Lasers Hair Removal and Beauty Tips

According to the results published in the December 2005 issue of American Spa Magazine Blue Water Spa Laser center of Raleigh in NC was voted one of America’s top four medical spas. The Award is the first annual American Spa Magazine’s Professional’s Choice Award. In the southeast region Blue Water Spa is the only Spa that has been recognized with this prestigious award. Owner of Blue Water Spa, Kile Law is obviously very delighted at the event. Judgment for the award being determined by votes from spa professional increased the authenticity of the award.

Being nominated with other remarkable Spa’s in America is in itself an honor. Blue Water Spa was first runner up as the best medical Spa while Juva MediSpa in New York was second runner up. Third runner up was the Chopra Center for Well Being at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA and the winner was La Jolla Spa MD in La Jolla, California.

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Laser hair removal is a one of the most widely practiced cosmetic treatment practiced in recent times. Though it is a type of medical treatment, but is not covered by insurance. Being a costly therapy many patients require a financing option to avail laser hair removal services. CareCredit offers a Flexible client payment program, that has been devised specifically for healthcare expenses. It makes it easier to get the desired treatment and procedures that are not covered by insurance. CareCredit can be used for over 45,000 practices all through the nation.

Using CareCredit one can immediately begin your treatment or procedure. Payments for the process are spread to many low monthly payments. These smaller amount payments fit perfectly in one’s budget. Various types of monthly plans ranging from 3,6, & 12 months and many more, to suit individual requirements are offered. There is almost no interest or very nominal charge if payments are made at specified times. CareCredit levies no up-front costs, no pre-payment penalties or any hidden fee. Such easy financing makes laser process within reach for everyone.

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Lasers emit high levels of heat energy that heats follicles intensely during hair removal process. This causes in loss of moisture in follicles, hence it is necessary to replace the lost moisture. Technicians apply a moisturizing spray and a follow-up lotion to replace the moisture. To save skin from being excessive hot, cold packs and aloe vera are used to attain comfort. A sun block cream of SPF 25 should be used for couple of weeks after treatment. A cold compress can be applied if required.

Only shaving is an advised hair removal method to be used after laser treatments if necessary. After the therapy hair sheds up to three weeks. It might appear as new hair growth but it is just dead hair falling out of their follicles. Such hair fall can be facilitated using a loofah or washcloth. Certain post laser solutions like Alcamia can be used to soothe skin, to relieve discomfort and restore skin’s PH balance.

Meranda Ruberto and Fran Roberston in their Streetsvilla spa in Vanishair are among the first in Canada to offer patented, PPx Therapy for laser hair removal. It is possible to achieve a pain free hair removal through these lasers because Photopneumatic energy uses five times less energy than normal lasers. Low energy levels does not require using anesthesia or numbing creams hence a lot of risk is avoided through PPx technology. A very small appliance called "Aesthera" is used for the therapy. Canadian medical laser company Coherent-AMT manufactures the device.

A hose like wand is connected to the machine with a nozzle that emits the laser. The nozzle gently pulls the skin up to the device to remove hair. It provides a warm almost massage-like feeling while the treatment is being done. Utmost results are achieved if the area to be treated is shaved before performing PPx therapy. The technique is also called "skin rejuvenator, " as it can even improve age spots, sunspots and unsightly veins.

Read more: Pain-free permanent hair removal

Dermalaser center situated in Weatherford, uses GentleLase and Vbeam lasers to treat patients for hair removal procedures. The technician working here has 20 years of experience and knowledge in the medical profession. She has received training for hair growth, skin types and ways to use lasers for optimal results. She has received training from rocky Mountain College in Denver.

The devices used are considered to be best, GentleLASE is an Alexandrite laser with a wavelength of 755. It can penetrate to 5mm deep in skin. The second laser, Vbeam is the latest invention having a wavelength of 595. This wavelength specifically targets oxyhemoglobin, hence is often looking for red color. These lasers together can treat almost all skin types, though the best candidates are those with wider contrast for skin and hair color. Candidates having received a medication Accutane, chelating or gold treatments within last year are not good contenders for laser hair removal. A Caucasian or those who tan regularly are asked to avoid tanning for several weeks prior to lasing.

