LASER EPILATION

Unwanted hair and hair is an aesthetic problem for both women and men. Although there are many methods to get rid of such hair, permanent treatment is not possible with these methods. The fact that other classical methods of eliminating unwanted hair are short-lived and painful has led to the popularity of laser today. Lasers, which are now used in many areas of medicine, are also used with great success for epilation purposes, that is, to eliminate unwanted hair.

Today, many men, who are not satisfied with the wrinkles, acne, hair loss and excess fat on their face, as much as women, are also making the excess hair on their body a problem and laser is used again for treatment.

What does laser mean?

The Turkish use of the English LASER word, which consists of the initials of “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”, is “laser”. Lasers produce an intense light that travels in one direction and contains energy. Laser light can be colored as well as colorless and invisible. Visibility is related to wavelength. Wavelength and power determine the areas of use of lasers in medicine. Today, different types and wavelengths of lasers are widely used for different purposes in medicine.

What type of lasers are used in epilation?

Lasers used for epilation can be listed as alexandrite, ruby, diode, nd:yag. The names of these lasers are according to the wavelengths of the light they emit. As the technology of epilation laser devices progresses, we see that the wavelengths increase because the wavelength gains importance in the areas where the light can affect in the body. During epilation, the laser light passes through the skin until it reaches the hair follicle. The laser destroys the hair follicle by making a high heat effect in the root. Since dark colored and thick hairs hold the heat better, their treatments with laser are more successful. Those whose hair color is darker than their skin color can reach the result in the shortest time with the least side effect.

What is laser and how does it affect hair?

While the hair follicle is destroyed with laser, the aim is to damage the cells in the hair follicles by making selective heating, that is, by burning them. This energy absorbed by the hair follicle turns into heat and destroys the hair follicle so that it cannot grow again. The laser light applied to the skin for milliseconds passes through the skin without damaging it and penetrates the pigments in the hair follicle. All epilation laser types delay hair growth and cause hair to grow weaker and less. For permanent epilation, the aim is to destroy the part of the hair follicle called the papilla. During the treatment, it is important for the treatment that the hairs are in the anagen, catogen or telogen phase, which are the growth stages. The fact that the hairs are in different stages at the time of application causes the result to be taken after an average of 5-8 sessions. The application time and dose of the laser beam vary depending on the person’s skin color and structure.

Laser Epilation Session Processes

Laser light affects hair follicles in the anagen (active) phase. All roots are not active at the same time. Therefore, when telogen (passive) roots become active, they will also need to be applied. A permanent solution can only be obtained after a few sessions. Since the thickness and density of the hairs are different in each body, it is not possible to give a definite number of sessions, it varies from person to person and from region to region. On average, mostly 5-8 sessions are sufficient.

In the epilation application, the dose selection is made according to the skin type. In this way, it is aimed to complete the treatment in the shortest time by working at a power that will affect the hair follicles but will not damage the skin. Since everyone’s body structure and hormonal levels, skin type are different, the time required to reach the result varies from person to person. The sessions are repeated at appropriate times to catch the hairs in the anagen (growth) phase.

How many sessions are required?

Laser light affects hair follicles in the anagen (active) phase. All roots are not active at the same time. Therefore, when telogen (passive) roots become active, they will also need to be applied. A permanent solution is only obtained after a few sessions. Since the thickness and density of the hairs are different in each body, it is not possible to give a definite number of sessions, it varies from person to person and from region to region. On average, mostly 5-8 sessions are sufficient for a permanent solution.

How long does a session last?

Durations vary according to the application area. On average, the mustache and chin area is completed in 1-5 minutes, while all legs take 30-45 minutes. The intervals between sessions are 4-6 weeks.

Which areas can it be done on?

Application can be done on almost all parts of the body. Hair distribution and amount are different in men and women. Essentially, excessive hairiness, which is a problem for women, can also be disturbing for men in areas such as between the eyebrows, above the cheekbone, back, neck, chest and nape.

25-30 hair follicles are destroyed with each shot, and this shortens the application time considerably.

Is it applied to every skin color?

The most ideal candidates for the application are those with dark hair on light skin. With the latest technology Alexandrite type devices, application is made to all skin colors, including those with dark skin color. It can be done in all seasons provided that you do not tan.

Is laser epilation safe?

Since cooling air is given during the application, no pain is felt. The energy produced by the laser is a wavelength of light. This light, which passes through the skin without damaging it and reaches the hair follicle, does not leave any residue in the body. For example, x-rays leave residue such as radiation in the body, and if taken too much within a certain time, it can pose a risk. However, there is no residue left by the laser light in the body and therefore it is safe, and it has no carcinogenic effect. The safety and effectiveness of its application was approved by the American Food and Drug Association (FDA) in 1997.

Does it leave scars after treatment?

After the treatment, there may be redness lasting 5-10 minutes, sometimes half an hour. This is temporary. In lasers without a cooling system, there is always a risk of burns and subsequent blemishes on the skin due to the absorption of light from the melanin pigments in the upper layer of the skin. In a laser with a cooling system, the skin is not allowed to heat up, thus the risk of burns is reduced. Even if a scar remains, it will disappear completely over time.

Who can it be applied to?

It can be applied to everyone with dark hair, men and women from the age of 12. There are many epilation methods for unwanted and sometimes excessive hair growth. Among these, “Laser Epilation” is the most preferred method because it is painless, easy to apply and effective.