Laser Hair Removal | Esthetics

What you need to know about laser hair removal

What is Soprano XL

How does it work

Soprano XL combines the best laser for hair removal, the 810nm diode, with an exclusive ‘in motion’ technology which works to cool the skin as the laser penetrates to the hair. The result is a fast and painless treatment, which delivers highly effective results more safely than other lasers and usually in less treatments.

The technology is unique because it is the only laser currently available that can offer hair removal to every skin colour, and it’s virtually pain-free.

What areas can be treated

What does the process involve?

How many treatments will I need?

Why do I need repeat treatments?

Hair growth occurs in 4 stages: Early Anagen (early hair growth), Anagen (active hair growth) Catagen (regression) Telogen (resting, not growing). Laser treatment only affects hair follicles that are actively producing hair at the time of treatment; At any one moment 20% of hairs are resting or dormant. For this reason the treatment must be repeated until all the hair follicles have passed through the growth phase.

Will my hair grow back?

Is it safe?

Laser hair removal is the most popular aesthetic procedure performed annually. Hair removal is one of the aesthetic medical industry’s most well-known and researched uses of lasers and the Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ treatment has provided safe and effective permanent hair reduction for thousands of patients worldwide. Because Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ utilises IN-MOTION™ and low-heat settings, the Soprano XL is able to provide a level of safety unlike any other laser hair removal procedure.

Fitzpatrick scale

The Fitzpatrick scale (also Fitzpatrick skin typing test, or Fitzpatrick phototyping scale) is a numerical classification schema for human skin color. It was developed in 1975 by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, a Harvard dermatologist, as a way to classify the typical response of different types of skin to ultraviolet (UV) light.[1] Later, it was updated to also contain a wider range of skin types.[2][3] The Fitzpatrick scale remains a recognized tool for dermatological research into human skin pigmentation.

The following list shows the six categories of the Fitzpatrick scale,[4][5] in relation to the 36 categories of the older von Luschan scale:

Type I (scores 0–6) Pale white; blond or red hair; blue eyes; freckles — Always burns, never tans
Type II (scores 7–13) White; fair; blond or red hair; blue, green, or hazel eyes — Usually burns, tans minimally
Type III (scores 14–20) Cream white; fair with any hair or eye color; quite common — Sometimes mild burn, tans uniformly
Type IV (scores 21–27) Moderate brown; typical Mediterranean skin tone — Rarely burns, always tans well
Type V (scores 28–34) Dark brown; Middle Eastern skin types — Very rarely burns, tans very easily
Type VI (scores 35–36) Deeply pigmented dark brown to black — Never burns, tans very easily

9 things you should know about hair removal

You need to shave
That’s right. It might seem weird to people who are used to waxing, but if you’re having laser hair removal, you need to shave the area before. Apparently the best time to shave is around 8 hours before your treatment but the day before should also be fine. Basically you need to shave as close to your appointment as possible, but also give your skin some time to recover from being shaved so it isn’t too sensitive.

Stop other treatments before and during laser hair removal
Ideally you shouldn’t wax, pluck, use depilatory creams or bleach your hair 3 to 6 weeks before your first treatment, and during the rest of your treatment period. If there aren’t any hairs present (because they’ve been waxed) or if the hairs are light (because they’ve been bleached) the laser won’t work on them.

You must stick to your schedule
Depending on the treatment area, you have to go for repeat treatments every 4-8 weeks. It’s really important that you don’t push your appointments out because the schedule is based on the hair-growth cycle. If you HAVE to miss an appointment, phone your therapist to check when you should reschedule it for, but do what you can not to mess up the schedule.

You’ll need more than one session
Most people require 8 to 12 sessions to achieve desired results, but some lucky people may need as few as 4. The good news is that you will start to see hair reduction from your very first session.

It’s really, really quick
The time it takes for a treatment depends on the size of the area and your skin type, but the sessions are usually super fast. For instance, if you have fair skin and you’re getting laser hair removal done on your underarms, the laser will only need to be active for 40 seconds and you can go straight back to work afterwards.

