Laser Hair Removal

The aim of the laser hair removal is to destroy the hair follicle without damaging the surrounding tissue. This is done by heating the follicle to a destructive temperature.

• Each hair and skin type responds best to a specific laser wavelength. Soprano ICE incorporates the benefits of a variety of wavelengths and technologies, providing a customized treatment session for every patient.
• SHR technology gradually heats the skin to a temperature that effectively damages the hair follicles and prevents hair from growing back.
• The sweeping In-motionTM technique keeps the laser in constant motion ensuring full coverage of the treatment area – improving results with shorter treatment times.
• ICE tech cools the skin preventing burns and allowing for virtually painless, yet highly effective hair removal.
• A variety of applicators means that any part of the body, including the smallest and most sensitive areas.

Step 1 –Book a consultation
Step 2 -Attend for a consultation and patch test
Step 3 – Begin treatment
Step 4 – Maintenance

Laser hair removal can be life changing.

Whilst laser works best on dark hair and pale skin, but if your hair is lighter in colour, laser hair removal may still be effective for you but will need to be assessed.

• Shaving can increase the risk of ingrown hairs, cysts and razor burn. Laser hair removal removes those risks in just a few treatments
• unsightly, unwanted hair can have a major impact on self-esteem, limit clothing choices and just generally impact upon daily life.

You will first have a consultation during which time a full medical history will be taken. In addition, a hair analysis and patch test will be carried out to check your suitability for treatment.

Generally, patients are seen 48 hours later to assess the effect on the skin, and this can be used as a guide to optimise treatment.

• While it may be tempting to keep up with your typical routine before Laser Hair Removal, refrain from waxing for 4-6 weeks before your appointment. Laser Hair Removal targets the pigment in your hair follicle, and since waxing removes the whole hair shaft, it will be difficult for the laser to correctly pinpoint the hairs it needs to eliminate.
• Be sure to avoid UV exposure before your Leg Laser Hair Removal Appointment as an active tan increase your risk of adverse reactions. The skin needs to be free from cream and fake tan
• Exfoliating the treatment area a week before treatment is a good idea to cleanse the skin of any dead skin cells or product build-up.
• You will be asked to shave the area prior to treatment. For bikini and underarm treatments, it is best that you wear light coloured underwear as the laser light can be attracted to the dark pigments and heat up.

You will be given darkened glasses to wear to protect your eyes from the light and cool gel will be applied to the area to be treated. Your aesthetic therapist will treat the area systematically moving the hand piece over the area until the desired energy is delivered.

You may experience some redness immediately following your treatment but it doesn’t last long and will certainly be gone after a few hours.

After 1-3 weeks it may seem like your hair is getting longer, but that’s actually the hair being pushed out of your skin! It will fall out soon after.

Follicles that are damaged sufficiently, will not regrow hairs, those only partially damaged will produce finer hair until, eventually, it stops growing a hair completely.

No, it will not hurt as the treatment is virtually painless, delivering a massage-like sensation and there is no downtime.

Treatments can be performed any time of the year, including on tanned skin.

Treatment sessions are very quick, even for large areas such the legs or back.

To avoid possible side effects, all patients need to protect their skin from the sun. After laser hair removal, you should:

• Avoid direct sunlight from hitting your treated skin.
• Not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment.
• Avoid activities that cause sweating in the area
• Follow the specific after-care instructions.

Whilst you may see some mild redness after treatment, you won’t see any immediate difference as the hair will remain in the follicle until it falls out on its own over the following days. Do not try and tweeze these out to speed the process along as the skin needs to recover and you have no way of telling which hair was successfully treated. Wait 5 days before exfoliating. Applying a cool compress can help reduce your discomfort.

After a few days you may notice what seems like new hair growth at the site of the laser removal treatment. This is a sign that the treatment is working, paradoxical as it may seem. As the hairs are shaved prior to treatment, they were not visible. These hairs have now been pushed out of the skin and can be removed.

Avoided scented products and make-up for 24 hours as the follicles will be sensitive to irritants and by make-up could cause breakouts.

• A course of treatment is recommended because hair grows in cycles, meaning not all the hair will be targeted during one single treatment session.
• As hair growth follows 3 distinct growth phases, only 20% of your hair is affected by laser at any given time, thus several sessions (between 6-8 sessions) are required, although this is dependent on the thickness of the hair being removed, as well as the skin type, hair colour and area being treated.
• During your consultation and patch test, your laser aesthetician will discuss and recommend a treatment plan.
• Laser hair treatment

Once you’ve decided on Laser hair removal, you will need to stop waxing, plucking or epilating the area; you can shave as much as you like, but no ripping the hair out at the root as a hair need to be present at the time of treatment.

However, shaving and bleaching are allowed in between treatments.

Most patients remain hair free for months or even years. When some of the hair regrows, it will likely be less noticeable. To keep the area free of hair, a patient may need maintenance laser treatments.

As Laser hair removal works by inhibiting the hairs’ ability to grow, it is the perfect solution for those suffering from ingrowing hair and folliculitis

The Soprano Ice most rarely causes any adverse effects; however, some minor side effects cannot be ruled out. These side effects include:

• Minor redness
• Mild follicular oedema (swelling)
• Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks
• Skin lightening or darkening

It is also important to follow your aesthetician’s instructions. Following both the before-treatment instructions and after-treatment instructions will greatly reduce your risk of side effects.

This varies from patient to patient. Removing hair often requires a series of laser treatments. As a general rule, facial treatments are every 4 weeks and body areas every 6 weeks but treatment intervals may be increased as treatment progresses.

This interval between laser hair removal treatments allows time for the hair growth cycle to resume. Hair growth is needed in order to give the laser a target for attack during each treatment. In between sessions, some hair may grow back as it normally would , but growth may become patchier with subsequent sessions.

Perfect for any area of the body including sensitive or hard to reach areas such as the bikini line.

• Standard Bikini Laser Hair Removal removes all of the hair at the edges that could potentially be seen in underwear or a bikini. It also includes the top of the thighs and the top knicker line.
• Brazilian Laser Hair Removal removes all hair from the bikini area other than a strip in the centre.
• Hollywood Laser hair removal removes hair from the entire bikini area leaving you completely bare.

• Many women feel that the upper lip is one of the worst places to have unwanted hair. Unwanted facial hair can lead to feelings of anxiety or self-consciousness
• Laser Hair Removal works particularly well for women that suffer from polycystic ovaries. As having polycystic ovaries generates coarser and darker hair growth, the hair is even more responsive to the treatment, but will require long term management.

Tanning, using sun beds or spending time in the sun is not recommended between laser hair removal sessions. These can cause pigmentation in the treated area.

Spray/ self -tans should be avoided as they change the colour of the skin which can increase the risk of a burn.