Hair removal options are endless, but laser hair removal is the only method that offers more permanent removal of body hair. It is non-invasive, painless and efficient.
Laser hair removal is so safe that it can be used on any part of the body and for different skin types.
Men and women of all hair types can benefit from laser hair removal. Whether you have fair or darker skin, we are here to help you schedule the right laser treatment.
Our medical team has extensive experience in laser hair removal. We look forward to welcoming you to our practice in Zurich – your Caresthetic Team!
HOW OFTEN ?
every 6 – 8 weeks
SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE
Immediately
ABILITY TO WORK
Immediately
FITNESS FOR SPORTS
Immediately
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
You will see a REDUCTION of hair growth already after the first treatment.
You can say goodbye to shaving rash, unpleasant nicks and ingrown hair.
HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL ?
6 WEEKS BEFORE TREATMENT
Refrain from waxing, plucking or other hair removal other than shaving.
3-5 DAYS BEFORE THE TREATMENT
Avoid taking antihistamines and pain relievers immediately before your laser treatment.
NIGHT BEFORE TREATMENT
Shave treatment areas
AFTER THE LASER TREATMENT
Your skin may be sensitive for a few days. Avoid heat, friction, topical products and wear loose-fitting cotton clothing.
SUN
After laser treatment, use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF).
MAKEUP
Use only mineral makeup after the facial treatment. Why? Some makeup irritates your skin after the treatment. Light mineral makeup is best, no makeup is even better. Normal makeup can be used 24 hours after the treatment.
ALOE VERA
Immediately after the treatment, skin redness may appear, but it quickly disappears. Lotions with vitamin A and aloe vera are very good for soothing the irritation of the skin.
HAIR FREE
ENJOY!
WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
1
1st TREATMENT
Hair falls out after 7-14 days
2
2nd TREATMENT
Hair grows slower
3
3rd TREATMENT
Offspring becomes thinner and lighter
4
4th TREATMENT
The hair grows slower
5
5th TREATMENT
The skin feels softer – follicles are minimized
6
6th TREATMENT
Ingrown hair and razor rashes have decreased.
7
7th TREATMENT
The intervals between your sessions are getting longer
8
8th TREATMENT
Infrequent sessions (about 1x/year) to maintain the effects.
The number of treatments required depends on several factors:
- genetic predisposition
- hormonal status
- the area of the body to be treated (different number of hairs in the anagen phase
- hair and skin type
- result desired by the patient
- interval between treatments.
How many treatments do I need ?
On average, 4 to 7 treatments are required. In the beard area and for people with very strong hair growth, the number of sessions required may be slightly higher. The same applies to hair that has grown recently.
The intervals between sessions should not be too short.
Usually, the interval is chosen longer after several sessions, as less hair grows back.
However, if strong growth has started after the laser treatment, it is advisable to repeat the treatment in short intervals.
In patients with normal hair growth, the achieved result can be stable for several years.
In patients with genetically determined strong hair growth, it is to be expected that one follow-up treatment per year is necessary.
SIDE EFFECTS AND RISKS OF LASER THERAPY
- After the treatment especially in dark and thick hair, a slight perifollicular erythema can be seen. These effects are normal and last from a few hours to 2 days.
- Blisters, crusts as well as pigment changes (sun protection!) appear very rarely. Usually blisters and crusts heal within about a week without any consequences.
- Pigment changes can be observed for several months. Permanent pigment changes and scars are very rare.
- In rare cases, dark hair may become discolored and then cannot be removed with the laser/light due to the lack of absorption.
- Very rarely, paradoxical hair growth, i.e. stimulation of hair growth at the edge of the treated area, is also observed.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- Sun tanning
- Photosensitizing drugs: (roacutane, cortisone, antibiotics, hydrochlorothiazide – diuretics, amiodarone).
- Herpes
- Infections or skin diseases
- Skin lesions
- Tattoos
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- An interval of 6-8 weeks is also recommended if other epilation procedures such as waxing or plucking have been used, as the target chromophone is no longer present and therefore the laser treatment has no effect.
How does laser
hair removal work?
The laser transmits short pulses of light into the color pigments of individual hairs, that is about 2-5 mm below the skin surface. The hair follicles as well as cells responsible for new growth are heated quickly and briefly. All the hairs that are in the growth phase at the time of treatment (anagen phase) are damaged by the thermal reaction. Without hair root, no new hair can grow back.
The hairs that are not in the growth phase at the time of treatment cannot be destroyed by the laser. The only difficulty is that hair grows in cycles and during a session only the follicles that are in an active cycle of hair growth (anagen phase) are damaged. New hair growth becomes visible only when new hairs are formed in the anagen phase. Thus, at the beginning, several sessions are necessary to catch as many hairs as possible in the respective stages of the anagen phase. Thus, several treatments are required at intervals of 6 – 8 Weeks to completely prevent hair regrowth.
The main principle of laser hair removal is that certain wavelengths of light are absorbed by the melanin in a hair follicle without exerting a reaction on the surrounding tissue. The pigment absorbs the light and converts it into heat, which acts on the root and stem cells, destroying them and thus preventing further hair growth. The hair does not grow back! It is an effective solution for permanent hair removal.
Are IPL and laser the same?
LASER EPILATION
Both are marketed as laser methods, but this is not correct considering the physical aspects of the principle of action. Hair removal with an IPL device is not laser epilation, but photoepilation. Unfortunately, the two systems are often confused with each other, but basically they are two different technologies.
IPL IS LESS EFFECTIVE
With the laser, the wavelength is fixed, while the IPL/SHR process emits a broad non-uniform wavelength spectrum.
Both systems can achieve permanent hair removal, but the diode laser offers a faster and better result because the light is focused and targeted to the melanin in the hair.
While an IPL device can treat large areas, they perform poorly in small areas. The pain is said to be greater compared to laser.
Information about the scientific studies:
Photoepilation with a diode laser vs. intense pulsed light: a randomized, intrapatient left-to-right trial
A Klein 1, S Steinert, W Baeumler, M Landthaler, P Babilas
(Zusammenfassung der Übersichtsarbeit)Comparison of the effect of diode laser versus intense pulsed light in axillary hair removal.
Ormiga P, Ishida CE, Boechat A, Ramos-E-Silva M.
(Zusammenfassung der Übersichtsarbeit)
Main differences between IPL and laser
IPL
LASER
ARE MORE SELECTIVE
IPL delivers less energy to the desired target tissue
LASER
HIGHER
PENETRATION DEPTH
Laser penetrates deeper into the skin and reaches the hair at the most optimal level
Hair removal with a diode laser
Clinical studies show its effectiveness, even on lighter hair or fine hair left over from previous treatments, as well as on all skin types and sun-baked complexions.
The laser beam of a diode laser is able to provide high frequency pulses with low fluence, which allows us to control the spread of heat and use it safely on all skin tones and hair colors.
The wavelength of the diode laser is 808 nm, which is selectively absorbed by the hair melanin with a high absorption rate, but not by other surrounding structures such as water or hemoglobin (blood component). The skin and blood vessels remain completely unaffected and spared. Unwanted tissue damage is thus avoided.
The handpiece of a diode laser has a skin cooling system that protects the skin surface and provides more comfort during treatment.
