AVOID ANOTHER CLOSE SHAVE! Shaving, waxing or plucking can be such a nuisance BUT not anymore. Today with the remarkable advanced in technology, unwanted hair is being removed safely and effortless. Hair is a keratin structure growing from a hair follicle. Follicles are placed 3 and 3 together and the hair follicle is +-1.5mm deep. IPL treats unwanted hair by the process of selective photo-thermolysis. The goal of selective photo-thermolysis is to target the cells responsible for hair growth, causing permanent destruction while leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. HOW DOES IPL REMOVE HAIR? Highly controlled flashes of light are selectively absorbed by hair-filled follicles lying below the surface of the skin. The absorbed light heats the hair, which damages or destroys the re-growth potential of the follicle without damaging the surrounding tissue. WHAT HAPPENS DURING A TREATMENT? Firstly, the hair above the skin is trimmed away. Next, a cold gel (similar to ultrasound gel) will be spread over the treatment area. You may be asked to wear dark glasses to protect your eyes from the bright light. The IPL hand-piece is then applied to your skin and pulses of light begin disabling your unwanted hair. When the gel is removed, some of the hair is wiped off with it. The remaining hair in the treated area falls out over the next week or two. WHAT DOES THE TREATMENT FEEL LIKE? Sensation varies from person to person and also in the various areas treated. Each pulse of light feels like a slight sting or pinch, similar to the snap of a rubber band. No local anaesthesia is required and most people tolerate the treatment well. CAN ALL HAIR BE TREATED? IPL's unique design offers you customized treatment according to your hair colour, texture and body location. Any hair with at least some pigment (black, brown, red and even blond) in it can be treated effectively. IS IPL SAFE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES? IPL is the first photo-epilation procedure proven to effectively treat unwanted hair on all skin types, including dark-skinned individuals such as those of Black, Hispanic and Asian descent. ARE THERE ANY POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS? Side effects are rare. You may experience some slight reddening or local swelling at the treatment site, but this typically goes away within hours. On rare occasions, some blistering or bruising may occur, but typically resolves quickly. Also, the skin can become darker or lighter following treatment, but will generally return to normal within a few weeks. Limiting sun exposure before and after each treatment will minimize the risk of complications. WHY IS GEL USED DURING THE TREATMENT? The even layer of gel assures the optimal transmission of light from the applicator to the skin. It also assist in cooling of the skin. WHAT KIND OF RESULTS SHOULD I EXPECT? IPL technology has been proven to create a permanent reduction in the number of re-growing hairs following each treatment in most skin types. The number of treatments required depends on several factors related to your specific kind of hair and skin. A customized treatment program will be designed for you along with an estimate of how many treatments you may need in order to meet your expectations. DOES THE CLIENT NEED TO SHAVE PRIOR TO TREATMENT? To assess hair before treatment, hairs need to be roughly 1 – 2 mm long. Prior to treatment, the area must be shaved as this achieves the best results. If the hairs are too long they can absorb the energy and prevent all of it reaching the base of the hair follicle - which is the target area. Loose hair must also be removed for the same reason. IS PERMANENT HAIR REMOVAL POSSIBLE? To answer this we need to understand the hair growth cycle. There are three stages of hair growth: Anagen (Growing stage), Catagen (Ending stage) and Telogen (Resting stage). After telogen the hair falls out and returns to anagen to produce a new hair. Hair follicles are in any one of the three stages at any time. Only 20% of the hair is in anagen at the same time. Our goal is to treat every follicle during the anagen stage because only in this stage the follicle contain the dermal papilla that is necessary for hair growth. With ongoing treatments, we are able to treat most follicles in anagen. IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU? More advanced than even lasers, IPL is the first photo-epilation technology proven to treat unwanted hair safely on any skin type - from very white to black. In order to ensure the best outcome, you may be asked about your medical history and skin type in order to estimate the results you should expect from your customized treatment program. IS ANY POST TREATMENT NECESSARY? The client should avoid the sun for at least 30 days after treatment. It is also advised to avoid all perfumed products and heat treatments for 24 – 48 hours. Clients with sensitive skin may also benefit from an application of 100% aloe vera gel when necessary. WHAT PRECAUTIONS ARE NEEDED? Eye protection glasses are provided to wear when receiving the treatment. Clients should avoid tanning and sun beds 1 month prior to and during the entire treatment to avoid increased pain and burns from excessive light absorption in the epidermis. Immediately after the treatment the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light. Sunscreen of at least 20 to 30 SPF must be used for 30 days after treatment. For more effective hair removal, it is also recommended that you do not wax 4 weeks before treatment, to ensure as many hair follicles as possible contain hair that can be destroyed by the light. HOW FAR APART SHOULD APPOINTMENTS BE SCHEDULED? It is very important to schedule appointments every 4 to 5 weeks apart. Research has shown this interval to be the most effective in removing unwanted hair and assuring the quickest hair removal! WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS? The most common skin reaction is a mild redness of the skin that normally subsides a few hours to a few days after the treatment. In rare cases transient pigmentation changes of the skin can occur or small blisters as from excessive sun can occur. A 1% hydrocortisone cream can be applied if the client experiences adverse skin reactions. HOW CAN I TELL IF THE TREATMENT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL? There are two good indications that the treatment has been successful. After the treatment, the hairs are often loose in the follicle and can be pulled out easily with tweezers. A red ring is also sometimes seen around each follicle. These post treatment signs are not always obvious and many clients have successfully been treated without them. If the hair bothers the client while it is shedding from the skin the client can shave the area 48 hours after treatment and for the next few weeks while it is shedding. Exfoliation with a body brush or mild scrub is also recommended to encourage the shedding process.