What is the difference between “laser” and “IPL” hair removal?  What are the pros and cons?  They are very similar and work on similar mechanisms.  A laser is a traditional light device that puts out high-energy light of a specific wavelength.  An Intense Pulsed Light device (IPL) puts out broad-band light at high energy also.  Various filters on that light “tune” it to the desirable range of wavelengths, such as more green or more red light.

IPL devices came into common use in the 90’s, a good deal later than when lasers became available.  They are so popular because a single device can have handpieces with different color filters to provide hair removal for a range of different skin types.  A laser typically puts out only 1 wavelength and is therefore more limited.  For instance, an Alexandrite laser has excellent hair removal properties but is not as useful for darker skin types.  YAG laser can be used in all skin colors but is not as effective.  However, an IPL can be filtered in virtually any way and provides hair removal for virtually any skin color at the desired effectiveness.  Additionally, IPL devices typically have large spot sizes, making them fast as well as versatile.

A fair-skinned person with darker hair is the ideal candidate for hair removal with any device.  They will get good results with all of them but better if they stay away from YAG laser.  A darker skinned person should stay with YAG, red-filtered IPL, or diode.  There is a well-known risk of burns when getting laser or IPL hair removal that rises in proportion to pigment or tanning of the skin.  It is therefore important to discuss those risks with your provider and avoid sun exposure after treatment.

Laser and IPL hair removal require at least 6 sessions to be effective for the long term.  The reason for this is that only a portion of your hair follicles are actively growing hair at any time.  It’s the hair that absorbs laser light and transmits that energy to the hair follicle, thereby damaging it.  Those hair follicles that aren’t growing hair are essentially invisible to the laser.  Each time that a hair follicle with hair is hit by the laser, it will either be damaged or completely destroyed.  So with each treatment, more and more hair follicles are completely or nearly destroyed.

Another variable that affects the number of laser treatments you need is hair color, coarseness, and skin color.  Hair must be darker than the surrounding skin for treatment to be effective.  The ideal candidate is someone with light skin and dark hair.  If you have tanned skin and light hair, then you are a poor candidate for laser hair removal.  Patients with mostly gray, white, or blond hair are also poor candidates.  Coarse hair is better than fine hair since it presents a larger target for the laser.  Very fine or peach fuzz-like hair, such as occurs on the upper lip in women, can be challenging for laser hair removal.

Although 6-8 sessions are commonly enough for people to get satisfactory long term laser hair removal, your clinician will go over what you can expect during your free consultation at TMD Medispa.

Laser hair removal has come a long way from the early days of its development.  The early lasers used for laser hair removal could not be used on darker skin types due to the risk of burning and hyperpigmentation.   Today’s IPL’s and diode lasers, however, work safely on a much broader range of skin types and colors than in the past.  In general, the ideal candidate is still someone with lighter skin and relatively darker hair.  The darker hair absorbs more laser light than the surrounding lighter skin and is preferentially damaged by the laser light.  If you have darker skin, laser hair removal is still an option as long as your hair is darker in color than your skin.  The darkness of the skin does limit the energy that can be safely applied during each treatment, but a similar ultimate hair removal result may still be possible with a few additional treatments. If you have blond or white hair, or your skin is darker than your hair, then you are probably not a good candidate for laser hair removal.  Waxing or electrolysis may be a better option in that case.

Please join us on SAT. APRIL 25TH    10AM- 6PM

There will be Food, Fun, Drawings, and Freebies!
FREE DRAWINGS FOR:
JUVEDERM

BOTOX

TATTOO REMOVAL

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

FREEBIES:            MINI FACIALS OR WAXING (BY APPT. ONLY)
LIMITED SPACE - CALL EARLY TO
SCHEDULE

Please stop by the office on the party day and fill out an entry form to
be eligible for drawings.  Good Luck!!

TMD Medi-Spa now has better laser hair removal abilities than ever!  With the recent acquisition of the Starlux IPL system, we now have an even stronger laser hair removal offering than before.  The IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) allows us to treat even tanned and dark skin with good results.  Another large advantage is that it is virtually painless.  Imagine that!  No anesthetic cream is required either.  We hope that you come in and try our new IPL hair removal if you have been nervous about laser hair removal in the past.

Summer is here, you’re ready to head to the beach, don your swimsuit and walk around in your shorts in t-shirt. You also don’t want to be constantly shaving, so laser hair removal is just the thing for you. To make it safe, there are some precautions that are particularly important for summer laser hair removal.

