As the laser passes over the treatment area, the concentrated beam of light is absorbed by the melanin or pigment in your hair.

Laser hair treatment is most effective when the hair is in its active growth phase. The light energy is converted to heat energy in the active hair follicle beneath the skin, permanently and safely retarding the growth of the hairs without damaging the surrounding skin tissue.

Laser hair removal is suitable for all skin types, but will be less effective for patients with blonde, grey or white hairs as there is little or no pigment in the hair follicle for the laser to target.

Generally speaking, the darker and thicker the hair, the faster the response to treatment and the better the results.

Before the treatment If you have responded well to the test patch (with no adverse reaction after 48 hours) and are happy to go ahead with laser hair removal treatment, we will book you in for your first session.

At the start of the session, the laser practitioner cleans the treatment area and removes any hairs that you were unable to shave. She then marks out the treatment area to make sure that it is treated evenly and no part (or hair root) is missed.

The practitioner also gives you protective eyewear, and covers any moles, tattoos or beauty spots in or around the treatment area.

During the treatment with the laser set to the level determined by your response to the test patch, the practitioner starts the treatment.

After the first ‘shot’ with the laser (and during the procedure), she will check that you are comfortable with the set level, and will carry on until the treatment is completed.

After the treatment if your skin feels tender or appears slightly red after treatment, the laser practitioner can apply aloe vera gel to the area. If you need further cooling, you are welcome to stay in the clinic and apply a cool pack until the skin has calmed down and you feel ready to leave.

Generally, though, most patients only need the post-treatment aloe vera gel.

When any redness and heat sensation have passed, what you will soon notice is the difference in the hair growth in the treatment area – even after just one session.

Most of our patients cope well with the treatment and say that it’s much easier than waxing!

The sensation is described as being like a little pinprick, with a heat sensation that stops immediately after the laser has been fired.

We also use Cynosure’s skin cooling system, which blows cool air over the skin and helps to minimise any discomfort.

The most common side effect of laser hair removal is erythema (redness) in the skin of the treated area, which some patients describe as feeling like mild sunburn

This sensation can last for as little as 30 minutes, but for most patients the skin fully recovers over the course of a few hours.

Applying an aloe vera gel, post treatment balm or medical barrier cream to your skin immediately after treatment can help with recovery. These products are available to buy in the clinic.

You can return to work or carry on with your day immediately after the treatment session.

Before you go ahead with any laser treatments, you will need to come to the clinic for a consultation and patch test.

This enables us to:

make sure you’re suitable for the treatment

carry out an inspection of the proposed treatment area

discuss the procedure in detail, including expectations, possible outcomes and side effects

complete a small patch test using the laser, to determine the most suitable level for your skin type and to make sure you have no adverse reaction to the treatment

give you advice and recommendations about home-use skincare.

For your consultation, some hairs in the area for treatment will need to be visible so that the laser practitioner can complete the laser assessment and patch test.

Afterwards, and before you start the treatment, we ask you only to shave or trim your hair in the proposed treatment area.

In the few weeks before your next laser hair removal appointment, we ask that (in the area to be treated) you don’t do any form of hair removal that pulls the hair from the root, such as:

waxing

threading

plucking or

epilating.

If you have done any of the above, you will need to wait a few weeks to allow the hair roots to regrow, so that they provide a target for the laser during the treatment. You only need to shave or trim the hairs between treatments, and do this preferably the day before your next appointment.

To get the best results, you should also avoid sun or UV light exposure to the treatment area for 4 weeks before your appointment. Sun or UV light exposure (such as from a sunbed) can make the treatment less effective, and may increase the risk of an adverse reaction.

If you have had sun or UV light exposure to the area treatment in the previous 4 weeks, we may need to do a further patch test to the areas if there is still a tan present.

Please note that certain medications and herbal remedies can cause increased sensitivity to UV light, and therefore affect the results of laser hair treatments. If you have any concerns, please call us at the clinic for more information and advice.

A full course of 6 to 9 sessions will result in a permanent reduction of hair growth.

However, many of our patients see remarkable results even after the first session, depending on the individual's circumstances. These include, but are not limited to hair type, hair colour, skin tone, medication, genetic variation, hormones, patient compliance and tolerance to the treatment.

We will discuss the procedure with you in detail, including the likely number of sessions needed, in your consultation for the treatment.

We recommend that patients have their first course of laser hair removal treatments at regular intervals. For patients having facial areas treated, this means a session every 4 weeks; for body areas, a session every 6 weeks.

We always recommend a course of at least 6 treatment sessions, at the intervals above, to help achieve the best results.

We will give you detailed advice about post-treatment care in your consultation, and give you a reminder after every treatment session.

We will also give you a copy of our client guide, which explains what to do before, during and after the procedure. It also has our contact number so you call the clinic during opening hours any questions or concerns you have.

The main things to remember are that, just after your treatment session, you should avoid:

• heat stimulation
• saunas and steam rooms
• taking hot baths or showers
• exercise or swimming