Laser Hair Removal - Clinic
Author: Barry Hooper

There are many important decisions to consider before opting for cosmetic laser hair removal. With the current trend for hairless, smooth skin, in both men and women, there are many unlicensed, untrained and unqualified practitioners around. There is also a substantial amount of misinformation on this subject.

It is up to you as the customer to practice due diligence and ensure that you receive top class treatment from a fully qualified practitioner. Firstly, ensure that the person who is actually going to be treating you has undergone specific training and is a Certified Laser Specialist (CLS). This qualification may vary from state to state and country to country. If you are in even the slightest doubt, contact your doctor for his or her recommendations.

Once you have a clinic in mind, go check it out. Go in, sit down, look around. Is it clean? Is it comfortable? Is there plenty of information available on all procedures and possible complications or side effects? Does the equipment look well maintained? Modern? Most clinics offer the initial consultation free of charge. This is basically a chat with a qualified technician, who will ascertain whether your expectations are realistic, and who will decide whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.

Before you go into the clinic for a general meeting, do your research. Check reliable sources of information online. Then cross-check to ensure that the information is accurate. Laser hair removal is a technique which uses high powered equipment. In untrained hands, it can be disastrous, causing serious skin damage.

While chatting to your technician, take note of whether the he or she appeared professional --- are they really interested in how the procedure would work for you? Or do they seem more interested in how much you will be paying?

Pay attention to the equipment. Make sure that the laser is licensed by the FDA for use as an instrument for laser hair removal. A motivated, interested and dedicated practitioner will be pleased to explain everything you need to know, and to answer every question you have. They will explain how they can minimize pain or discomfort.

Technology is changing fast, and being updated quickly, but at the present time, all lasers used for hair removal must be “long pulsed”. The Alexandrite type of laser is very effective when the patient’s skin is light and the hair is dark enough to attract the beam down deep into the hair follicle. Remember the skill of the practitioner is equally important as the machine. Proper training could well make the difference between you having permanent hair removal or having to have repeat treatments.

The second type of laser machine is Nd:YAG, ideally with a Q switch. It works on most skin types and this is the most efficient type of equipment for treating darker skin types, such as Asian, Hispanic and Middle Eastern. To use the traditional type laser on darker skins can result in serious burning or loss of skin pigmentation.

Spending some of your valuable free time researching laser hair removal will pay you back many times over, not to mention saving you possible pain and anguish. Put in the time now to locate a licensed qualified practitioner, and have the benefit of sleek smooth skin for many years to come.