Humans have been practicing hair removal techniques since they came into existence. Luckily, as humans have evolved, so has hair removal technology. Maintenance – whether shaving, tweezing, or lasering – will be required no matter what in order to live a hair-free life. However, laser hair removal drastically reduces the time and energy required to remove hair, providing longer-lasting, smoother results! If you’ve been considering laser hair removal, you might feel overwhelmed by the options out there. At Madison Medispa, we offer Sciton BBL and 1064nm laser hair removal treatments. Here’s how to determine which is right for you.
A Quick Guide to Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal was first discovered in the 1960s and came into frequent use in the 1980s.
The original treatment was discovered by Theodore H. Maiman. He used a small ruby gemstone to create a laser. His method was not only lengthy, but it was also dangerous. It was extremely painful and often caused severe burns.
The alexandrite laser was developed ten years later. Although it was significantly less painful than the original ruby laser, it also lacked the heat required to cause permanent hair removal.
In 1983, scientists were able to develop a method that targeted individual hair follicles with heat, resulting in hair damage with minimal-to-no skin damage.
Laser hair removal technology has come a long way since then, with today’s methods being safer and more effective than ever. Hair removal professionals who use the newest and most up-to-date technology are able to offer relatively painless results in as little as 30 minutes!
How Laser Hair Removal Works
To understand how treatment works, you have to understand your hair’s growth cycle. Because of the growth cycle, treatment is a multi-step procedure that requires maintenance to sustain results.
The lifecycle of your hair has three phases, which are:
- The anagen phase (when the hair is actively growing)
- The catagen phase (when the hair regresses)
- The telogen phase (when the hair rests and eventually falls out)
Laser hair removal is only effective when your hair is in the anagen phase. Everyone’s body is different, and everyone’s hair growth cycle is individual to them. But for the average person, the anagen phase lasts around 3–4 months for body hair and 5–7 years for head hair.
During treatment, a form of light is used to penetrate the skin and damage the hair to discourage regrowth. Although outcomes may vary, results from laser hair removal can last two years or more. With regular maintenance sessions, you can maintain your results long-term.
You will need multiple sessions for effective hair removal since only about 20% of your hair actively grows during one anagen phase. Our experienced laser hair removal providers at Madison Medispa will assess your unique hair growth cycle to help you get results in the shortest time possible.
Candidates for Laser Hair Removal
In the past, laser hair removal was only effective on people with fairer skin tones. Original renditions of laser hair removal included outdated technology known as IPL, or Intense Pulsed Light technology.
Since IPL is not a real laser, it has resulted in burns and complications when used on people with darker skin tones.
Nowadays, almost everyone is a candidate for treatment. Providers who utilize multiple variations of hair removal tools are able to deliver effective hair removal results for almost every patient. We’ll help you decide the right treatment for you and your skin.
Sciton BroadBand Light
Sciton BroadBand Light (Sciton BBL) is a trademarked device that utilizes broadband light for its procedures.
BBL therapy has been around for years in the cosmetic industry and has been used to reverse visible signs of aging. The Sciton BBL device harnesses the power and energy of light to offer semi-painless and effective hair removal.
Sciton BBL requires no downtime post-treatment and is safe and effective on every part of the body.
This treatment uses controlled flashes of broadband light to penetrate the skin. The flashes of light are then absorbed by the hair follicles. The heat from the light damages the hair and lessens the likelihood that hair will regrow over time.
Since Sciton BBL uses low-energy pulses of light, your skin is less likely to experience damage from the laser.
1064nm Laser Hair Removal
1064nm laser hair removal is another safe and effective laser hair removal treatment. It uses long-pulsed high-energy to target the hair and reduce its volume over time.
If you have a darker skin tone, we might recommend 1064nm treatment for you. The long pulses of energy reduce the risk of the laser discoloring your skin, making it a great option for people with a full range of darker skin tones.
1064nm lasers are well-studied and are used in myriad ways aside from simple hair removal. These lasers can help treat acne scarring, sun spots, wrinkles, fine lines, varicose veins, and more.
Sciton BBL or 1064nm Laser?
So which treatment is the best one for you? Our providers at Madison Medispa in Waunakee, WI, can help you decide.
During your consultation, we will do an evaluation and determine the best treatment method based on your body and your goals.
We will also help you set the right expectations so you can plan how many sessions you’ll need, whether you’ll require maintenance sessions in the future, and what type of results you can expect.
Madison Medispa offers both of these hair removal options so that we can serve anyone. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.