Medical Laser Hair Removal

For many years lasers and pulsating light have been applied in different aesthetic medical procedures.  Among those treatments, some of the most popular are the removal of unwanted hair, the treatment of veins in the face and legs, the elimination of skin spots, and facial rejuvenation.

In Institute Vila-Rovira we have the best equipment available to carry out these treatments with security and reliability, obtain excellent results, and combine different light sources (Long pulse Alejandrita, IPL, Nd:YAG).  Each piece of equipment will be used according to the necessities and characteristics of each patient, making a personalized study in every case, offering the best personalized alternative possible.

PHOTO-DEPILATION

What is photo-depilation?

Laser photo-depilation consists of the application of a beam of light which is captured by the melanin in the hair, destroying the hair without damaging the tissues around it.  This selective capacity helps to protect the skin while the hair is being efficiently treated.

What areas can be treated by photo-depilation?

With this type of laser treatment almost all areas of the body where there is unwanted hair can be treated.  The most common are the groin area, underarms, legs, lips, and back.

What precautions must be taken?

With laser depilation, the patient must avoid the sun and self-tanning creams for one month before the procedure and one month after.  This helps to reduce the risks of hyper-pigmentation.  Patients mustn’t color their hair or remove hair with tweezers or wax for one month before the session.

What does the laser treatment consist of?

After a clinical study of the patient, paying special attention to the factors that could influence the result of the treatment (type of skin, exposure to sun, photo-sensitive medications, current illnesses, pregnancy,….), the session is done.  The amount of time necessary depends on the area to be treated, a few minutes for the upper-lip or a couple hours for the legs.

When applying the laser, protective eye wear must be worn by the doctor, patient, and anyone accompanying the patient.

The characteristics of the treatment will vary depending on the equipment used, but in any case it will consist of the repeated application of lasers to eliminate the hair from the area.  This is done with a hand-held controller which the doctor applies to the skin.

The patient will notice, depending on their tolerance for pain, some discomfort.  This isn’t frequent, and it can require the application of an anesthetic cream before the session.

When the laser treatment is finished, the doctor will apply a gel or hydrating cream to minimize the red skin and swelling.  These effects usually disappear in 30 minutes, but can last as long as a few days.

Are there any possible side effects?

Apart from those already discussed like red skin and swelling, sometimes the skin becomes darker or lighter after the treatment, returning to normal in a couple weeks.  To avoid theses effects it is very important to follow the post-treatment instructions especially avoiding the sun and using hydrating creams or lotions on the treated area.

What kind of results should be expected with laser depilation?

These technologies allow us to achieve a permanent reduction of undesired hair in the treated area with excellent results.  However, the patient must be informed that between 4 and 8 sessions are usually necessary to achieve these results, depending on the characteristics of the patient (type of skin, thickness, and hair color), and the area to be treated.  The doctor will design a program adapted to each necessity to fulfill the expectations of the each patient.  As the hair grows in cycles, and the treatment is most effective in the first cycle of hair growth, some maintenance sessions could be necessary to make the results permanent.

PIGMENT AND VASCULAR INJURIES

Pigment and vascular injuries provoke frequent inquiries in our aesthetic medicine clinic.  With the goal of offering effective solutions to these problems, we have incorporated new technologies which allow us to treat our patients with a guarantee of better results.

In all cases, although the laser source is different depending on the injury being treated (IPL or Nd:YAG), the results are achieved by destroying the target fabric (melanin or hemoglobin) thanks to the absorption of a specific wave length, without damaging the surrounding fabric.

What injuries can be treated?

Thanks to the versatility of our laser team, we can treat:

• Changes in the texture of the skin in the face, neck, chest, or back of the hands.  These are usually in the form of spots or reddening, reflecting damage from the sun over time.  Pink spots, open pores, and fine wrinkles improve drastically, efficiently reducing the signs of aging in the skin
• Spots (red or dark) and facial spider veins
• Varicose veins in the legs.  Over time, the veins in the legs become more visible.  The most common causes are genetics, pregnancy, problems with posture (many hours on your feet, being sedentary,…)

In the case of varicose veins, we recommend an ECO-Doppler scan before treatment, which will determine the state of blood circulation in the veins, help with the prognosis, and help to achieve better results.

What precautions must be taken?

The same as in laser depilation, sun exposure must be avoided for one month before and one month after each session, and the doctors must know if the patient is taking any medications or substances which could be sensitive to light.

What does the treatment consist of?

A cold gel is applied to the area of the injury.  This is to protect the skin during the treatment and to help the laser be transmitted more effectively.  The area is treated with several impacts from lasers in vascular injuries as well as pigment problems.

Protective eye wear must be worn by the doctor, the patient, and anyone accompanying the patient.

When the session is finished, a gel or hydrating cream is applied as a general rule to reduce the reddening and swelling effects which appear immediately and usually last a few hours.

Are there any possible side effects?

Normally, only a light edema appears which goes away quickly.  In exceptional cases, depending on the depth and characteristics of the injuries, changes in pigmentation, blisters, and bruises can appear.  These normally go away in a couple months.  It is important for the patient to follow the post-treatment instructions explained by the doctor in order to avoid these complications.

What results can be expected?

It is logical to think that the results will depend on the type of injury being treated.  Normally various sessions are needed to eliminate the problem.  Sun spots usually clear with one to three sessions, a vascular injury in the leg could require from 3 to 6 sessions.