Hair removal in men and women with laser has some differences. The medical laser device is the same but the parameters that the professional chooses as well as the number of sessions and interval between each session is different. Thus, men generally have thicker hair and higher density of follicles than women and continue to create new follicles up to 40 years. Therefore, depilation in men requires specific parameters with smaller fluences and longer pulses, more sessions and more interval of time between session and session than laser hair removal in women.
Therefore, it is important that the professional who is going to perform laser hair removal sets the parameters based on the age and sex of the patient as well as the color, thickness and density of hair for a satisfactory result.
Examples of laser hair removal treatment with Gentle Max PRO
Infographics of the Laser Hair Removal operation
We eliminate hair with a medical laser device, which achieves absolute success. The system we use to remove hair is a laser that emits a light that passes through the epidermis and reaches the hair follicle in the dermis where it is absorbed. The energy is transformed into heat and destroys the hair follicle.
Now, we offer you the most frequent asked questions and doubts regarding hair removal in women and men.
The duration of laser treatment to remove hair depends on the area treated. Less than one minute for upper lip hair or thirty minutes for full legs.
After the laser session to remove hair it is recommended to apply a refreshing gel or aloe vera according to the sensitivity of the skin. In case of sun exposure, use a high protection (+50).
Several sessions are needed to permanently remove the hair. The reason is related to the growth cycle of the hair in which the hair follicle can be actively growing or resting.
The laser removes the active follicles at the time of treatment but there are always remaining follicles that are in a state of lethargy which are not destroyed by the laser. This is why it is necessary to repeat the laser hair removal session to treat those follicles that were not active.
The laser treatment for hair removal can be applied to hair of any color or thickness, except white hair. It is true that thinner hairs or darker skins (phototypes 4-6) are more difficult, which requires being in expert hands. It is recommended not to be tanned when starting the laser hair removal treatment.
Any time is good for laser hair removal. But as it is advisable not to be tanned, it is usually avoided in summer, although if you are one of those who do not like to be in the sun, any season is suitable.
The Alexandrite (755nm) variable-pulse laser is still the most effective for laser hair removal. There are lasers that depilate in movement, less painful … but in front of a good Alexandrite laser of variable pulse of last generation, there is no rival to eliminate the hair.
In patients with phototypes 4 and higher the Nd-YAG laser (1064nm) is more advisable.
At Ribe Clinic, a medical laser platform in Barcelona, we have the Gentle MAX PRO laser with these two wavelengths (755 and 1064nm) with variable pulse and spots up to 18 mm for greater efficiency and safety. That way we lasered men and women of all phototypes, color and thickness of hair.
You have to shave it with a blade and avoid depilation with wax or tweezers a week before.
Yes. The medical professional should choose the wavelength and parameters suitable for each type of skin and color-thickness of the hair for a greater efficiency and safety of the laser treatment to remove hair.
The darker and thicker the hair and the whiter the skin, the better, as low fluencies and short pulses can be used to achieve greater efficiency. Although with a good laser in expert hands, any patient has a suitable profile for excellent results to remove hair.
In expert hands medical laser hair removal is definitive.
Several sessions are needed (4-6) for a permanent result and it is an economic investment if the laser and the professional are both good.
Being in expert hands on laser hair removal.
Not at all! Just avoid sunbathe or shave with tweezers or wax a week before.
Yes. In cases of hormonal hair such as facial hair or areolas, more sessions are required and in some cases maintenance.
The latest generation of laser hair removal devices are much less painful today. The laser light is combined with cold air that greatly alleviates the sensation of heat and pain. Numbing cream can be helpful as well.
From the first session of laser treatment we can see less growth of hair and weakening of what remains until its total disappearance.
Yes, when there is no hair in the hair growth cycle, that is, usually at 6 months of treatment, if there is no more hair, there is no more hair.
It is true, since it has a lower concentration of melanin (pigment) which is the target of laser hair removal treatment. But today, thanks to the latest generation lasers like the Gentle MAX PRO, you can eliminate this hair, although it may require some more sessions. We can say that you can eliminate any type of hair except white.
Laser hair removal can be performed all year round. The only contraindication to perform laser hair is to have tanned skin. If it is summer and the areas we want to laser are covered like the armpits, or we use sun screen protection, there is no problem in doing the laser hair removal treatment. However, since the laser treatment intervals between sessions are between 2-3 months, you can do a laser hair removal session before the summer and another after the tanning has disappeared which would be the end of the summer (you can tan through the summer).
The word photoepilation means “hair removal by light”. Therefore, should refer to the two classes of existing treatments that use light to remove hair and which are:
The term photoepilation is frequently associated with epilation with intense pulsed light equipment, which is different from laser equipment. It is important to know the differences of these two types of equipment that are used to remove hair.
Thus, the differences between treatment of depilation with intense pulsed light (better known as photoepilation) and treatment of laser hair removal refer to differences in the characteristics of the light emitted by each machine which means that a laser machine for depilation is more specific to remove the hair, obtaining better results in less sessions and more specific to destroy the hair, with less damage in the surrounding tissue.
My advice if we want to remove hair is to choose a medical center with experience in laser hair removal with latest generation machines: Leading laser technology in expert professional hands.
Also, know that the expectations of results to eliminate laser hair for medical use are different to those obtained with cosmetic or non-medical equipment.
When we are in the expert hands, the side effects of laser hair removal are minimal or zero and the professional must know how to handle them.
In some cases, you may notice reddening of the skin after the laser session. This is normal if it takes about 15-30 min. If the laser machine is not well calibrated or the parameters are wrong for the patient there may be a hyper or hypopigmented zone and scar rarely.
In some patients edematous papules after the laser session are seen as an “allergy to laser light”. It is resolved with antihistaminic medication
Ribe Clinic is a medical center in Barcelona (accredited by the Generalitat of Catalonia) where we perform male and female hair removal with more than 10 years of experience.
We use a very advanced laser technology GENTLE MAX PRO that allows totally satisfactory results for our male and female clients. It is a laser that is calibrated before each treatment to ensure adequate fluences for each case and safety. Not only we practice laser hair removal effectively but we take special care of the skin of the area to be treated.
