How does our Hair Removal Work?

To achieve long lasting or permanent hair reduction, it is necessary to destroy the hair follicle from which individual hairs grow. Well controlled pulses of light penetrate the upper skin layer and are absorbed by one of the body’s own natural chemicals – melanin – in the hair contained in the follicle.
Melanin converts the light energy into heat. This heat is transferred to the hair follicle, which is destroyed, making it unable to produce a new hair. The treatment is only effective on growing hairs as these are still attached to the follicle. The majority of our hair is in the resting phase which explains why more than one treatment is necessary. This technique is called “Selective Photothermolysis”.

How many treatments do I need?

Hair grows in three different cycles and Permanent Hair Reduction can only successfully treat hair during its growth stage. Therefore it is often necessary to undergo a course of 3-6 treatments ensuring that you leave at least 4-6 weeks between each session initially, and then only repeat as and when the hair returns.
Hair growth is cyclical, as hair follicles go through resting and growing phases. Only follicles in the growth phase contain hair and are destroyed by the heat. Resting hair follicles need to enter the growth phase before they can be effectively destroyed by the AW3 treatment. That’s why it is necessary to repeat the treatment at intervals until all hair follicles have been through the growth phase. The length and timing of the growth cycles are affected by numerous factors such as body site, hair density, thickness, ethnic origin, hormonal status and age.

Do I need to take special precautions before and after treatment?

You would need to have a consultation and patch test 48 hours prior to treatment

To ensure as many hair follicles are targeted as possible it is also important not to under go any hair removal such as waxing, plucking, or chemical hair removals for at least four weeks before the appointment or during the course of treatment. The same rule applies to any sun treatments, as a tan will raise the pigment level in the skin and could affect the treatments success. If leaving the hair bothers you, we would recommend shaving or trimming the hair

Does It Hurt?

Skin type is a fundamental effecting factor in this treatment as due to the high level of pigment in the skin. Tolerance of pain is very individual. No anaesthetics are required, and most people describe the sensation as similar to that of a rubber band snapping onto the skin

Can all hairs be treated?

We can offer treatment for all skin types and hair types and with our treatment there is little post-treatment care required. Although people with sensitive skin may benefit from using a soothing gel or aloe vera for a few hours following treatment. White and grey hair may require more treatments due to the lack of pigment in the hair.

How long does a treatment take?

The glass prism within the handset applicator that guides the light to the skin is 15mm by 50mm, so a large area can be targeted in one flash of light. Our system has the largest spot size on the market and is the only system to have auto flashes without delay. This mean doing a full leg treatment in 15-30 minutes instead of 90 minutes.