manchester

healthy options

medicines and treatments

Laser hair removal

LASERS have come out of the space age and onto the High Street. Used increasingly in surgery in hospitals their potential is now being tapped for the lucrative beauty market.

They are successfully being used to treat thread veins, remove tattoos and treat acne.

Often less successful is their use in unwanted hair removal. Hailed as a welcome end to constant waxing or shaving, the first lasers which appeared at clinics in the mid-90’s often gave painful and disappointing results.

There were serious complaints about burning and scarring and some patients were left permanently disfigured.

There were obvious limitations but technology and expertise has moved on since the early days with a wide variety of different lasers now being used.

And today many clinics are offering a workable solution to the problem of unwanted hair. Although none is prepared to categorically state that lasers offer a permanent solution to getting rid of unwanted hair, many can report clients who have been hair-free for a considerable length of time following treatment.

Tricia Oppizzio, at Dunham Consulting Rooms, Bowdon, has been working with the Polaris laser for around a year and is delighted with the results. ‘‘My clients are thrilled with the reduction they are getting,’’ she says.

Clinical trials carried out in America in 1996 reveal that the Polaris resulted in an arrest of hair growth in patients after just five or six treatments and that those patients are still hair-free today.

Fozia Hussein, aged 22, of Altrincham, spent £2,000 on another type of laser treatment for facial and neck hair, but was very disappointed with the results. She has now had four Polaris treatments and most of the hair has disappeared.

‘‘For the first time in many years I have plucked up the courage to wear my hair up. People used to stare at me because I was so hairy and I had no confidence as a result. I used to wax it every second day, it was awful.

I feel so much happier and confident now.’’ The treatment, which starts at £85 for an upper lip, is painless as freezing air is blown on to the skin to numb it prior to lasering.

The beam, from a hand-held gun, passes directly through the skin without causing damage, which makes it suitable for all skin shades. This energy focuses on the melanin surrounding the base of the hair bulb causing an increase in temperature which weakens the hair papilla and destroys the growth cells.

As is the case with most types of laser, red or fair hair is much harder to treat than dark hair and requires more treatments.

That point was made to red-haired *Elaine Green, from Stretford, when she embarked upon treatment using the Epilight laser, which is generally regarded as an effective treatment.

Elaine, who has excessive facial hair and has suffered from depression as a result, was told that the treatment would eventually get rid of her hair.

But after a year, and having spent £600, she could see no improvement.

She complained and eventually her money was refunded.

She has since been treated with the Quartet laser at the Mary Haworth Salon in Ashton-Under-Lyne and after 12 weekly treatments she can report a 50 per cent reduction in hair growth.

‘‘I get very depressed about my facial hair and I’ve had time off work as a result,’’ she says. ‘‘You feel very unfeminine and think people are looking at you all the time.

''I took photographs of my chin before the Epilight treatment started and it was very obvious that there was no reduction after a year. I still have a problem, but I can at least see some reduction with the Quartet,’’ she says.

Quartet uses four low-powered lasers as opposed to one high powered one. The four beams converge at one point under the skin producing a high concentration of laser energy which destroys the hair follicle.

Suzanne Haworth from the salon says most clients will need between 12 and 24 treatments depending on the hair type. Prices start at £25 per session.

One of the latest lasers is the Ellipse, pioneered in Scandinavia, which is only available in London at Revere Aesthetics of Harley Street. Where this system differs from other techniques is that is has what is known as a dual-mode filtering ability. In layman’s terms that means it removes potentially damaging light frequencies, protecting the tissue cells from overheating and so removing any sensation of pain.

Jo Robinson, who runs the clinic, claims: ‘‘I believe we have the most effective, safest and most pain-free hair-removal treatment not only in the UK, but in the world.’’

Amazing claims indeed, and presumably the reason why Ellipse is so expensive at £220 for a single chin treatment and £1,500 for a leg and bikini line – about four are required to achieve around an 80 per cent hair reduction.

Adivce for those seeking laser hair removal

First seek advice from your doctor about the problem. He may refer you to an endocrinologist who can investigate the reasons for your hirsutism.
There are so many different types of laser with varying specifications it is vital that you shop around and collate as much information as possible before you make your decision. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like will it damage my skin? what guarantee do I have that it will be effective on my hair or skin colour? will it hurt? (some lasers are pretty painful!) how long before I see an improvement? and finally, how much will it cost? These are all vitally important questions.
When you have made your decision insist on two patch tests being carried out to test for skin reactions and effectiveness before you commit yourself financially as some clinics ask for pre-payment of a course of treatments.
Don’t be afraid to say if you are not happy with the treatment or if you sincerely believe that there has not been a significant hair reduction after a reasonable number of treatments.
*Name has been changed.

Links