Latest Laser Hair Removal Tech Has New Benefits
Electrolysis is the most established hair removal option that is capable of delivering permanent hair removal for men and women, something that no other option can currently claim. While your hair color and type and your skin color doesn’t effect the success of electrolysis, it’s a time-consuming process and thus only reasonable for small areas of hair removal like the face, bikini and underarms area.
When laser and IPL hair removal products started getting noticed back in the late 1990s, they ushered in a new – albeit not permanent – method of hair removal capable of treating larger body areas like back, shoulders, chest, arms and legs. The trade off for permanent hair reduction with laser and IPL is that they deliver rapid hair removal for these body parts that electrolysis can’t produce.
Fast forward to present day, many of the things that held back earlier laser and IPL machines from offering widespread hair removal success have been rectified. While they still can’t advertise permanent hair removal, they do offer permanent hair reduction better than they could in the 1990s, and to a wider range of patients.
If you’re currently using laser or IPL hair removal or are thinking about it, you want to ensure your chosen clinic uses the latest technology where possible to improve your chances of success!
Let’s take a closer look at recent breakthroughs and new hair removal technology that you should be aware of.
Skin Type
The Nd:YAG is the only current laser that can successfully treat all skin types from I-VI. So dark skinned patients who previously weren’t able to use laser hair removal due to the burn risk and lack of success on their skin can now potentially use this form of laser for their hair removal needs. While the Diode laser has been used for pale to medium skin tones, it wasn’t able to help darker skinned patients with skin tone V-VI but the Nd:YAG laser can.
And the Elite iQ laser hair removal machine from Cynosure comes with a first ever melanin reader that actually reads the skin tone of the patient to properly adjust settings for that person’s specific situation.
Cooling Features
Many newer laser hair removal machines include a cooling feature to keep the skin cool during treatment and to avoid burns and discomfort. The GentleMax Pro laser system sprays a stream of cryogen on the skin directly before the laser pulse to protect the skin while ensuring the treatment is still efficient.
Some Cynosure brand lasers come with a feature that blows a continuous stream of air onto the skin as it’s being treated to protect the skin from damage.
Other machines have cooling devices built into the tip of the machine head.
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s when I had IPL hair removal done, it required the use of a cooling gel applied directly to the skin prior to treatment. It was taken straight from the fridge and it was squeezed directly on the skin so it added to the treatment time.
And the gel wasn’t wiped or smeared on the skin which would have been quicker. It was only squeezed directly from the bottle so it was uniformly applied in rows which took longer.
2016 research
discussed the two most popular options for laser hair removal cooling technology: Contact cooling (both active and passive) and Non-contact cooling (cryogen spray or cold air).
Multi Laser Products
Back in the day, each laser or IPL hair removal machine was just that: A single machine with one technology. Newer hair removal machines these days often incorporate two or more hair removal technologies in one single machine to offer flexibility during treatment.
The previously-mentioned Elite iQ machine combines Alexandrite and Nd: YAG lasers in one single system. The V-Frost machine combines Diode and Nd:YAG in one machine. And the Soprano ICE machine combines Diode, Alexandrite and Nd:YAG together in one.
You may also find combined laser and IPL machines offering hair removal services.
What is the benefit?
It means that with a single machine a hair removal clinic can offer the service to a wider variety of clients. But it also means that with two or more different laser technologies built in on the same machine they can offer each patient different wavelengths and features that one single machine can’t offer.
So as your hair removal needs change (your skin color tans or pales during different seasons, or your remaining hair is finer and harder to treat) they can switch things up and offer a second opinion so to speak with another machine.
Lower Cost
Interestingly, the average cost of a laser hair removal treatment has decreased since 2012.
The national average surgeon/physician fee for laser hair removal treatment per session is as follows dating back to 2012:
2012: $329
2013: $301
2014: $289
2015: $290
2016: $306
2017: $293
2018: $285
2019: $287
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
While the price has fluctuated, from 2012-19 the average price per cost of a single laser hair removal treatment dropped by $42. The two possible reasons for this are that the average price per session in general is dropping (prices are coming down across the board) and/or people are getting cheaper/quicker treatments done.
If I had to guess, I’d say it’s the former: Prices are coming down as laser hair removal gains even more widespread acceptance and prevalence. Then again modern lasers are quicker than before, too.
Laser hair removal is offered by more clinics and practitioners and newer machines are quicker and more efficient (shorter treatment sessions with perhaps fewer overall visits too).
Home Use Products
Many $200-$400+ home use laser and IPL hair removal products now exist and some have been cleared (but not approved) by the FDA. I wrote an entire page on this subject if you’d like to learn more but in general terms many people are turning to this sort of home, self-use product and bypassing the more costly – albeit more professional – clinic hair removal.
I’d be careful and set expectations accordingly.
As I discuss in that post, can a $400 home laser product be expected to work like a $15,000+ clinic-grade machine used by the pros?
Perhaps though you will find what you need with this kind of (generally) much low powered product with fewer features and settings for your hair removal needs.
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