It doesn’t work for everyone
There’s good news and there’s bad news: laser is safe to use on all skin types and colours, so laser hair removal is an option for you if you have dark skin! But it won’t work on hair that is blonde, grey or red.

You’ll start seeing results soon, but your hair won’t ‘disappear’
How does laser hair removal work? The laser works by damaging the hair follicle; it doesn’t actually do anything to the hair in that follicle though. After your first appointment you will leave with exactly the same amount of hair that you came in with. But after a few days, the targeted hairs that were in the active growth cycle will stop growing and fall out. So you will experience hair reduction from your first session.

It will be so, so worth it
A quick internet search will show you just how much people love the results from laser hair removal. Most people experience 95% hair removal, and the hairs that remain are usually very fine.

Is laser hair removal permanent? Usually, but not always. Your body could produce more hair follicles that haven’t been lasered, so you might see some new hair growth in a few years. A maintenance treatment every few years should sort that out if it does happen though, so it’s goodbye to waxing, shaving and plucking!
The Alma Soprano XLi is a world-class laser hair removal system with FDA approved pain free technology that permanently removes hair. It is the answer to your problems. Safe and effective for all skin types including Asian, black and tanned skin. Perfect for any body area – including more sensitive areas like the face, neck and bikini area. The treatments are recovery free you can return to normal activities immediately. Tailor made packages available to suit your needs.

What is Soprano XL SHR?

Soprano XL is a leading, world class revolutionary new laser Super Hair Removal (SHR) system that is officially approved by the United States FDA as “pain free.”

Soprano XL combines the best laser for hair removal, the industry:-”GOLD STANDARD” features of 810nm diode with an exclusive ‘in motion’ approach which can deliver fast, unsurpassed results more safely than other lasers and usually in less treatments.

How does it work?

The Soprano Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ laser system gradually heats the hair follicles in the subdermal layer of your skin using pulses of infrared diode laser energy until they can no longer produce new hair.

The unique, IN-Motion™ technology enables a much wider area to be treated more quickly than ever before and eliminates any missed areas, common with other types of laser. In addition, a patented DualChill™ mechanism ensures the surface of your skin stays cool and comfortable throughout your treatment.

Which body areas can be treated?

Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ is perfect for any area of the body – including more sensitive areas like the face, neck and bikini area.

How do I know it really won’t hurt?

Most people find the Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ laser hair removal treatment very comfortable, similar to a “hot stone massage”, especially when compared to other hair removal methods and lasers. This is one of few laser hair removal procedures where numbing cream is not necessary. Pain is subjective, however, so if you find it otherwise please let us know so we can adjust your treatment accordingly.

Safe for all skin types

The Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ laser hair removal treatment is safe for all skin types, hair types and any hair with colour anywhere on the body – including more sensitive areas like the face and bikini area. It can even be used on tanned skin. We recommend however that you are not actively tanning at the time of your treatment.

Preparing for the treatment

Prior to any treatment you will have a full consultation with one of our specialist Aesthetic Nurses. A pre-treatment test patch will then be carried out so that the laser parameters are matched to your skin and hair type ensuring no unexpected skin reactions occur during your full treatment.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments required can vary depending on hair density, hair colour, skin type, the area being treated and your hair growth. In turn, the density of your hair and its growth depend on other factors such as age, hormones, medication and your ethnic background. This will be discussed during your consultation.

Why do I need repeat treatments?

Hair growth occurs in 4 stages: Early Anagen (early hair growth), Anagen (active hair growth) Catagen (regression) Telogen (resting, not growing). Laser treatment only affects hair follicles that are actively producing hair at the time of treatment; resting follicles must enter the growth phase before they can be effectively treated. For this reason the treatment must be repeated until all the hair follicles have passed through the growth phase.

Will my hair ever grow back?

Actively growing hairs that are treated should not grow back. Once a hair follicle is damaged it cannot grow hair. However, hair follicles that did not enter the active growth phase at the time of your treatment will still need to be treated. It is therefore not unusual for patients to have a touch-up treatment 6-12 months after the initial treatment. Patients experiencing hormonal changes may also require touch up treatments from time to time.

Is it safe?

