you have the easiest type of hair and skin to treat – fair skin and dark hair. Anything else and you need to go for professional laser treatment instead.

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Average Laser Hair Removal Price

Written by on August 30, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Although the prices charged will be different depending on where you live and the clinic you choose, it’s good to have an idea of the average laser hair removal price as a guideline for what you might expect to pay before you start your research. This will help you see if laser hair treatment is within your budget or well out of it.

You will see average laser hair removal prices listed here for most areas of the body which were reported by consumers in the US in 2009. The price depends on the size of the area being treated (which affects how long the sessions need to be). The price quoted is for one treatment. Remember you will typically need 4 to 6 sessions to clear 80% of your hair. (If you are looking for for laser hair removal prices for other countries such as the UK these prices are pretty much the same once converted into pounds although there will be some differences due to fluctuating exchange rates).

How much of a nest egg will you need to pay for laser hair removal?

How much of a nest egg will you need to pay for laser hair removal?

If you reckon on needing 6 sessions costing the highest end of the range for the part of your body you want treated you may be pleasantly surprised. On the other hand thinking you need only 4 at the lowest end of the sale may mean you are disappointed and can’t afford the treatment you thought you could.

Also be aware that sometimes clinics will offer savings or discounts for up front payment for a series of treatments. Just don’t be pushed into signing a “special offer today only” deal if you are not ready. Better to go with a laser clinic which doesn’t pressurize you into expensive treatment.

Once you have completed your initial sessions, you may need top up treatments if some hair grows back. Factor in having one session every six months if you want to be on the safe side.

Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal Treatment for Facial Hair Removal

Removal of all facial hair (full face) typical cost is : $150 – $300
Upper lip typically costs : $50 – $150
Removal of hair from chin only costs : $50 – $150

Average Cost For Arm Hair Removal (includes both arms)

Removing hair from underarms costs : $50 – 150
Half arms typical cost : $200 – 400

Average Cost for Body Hair Removal

Removal of hair from buttocks costs : $150 – 300
Back hair removal costs : $200 – 500
Chest hair removal costs : $100 – 300
Removing hair from abdomen Costs : $100 – 300

Average Cost for Leg Hair Removal

Half legs (both) Costs : $200 – 400

Cost of Laser Bikini Hair Removal

Regular bikini costs : $100 – 200
Brazilian bikini costs : $200 – 300

If you find that laser treatment is out of the question you may want to think about the more effective home laser hair removal machines available. They are not for everyone as you will see in home laser hair removal but they may be worth considering if you are suitable for treatment with a home laser machine and can’t afford professional treatment.

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The Best Laser Hair Removal Treatment

Written by on September 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Getting the best laser hair removal treatment starts before you visit the clinic for the first time. Look around online at all the places offering laser hair removal in your area. Send for their information and compare notes. Visit those places which appeal – not just those offering the best brochures but a good range of laser centers and clinics to find the best one for your treatment.

You see some laser treatment centers will have very capable sales and marketing people but you want the centers with the best laser hair removal equipment and the most trained technicians not just the most persuasive sales people. You have to read between the ads for each laser clinic to get the best results and customer service for your money.

What should you be looking for in quality laser hair removal treatment?

Are there medically trained operators at the laser clinic?

Are there medically trained operators at the laser clinic?

1. State of the Art Laser Hair Removal Equipment

Laser hair removal equipment improves all the time but as those machines cost several thousand dollars each clinics don’t always stay up to date. Research the equipment that the center uses. And if you have anything other than light skin and dark hair (the easiest combination to treat) check that they have specialist machines which cater for you.

2. Well Trained Operators

Of course, all operators will all be fully trained an have certificates to prove it (this will be required by law in most cases) but what results do they achieve at this particular laser treatment center? Do they have before and after pictures of numerous clients as they go through their treatment showing improvement and real reduction in hair? Do they have believable testimonials?

3. Realistic Promises

Try and get round the sales hype and find out from the clinic what may actually be achievable by you with your skin and hair type. Don’t trust a clinic which glosses over the fact that you probably won’t achieve complete, permanent hair removal. Ask about how painful the treatment is and don’t trust any clinic which talks about pain free. As a minimum you will feel some discomfort – like being pinged by tiny rubber bands. Trust a clinic which tells it exactly as it is, not the one which hypes things up.

4. Guarantees

If a laser treatment center is offering to treat hair until it is gone for good with free of charge follow up appointments then that is great because every type of skin and hair reacts differently but it is more likely that you will a get certain number of follow up sessions included in your package if hair is not fully removed. Just weigh up the likely cost of follow up laser treatment at each clinic if it is not including when you are considering different packages.