The mechanism for laser hair removal works based on the hair shaft being darker than the surrounding skin and absorbing relatively much more light. This causes the hair follicle to be damaged while leaving the surrounding skin unharmed. If the skin is tanned, it may absorb too much light, making the laser hair removal either unsafe or much less effective in that circumstance.

You must avoid sun exposure and tanning, including spray-on tans prior to the procedure, so that you go in completely untanned. After the procedure, it is important to strictly avoid the sun and use sunblock on sun-exposed areas for several weeks.

At Tattoo MD Medi-Spa, the laser hair removal procedure is tailored to your specific skin and hair colors. We exercise the utmost caution to maximize safety.

Laser hair removal has become the second most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States.  It can be said that the popularity of a procedure is a testament to the value of that procedure.  With hundreds of thousands of such procedures a year, it is clear that this type of treatment has become mainstream. 

In Los Angeles, there are many types of facilities that offer laser hair removal.  There are doctors’ offices, medi-spas, and day spas or beauty salons that might offer these services.  One must be cautious when selecting a clinic for laser hair removal.  This is still a medical procedure, not a simple spa treatment.  Having a supervising doctor available ensures that treatments are done according to guidelines and that help is available in case of an unexpected outcome.  Also, laser manufacturers do not sell lasers to non-physicians.

Laser hair removal is technically laser hair “reduction.”  This is because one can never achieve “perfect” hair removal.  Small, fine hairs or the occasional straggler may be left.  Instead, the goal of laser hair reduction is 80-90% long term clearance in good candidates.  The laser works by the principle that light of a certain wavelength is selectively taken up by the hair shaft which is darker than the surrounding skin.  The light travels down the shaft and damages the hair follicle from which the hair grew.  Since only a fraction of hair follicles are actively growing hair at any one time, several treatments are needed to go through all the follicles once.  In the best candidates, 6-8 treatments will usually achieve 80-90% clearance. 

There are various laser technologies that have been used for hair removal.  The oldest is the ruby, which is not used much anymore.  In common use today are Alexandrite, YAG, and diode lasers, and Intense Pulsed Light devices.  All of these machines are know to be effective.  There are some minor differences, and studies have shown that diode and alexandrite lasers are the most effective.  Additional technologies may be rolled into the device, such as radiofrequency (RF) with the Syneron diode lasers. 

For the right candidate with realistic expectations for the procedure, laser hair removal can be both safe and rewarding.

Hyperpigmentation is a the darkening of the skin in or around a treatment site, (in this case a laser-treated site).  Increased melanin production by the melanocytes of the skin in response to thermal changes and inflammation.   Any kind of laser treatment, whether it is the kind that causes deep injury to the skin, such as a carbon dioxide laser, or a q-switched laser that sends much less energy into the skin, can cause hyperpigmentation.  By minimizing thermal damage to the normal skin, one can minimize the risk of hyperpigmenation.   It is generally temporary but recovery time can vary widely, lasting a few weeks to months.  Hyperpigmentation is not the same as scarring, although both scarring and hyperpigmentation can occur in the same location.

In a review of 3143 laser hair removal procedures on 480 patients, Lanigan showed that darker patients were more likely to be affected by hyperpigmentation.  There was a risk of 1% in the lightest skin types vs. 9.9% in the darkest.  The type of laser used affects the risk of hyperpigmentation.  In another study of 800 laser hair removal procedures, the risk of hyperpigmentation with a long-pulsed diode laser was only .25%.  Ruby lasers, on the other hand, are now no longer widely used for laser hair removal due to the higher risks of hyperpigmentation in darker-skinned patients.

Hydroquinone has been a mainstay of treatment for hyperpigmentation.   It comes in different topical concentrations (most commonly a 4% prescription-strength).  Hydroquinone is a blocker of an enzyme used in chemical reactions to create melanin from the amino acid tyrosine.  Hydroquinone is FDA-approved but does carry some precautions.  It should not be used chronically (more than 6 months) because it can lead to a different kind of skin darkening, called ochronosis.  This is not the same as hyperpigmentation.  Following prescribed instructions would keep this from being a problem.

On Wednesday, May 7, 4-8 pm, Tattoo MD Laser Clinic and Medi-Spa will be open for appointments and walk-ins.  All of our services including tattoo removal and hair removal will be available and on display.  There will be price specials on Botox, Juvederm, and Radiesse.  Jennifer, our esthetician, will be performing introductory mini-facials.  Food and refreshments will be served, courtesy of Allergan, the makers of Botox.  Stay tuned for more news as we get closer.