MANILA, Philippines - You’ve known about hair removal via laser for quite some time. It’s something that you’ve been wanting to do, maybe saving up for. They say it’s painless, but you’ve heard horror stories about burnt skin, swollen pits and legs scarred for life. And then, there’s that girl who’s gone on 10 hair removal sessions and still has a bush to show for it. So should you or shouldn’t you go for it?
Here are some little facts about laser hair removal that can help make your choice.
• You can essentially remove hair anywhere from your body: your underarms, legs, arms, bikini line, chest, stomach and lipline. The only body parts where laser should not be used are areas near the eyes such as the eyebrows and the space in between, as laser rays can be very damaging to the eyes.
• Not all laser machines are created equally. Some beauty clinics use machines that aren’t really intended for hair removal — hair falling out is only a consequence or side effect of other treatments. Which means, the hair follicle isn’t completely destroyed, making the removal of hair a longer, more tedious, sometimes even useless, procedure. Beverly Hill’s 6750 Permasilk treatment uses a Comet machine, a laser platform specifically created for the sole purpose of ridding your body of unwanted hair.
• The Comet technology used by the Permasilk treatment combines radiofrequency, the thermal element, and the diode, said to be “the gold standard” for hair removal. It is this diode which specifically targets the pigment found in the hair bulb. The pigment is destroyed and, in effect, the hair follicle as well.
• Hair growth follows a cycle so it is very important to honor hair removal appointments. Otherwise, it will take longer to complete the treatment.
• Burns, scars, discoloration of the skin, swelling, and redness usually occur when the doctor performing the hair reduction treatment is not qualified or properly trained. It need not be stressed more: go to a clinic that has a good reputation and licensed practitioners.
• Smoother, whiter skin can really be achieved through laser hair reduction. However, this is due to the reduction of skin trauma caused by shaving, waxing or plucking, not necessarily because of the treatment or the machine used.
Beverly Hill’s 6750 multi-specialty aesthetic institute offers hair reduction and removal with their Permasilk treatment which uses the Comet technology. For more information, call 893-8888 or 893-5924, or visit www.bh6750.com. — Ana Kalaw