5. General Environment

Do you feel comfortable with the clinic? Is it clean? Does it seem that it is efficiently run? Do you get the feeling that they are just after your money or truly care that you solve your unwanted hair problems? (Not always easy to tell but if they are putting you under pressure to sign up before you have had a chance to make up your mind you have your answer) Even small things like appointments being available when you need them may sway your decision between one clinic and another.

6. Plenty of Information

Do they tell you exactly what to expect before, during and after each session? Do they have information you can take away and read? For information about what they should be telling you see the articles on the main part of the Simply Hair Removal site about what to expect at each stage of treatment: See the Laser Hair Removal section

7. Costs

Finally the cost of the treatment. Look at the overall cost given the number of sessions you are likely to need (including top up treatments) and compare it to the average laser hair removal price as well as the cost of other clinics in your local area. (Prices do vary quite a lot between different regions from $350 on average per session to $500). Check out any payment plans on offer which may help you to afford laser hair removal treatment too (but don’t forget to add on the cost of any finance charges to the overall price).

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Can You Trust a Laser Hair Removal Clinic?

Written by on November 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Some of the ads you see for laser hair removal clinics are too much like those you see for used cars. They emphasize the “wonderful” deal you’re getting and not the process. But laser treatment is an invasive medical procedure. There’s no incision involved but a laser is a powerful instrument in the wrong hands so you need to be able to trust the clinic you choose.

Having said that, you CAN trust the companies providing laser hair removal for the most part. The operators are trained to operate the equipment on delicate skin. The companies are government regulated. But even so, I would definitely be more confident choosing some treatment centers and laser technicians over others when it comes to removing hair from my body or face.

Put Yourself in Safe Hands : Choose the Right Laser Hair Removal Clinic

Put Yourself in Safe Hands : Choose the Right Laser Center

Don’t pick a hair removal clinic just by looking at enticing ads of super smooth skin and great deals. And don’t go shopping around for the best price you can get for laser treatment without worrying about who is providing it and you should be OK. You can use the ads to see who is offering treatment in your area but do your research too.

Also ask around. Maybe one of your friends has already had hair removal treatment at a clinic or center and is happy with the results. Personal recommendation is definitely the best way to choose a clinic if you can find someone you know with similar coloring to you. (Remember different machines work better on different types of skin and hair).

Visit any laser clinic you are thinking of using for an initial consultation. Visit a few clinics and compare notes. You can see the kind of questions you should be asking and the things to think about in this article: Laser Hair Treatment.

My main criteria for knowing whether a laser hair removal clinic is trustworthy is by finding out how open and honest they are about the potential results of the process. Do they give you the fulls facts about what you can expect or only the sales message and leave you to read the facts in the small print? Do they tell you how the process will feel or do they skim over the fact that you will feel some pain or discomfort during treatment?

In general, whether you trust a clinic will be a case of gut feel so make sure that you meet the technicians as well as the sales people and that you see the treatment rooms as well as the reception area or consulting rooms so that you can make a proper decision about the laser treatment center you are happy to work with.

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Cheap Laser Hair Removal

Written by on November 6, 2009 · Leave a Comment

I was just thinking since I wrote Can You Trust a Laser Hair Removal Clinic that although we may all want cheap laser hair removal, it may not be what is best for us. If the price is genuinely cheaper in one laser treatment center than in other companies, you have to wonder what corners have been cut to offer such cheap prices. What have they cut back on to provide the discount? For example

  • are they using older laser equipment that other companies have long ago replaced? As hair removal technology is improving all the time you want the latest and best equipment you can get.
  • are they skimping on staff costs? All laser technicians must be trained but are they doing the bare minimum rather than giving their staff the best possible training?
  • are they actually giving you less for your money? Even though you think you are getting a good deal on your laser treatment, are they treating the same area of your body, for the same amount of time and the same number of sessions?
Is cheap laser hair removal a good idea?

Is discount laser hair removal a good idea?

Even so, while keeping your mind on what might be wrong, you have to remember that there may very well be a genuine reason why a clinic seems to be offering a better deal on laser hair removal treatment than other clinics. It’s not always an issue with the clinic.

It is obviously cheaper to run a clinic in some parts of the country than others, and some parts of a city bring higher or lower costs too. So make sure you are comparing like with like and not New York City, London or Paris city center prices with an out of town facility.