Laser hair removal is the most popular aesthetic procedure performed annually. Hair removal is one of the aesthetic medical industry’s most well-known and researched uses of lasers and the Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ treatment has provided safe and effective permanent hair reduction for thousands of patients worldwide. Because Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ utilises IN-MOTION™ and low-heat settings, the Soprano XL is able to provide a level of safety unlike any other laser hair removal procedure.
Your visit to Esthetics

Your initial visit to Esthetics begins with a FREE, no obligation consultation..

At Esthetics we can assure you that you are in safe hands.

Your Consultation

Your consultation will begin by listening to and understanding your concerns and requirements and discussing how best we can meet and exceed your expectations. We will clearly outline the treatment procedure, together with the benefits and any potential risks of the treatment.

Any questions you have about the process or treatment will be answered honestly so together we decide on the most appropriate treatment for you. Any necessary pre and post treatment care will also be explained in detail.

For all Laser treatments a test patch is required. This can be carried out during your consultation appointment.

There is no obligation to book the treatment with us after your consultation, however, if you do wish to book a treatment this can be done for you after your consultation or at a later date via phone or e-mail.

We appreciate that many of our patients have very busy schedules or travel a significant distance to attend our clinics. Most people therefore have their patch test carried out during their consultation to avoid another visit prior to starting the treatment.

Your Treatment

Before your treatment you will be provided with a detailed consent form which you will be asked to read and sign.

You will also have the opportunity to ask any other questions you have regarding the treatment.

You will also be provided with written pre and post treatment advice which includes:

Pre Treatment Advice

You MUST avoid bleaching, plucking, waxing or threading the hair for 6 weeks prior to the treatment.

Do not use depilatory creams 1 week prior to treatment.

Please shave the area the day before or the morning of the treatment.

Make-up, perfume or deodorant should be removed from the area to be treated prior to your appointment time.

Jewellery near the area to be treated should be removed.

Inform us if there has been any change in your medical history since your last visit.

Actively tanned skin (i.e. sun or sun bed exposure within the last 2 weeks) should not be treated as this may result in hypopigmentation (white spots) which may not clear for several months. Darker skin types can retain a tan for several months – this can be treated with the Soprano XL.

Post Treatment Advice

Immediately after the treatment the area may be red and/or swollen, this may feel like mild sunburn.

The application of cold compresses after the treatment or Aloe Vera Gel is recommended.

Makeup can be applied immediately after treatment if required.

Do not use saunas, steam rooms or have hot baths or hot showers for 48 hours after the treatment.

Sun exposure or sun beds must be avoided for at least four weeks after the treatment as this will increase the risk of hyper (increased) and hypo (decreased) pigmentation.

A sun screen (SPF 30) should be used on all exposed parts for four weeks after the treatment.

Hair regrowth occurs at different rates on different areas of the body. New hair growth will not occur for at least 3 weeks after the treatment, however one to two weeks after the treatment, shedding of the treated hair may occur (this is NOT new hair growth).

Do not use any other hair removal treatment methods (waxing, electrolysis, plucking or threading) that will disturb the hair follicle at the treatment area for 4-6 weeks after the treatment. SHAVING, TRIMMING OR DEPLIATORIES CAN BE USED BETWEEN TREATMENTS.

Future appointments

So we can offer you convenient appointment times, we recommend that after your treatment you book in your next one, as our clinic gets very busy

We are happy to set up a text or e-mail reminder service to let you know when your new treatment is due.

What you need to know about laser hair removal

What is Soprano XL

How does it work

What areas can be treated

What does the process involve?

How many treatments will I need?

Why do I need repeat treatments?

Will my hair grow back?

Is it safe?

Fitzpatrick scale

9 things you should know about hair removal

What is Soprano XL SHR?

How does it work?

Which body areas can be treated?

How do I know it really won’t hurt?

Safe for all skin types

Preparing for the treatment

How many treatments will I need?

Why do I need repeat treatments?

Will my hair ever grow back?

Is it safe?

Your visit to Esthetics

Your Consultation

Your Treatment

Pre Treatment Advice

Post Treatment Advice

Future appointments