Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) & Laser Hair Removal At Your Local Medical Spa Or Plastic Surgery Clinic

[I:http://www.theyellowads.com/womens_interest/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/BenjiDuVall32.jpg]Facial laser hair removal procedures from skin clinics; What you need to consider.

Mostly, a lot of aesthetic laser treatments technically operate the same way when performing a hair removal procedure. The parameters on the Intense Pulsed Light Device (IPL) or cosmetic laser (joules, milliseconds, pulse, etc.) should be set in line with the dermis analysis and history performed on the patient.

It’s mandatory to instruct patients not to wear dark clothing near the area to be treated as the pigment in the clothing could potentially be absorbed by the IPL or cosmetic laser light and can result in a burn. The patient should be instructed to refrain from using any body washes, lotions, cosmetics, or any skin medications the day of the treatment or procedure.

Many subjects may prefer to have a topical anesthetic applied prior to the treatment. If any residue of the anesthetic remains, it should be wiped clean from the skin. In most situations, a cooling gel or other cooling apparatus is applied to the epidermis.

A spot test, or patch test, should be performed on the intended treatment area. (Tiny white colored paper with perforated holes may be accessible for spot testing individuals.) In the test procedure, the paper is positioned over the area to be addressed and just one pulse of the laser or IPL device is used over the paper. After 10 to 15 minutes, the area is inspected for odd inflammation swelling, or other unwanted responses. If the area emits a slight reddish hue without any other abnormalities, the device adjustments are optimal. Clients with darker dermis types or suntanned epidermis could experience a paradoxical response where the laser or light therapy may stimulate more hair to grow rather than causing follicular destruction. Individuals with dark or ethnic dermis types should be spot tested a month before proceeding with a full treatment.

Certain aesthetic lasers or IPLs, IPL in particular, require a second pass in the intended procedure area at a different parameter. Before proceeding with the second pass, the skin should be meticulously examined for adverse effects.

Laser hair removal: Post Procedure

After a Intense Pulsed Light Device (IPL) or cosmetic laser hair removal treatment he patient may experience a mild burning sensation and redness following the hair removal treatment. This is could be expected and is frequently relieved by applying ice packs and an oral anti-inflammatory or pain medication if warranted by the doctor. Coverage to ultraviolet light (sun, tanning beds/booths) should be avoided. A sunscreen with an SPF 20 UVA and UVB protection should be applied to the epidermis prior to leaving the practice.

In the case of burning or blistering, a topical antibiotic medication should be applied to the area covered by a loose fitting, non-adherent bandage. The physician should be consulted.

A number of clients may experience pigment changes such as lightening or darkening of the epidermis which could last for weeks or possibly months.

It is fundamental to educate the patient about the process of hair follicle destruction. The patient should be made aware that an actively growing hair is the only follicle that will respond to laser and light therapy. In the weeks following the treatment, the portion of the hair which remains under the skin (after shaving prior to the procedure) needs to be expelled. The patient will begin to see these hairs protrude from the follicles that may very well be misinterpreted as regrowth. This is especially more noticeable in areas of the body which has thicker or more coarse hair like the axillae and genetalia. After a week following the treatment, you are able to instruct your patient to use a mild loofa or exfoliating sponge during showering to aid in the expulsion of the hairs.

The patient should also be informed which no laser or IPL device can destroy all of the hair follicles especially after only one treatment or procedure. Most hairs are in their dormant state, a number of have been placed into a prolonged dormant state due to the treatment effects, and a lot of have been transformed into vellus hairs. Therefore, several treatments are needed at monthly intervals for an optimal result. Furthermore, a maintenance treatment carried out at yearly intervals is advocated.

For anyone curious about understanding exactly what cosmetic surgeons and various MDs managing medical spas think of the latest Intense pulsed light (IPL) and aesthetic laser technologies choices out of Palomar, Sciton, Solta, Alma, Cutera, Candela, Cynosure, Lumenis, Syneron , or procedures like Thermage skin tightening, Smartlipo, Dysport and Botox, fat melting and other IPL and cosmetic laser treatments, remember to take a look at the aesthetic dermatology laser reviews and forums on Medical Spa MD, a community of professionals practicing aesthetic medicine.

Switch MD is a cosmetic laser treatment community of Plastic Surgeons, Cosmetic Dermatologists, and Aesthetic Physicians with more than 5,000 physician members and hosts the most current physician discussion forums on laser hair removal clinic treatments and non-surgical cosmetic medical technologies and treatments.

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