Another genuine reason is that clinics may offer cheaper prices to get you to try out their service as a kind of introductory offer. That is fine. Just make sure you check the overall deal as you may find that your cheap laser hair removal treatment “two legs for the price of one” type deal turns out to be more expensive in the long run. Look at the costs over the whole course of treatment including any after care and lotions you need not just the offer price.

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Laser Hair Removal for the Face

Written by on November 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

If you have been thinking about getting some laser facial hair removal work done, here are what I consider essential for you to know – the key laser hair removal face facts and tips.

  • Laser hair removal is one of the most popular methods of facial hair removal for women – some men use it too, especially those who are going through transgender transformation. A beard is much tougher to remove than typical female facial hair however and may need additional sessions.
  • The cost of laser hair removal is less for the face than for any other area of the body simply because of the small area of skin being treated. Typical laser hair removal for the face cost (upper lip) is around $80 a session with 3 to 5 sessions being needed. If you are looking to get extensive work done around the hairline and neck as well as sideburns and upper lip you can expect a higher price.
    • information

    When you're considering ANY hair removal treatment, but especially laser hair removal on your face get as much information as you can

  • The face is one of the most sensitive areas in the body so you will feel some discomfort during laser treatment. It will feel like you are being pinged with tiny little rubber bands many time a minute. That can be quite sore. Ask about pain relief when you go for your initial consultation. You will probably be given a cooling gel after treatment to help reduce irritation.
  • Your facial skin will look a little red after your session so don’t plan any important engagements just after having laser treatment on your face. If possible don’t plan anything the day of your first treatment so you can see how your skin reacts and to be on the safe side maybe the day after too.
  • Facial laser treatment works less well on those with dark skin. As the laser targets the pigment in hair and relies on it being darker than the surrounding skin there is a fine line to tread between ineffective treatment on the hair and burning the skin with that type of coloring. Also if you have fair, gray or red hair there may not be enough pigment in the hair for the laser to work on. Some machines are now available which work with different colors of skin and hair but the treatment is still likely to be less effective.
  • Dealing with face hair by laser removal can be life transforming for some especially if you have been struggling with other methods for some time and not finding any of them satisfactory. If facial hair is causing you distress it is worth trying laser hair removal for sure if you have the type of skin which works well with laser treatment
  • Do not go out in the sun before and after facial laser hair removal, use a sun bed or a fake tanning product. You want the difference in your skin and hair to be as marked as possible. Also do not bleach your upper lip hair for best results!
  • Laser face hair removal has only one rival in effectiveness. Electrolysis is the only proven permanent method of dealing with facial hair for everyone. It is long and slow compared with laser treatment but it does work and is the best method of permanent hair removal if you have dark skin or fair hair.

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How to Reduce Laser Hair Removal Costs

Written by on January 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Laser Hair removal costs are prohibitive for many. There’s no doubt about it. So if you have an unwanted hair problem that would respond well to laser treatment but you only have a limited budget it makes sense to look into reducing the cost of laser hair removal in any way you can. But there are some ways that are sensible and others that you need to be aware of because an affordable laser hair removal treatment is not aways the same as a good one – and cheap laser treatment may cost you more in the long run in both money and peace of mind.

Before you even think about the cost for laser hair removal visit a few clinics to get a feel for the standards of care and facilities you might expect to receive when you have treatment. Collect information about their pricing but don’t be swayed by any special offers or deals. They will pressure you to sign up there and then but don’t be pushed into signing up for anything until you are ready.

Reduce Laser Hair Removal Costs

Cut Laser Hair Removal Costs

If you think you might not be able to resist, visit clinics out of town that will not be convenient for you to use on an ongoing basis. You will still get a feel for what you are looking for in a clinic and an idea of the average cost of laser hair removal that you can use as a comparison for other clinics in the future. If this seems like too much work and effort, at least phone to get details and prices from clinics in your area and then visit the three that you think offer the best value.

Because the costs of laser hair removal are so high some clinics are liable to hide some of their charges even if it is just to avoid mentioning that you might have to pay extra for items such as cooling gel so always ask what is included and inquire about any additional services or items you might need so that you can assess the full cost at each clinic. Check that the clinic is using the latest technology and that it is suitable for your skin and hair type. Ask whether there is a guarantee too if the treatment does not work as well as expected.

What you are trying to do is not to find the cheapest laser hair removal cost but the best value. So make your choice based on which clinic will offer you the best combination of both service and price. What is far from cheap is to be treated in a clinic which has out of date equipment and which charges you a relatively low price for treatment which does not work for you.

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