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Alma lasers formed recently by the merger of MSQ and Orion Lasers is a pioneer manufacturer and marketer of light based systems and laser devices. These equipments are used for industrial laser market and aesthetic procedures. Alma Lasers lately achieved a 4^th rank on 2005 Deloitte & Touche Israel Technology Fast 50. These rankings are done for 50 fastest growing technology in Israel. The rankings have been calculated by assessment of fiscal revenues for over five years from 2000- 2004.

The company also enjoys a position of being ranked 20^th Fastest Growing Technology Company on the 2005 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA. This ranking is for 500 companies that are growing fastest in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Decisions in positions of the companies were again based on their percentage revenue growth over last five years. Alma Lasers reported a growth of 3232 percent during the specified period.

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Many women are considering laser hair removal while trying to get pregnant. The chief factor involved during such stage is about safety of fetus from lasers. Lasers used for hair removal are pure pulses of light that is perfectly safe. Even lasers using a combination of IPL (light) and RF (electricity) are considered safe when used within secure levels of energy.

Laser radiations are electromagnetic radiations that are very different from X-Ray radiations. Lasers have a wavelength similar to light and penetrate only up to few millimeters under skin. It is not able to infiltrate deep inside to the embryo or fetus and hence if out of harm’s way.

Also radio frequency radiation is safe for expected baby and does not cause any risks of birth defects. Even if two or more sessions of laser hair removal need to be carried during pregnancy there is no effect on fetus due to lasers. Pregnant women are only under ordinary risk of 3% birth defects and 15 % miscarriage. Laser hair removal treatments do not alter the risk percentages to any extent.

Essentially bare is a proficient cosmetic and laser clinic in Cambridge offering state of art services. The clinic has its main office at Concord Avenue, Cambridge. While several of its branches are spread at Milton, Hyannis Cape Cod & the Islands, Norwood, Falmouth, New Hampshire, Scituate, Mansfield, Weymouth and Melrose. The main office can be contacted for Photo facial and skin Rejuvenation where as laser hair removal appointments can be made at any of the branches directly.

Essentially Bare uses the latest technology for providing laser hair removal services to its clients. The laser device used is a system manufactured by Lumenis^TM . The equipment selected is the LightSheer Diode Laser System having intensity up to 100 J, since it allows treatment even for darker skinned and tanned patients. High intensity permanently removes ingrown hairs in all skin types. The system has a pulse width of 400 milliseconds and has also been approved by FDA for permanent hair reduction.

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Studies have been under taken to establish effectiveness of Sapphire contact and Cryogen Spray in respect of cooling epidermal cells during laser hair removal process. Also calculation for thermal response of skin is analyzed before, during treatment and after completion of process. Examining each procedure reveals that Sapphire contact is a better choice in protecting and cooling the epidermal cells than cryogen spray.

Calculations prove that sapphire contact systems that have 30ms pulse duration is twice as much effective than cryogen cooling with 3ms pulse when target heating is equal. The temperature rise in epidermis is reduced by over 40% by concurrent heat sinking of the epidermis in conjunction with longer treatment pulse duration offered by chilled sapphire window. Apart from being more effective in providing cooling to the skin sapphire systems also come at reduced cost compared to cryogen sprays. There is no risk of freezing and offers maximum comfort for patients before, after and during the treatment.

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For small areas like upper lip, chin, axilla, etc the time required for actual treatment is very small compared to time needed for consultation and preparation. Large are areas backs and legs require greater time span for laser hair removal treatment. Many marketing claims made by various laser manufacturers promise to deliver “fastest” or “largest spot size” but actual coverage rate determines the treatment time for given body site. It is most difficult to avoid overlap for round beams. Logically square, rectangular or hexagon beams enable easy alignment and facilitate little to almost no overlap. Theoretical coverage rate CR cm² /s for laser systems with square, rectangular or hexagonal beams is given by

                  CR = A * f,

Where A is the area (cm² ) of the laser spot, and f is the pulse repetition frequency (Hz).

Circular beams result in overlap to treat areas that have been missed and a minimum of 17% overlap area results in such cases. Theoretically circular beams coverage area is given by

                  CR = 0.83(A * f).

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