How To Tell A Good Laser Hair Removal Salon From A Bad One

The wonders of laser hair removal have long been appreciated and loved by many (in detail ─ "Basic course: what you need to know about laser hair removal"). But the question of how to choose a place where the procedure will be carried out in the highest class, if the “ask a friend” option does not work, remains relevant. Tatiana Voloshin, director of the Novolaser network of laser hair removal clinics, and Vitaly Voloshin, dermatovenerologist, Ph. D., talked about how to distinguish a high-quality salon from one where it is better not to stay for a long time.

Ask for documents

Laser hair removal is essentially the same medical procedure as all cosmetology. Each self-respecting studio has a document on the passage of compulsory medical certification, which you can ask to present if the salon is in doubt. In addition, such a procedure must be carried out by doctors with an appropriate education, confirmed by a diploma. See if the list of employees includes positions such as dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist and cosmetology nurse. If the studio refuses to present at least one of the documents, it is worth looking for a better place.

Compare prices

Too low prices for laser hair removal can be another signal about the quality of services. So, for example, 200 rubles for epilation of the upper lip, provided that the salon does not conduct a discount campaign, may indicate that specialists work on devices that are five to six times cheaper than American or European devices and do not have registration certificates from the Russian Federation. Ask a doctor for a consultation (by the way, it is obligatory) on what equipment the procedure is performed. In a good salon, you will most likely hear names such as Candela, Cynosure, Dek (alexandrite lasers) or Magic One, Lumenis LightSheer, AlmLaser, Vectus Palomar (diode lasers). The most popular and technologically advanced at the moment are diode and alexandrite devices.

Listen to the questions

Before the start of the session, you must be given the consent to the procedure, and only after signing the contract, the doctor can begin the consultation and examination of the skin. During the conversation, a specialist, like in a hospital, collects an anamnesis in order to exclude all risks or detect contraindications. The main reasons for refusing to carry out the procedure are pregnancy, lactation during the first six months after childbirth, cancer, neurological diseases, mental disorders and blood clotting disorders. Also, if you have just become ill, you have exacerbated chronic diseases, your blood pressure is steadily elevated or diabetes is observed, the doctor is not allowed to conduct a session. He is obliged to ask what medications you have recently taken,to eliminate the possibility of their effect on the photosensitivity of the skin, as this can lead to burns.

If you suddenly returned from vacation or went to a solarium, the doctor should reschedule the session, since the skin is now the most sensitive to the effects of the laser. In addition, it is not a secret for anyone that laser hair removal is less effective on dark skin, so it is better to wait until the epidermis recovers. The term is determined depending on the type of laser chosen, but on average the doctor may postpone the visit for two weeks or longer. If the specialist did not ask any of the above questions, you should be on your guard and, perhaps, think about changing the salon.

Evaluate the feeling during the procedure

Unfortunately, there is no such procedure that would help get rid of unwanted hairs without any sensations at all. Even with laser hair removal, the doctor sets the power of the device in the range between discomfort and pain ─ otherwise the procedure will simply not be effective. If during epilation you feel only a weak effect (and you did not use local anesthesia), the salon saves on lamp replacementand specifically sets the minimum power to prolong their service life. On average, clinic owners should pay attention to the health of the lamps after 1,000,000 pulses, after which the lamps are changed. But since lamp replacement costs more than $ 10,000, unscrupulous salons try not to do it as long as possible. As a result, instead of five to eight procedures, you have to visit 15-20 to get the desired effect.

Pay attention to care during and after

If you have not yet been to laser hair removal, know that for the procedure you will need a whole "James Bond set": protective glasses with a special coating, antiseptics, white cosmetic pencils for marking and painting age spots, products with panthenol to protect against burns, dry, wet and cloth wipes, cotton pads and sticks, disposable needles, tweezers, sheets, hats, panties … baths and do not even use self-tanning, as well as refrain from massage and rubbing the skin to allow the epidermis to recover. Only a beginner or non-professional will not alert you to the necessary care after the procedure.

Watch the result

Of course, after the first visit to the salon, all hair will not disappear immediately: within two weeks, the hair follicles will reject the treated hair. Visible hairs can be easily removed with a washcloth or gentle scrubs. Also, after a session of laser hair removal, some patients may notice redness. Not everyone has such a reaction and in most cases is a variant of the norm. This effect disappears on average within a few days, but if the redness intensifies, you need to consult a doctor for advice and help.

Sometimes after the procedure, patients observe the appearance of burns, edema, blisters and hematomas. Such a result may be the result of non-observance of contraindications after the procedure (for example, sunburn), or it may arise due to the unprofessional influence of a specialist (the master chose the wrong power for a specific area of the skin, incorrectly set your phototype, did not take into account one of the contraindications, did not cool enough cover after the procedure, etc.). In both situations, be sure to contact a trusted dermatologist, try to follow the care recommendations after and do not hesitate to change the location for the next epilation procedure if something does not suit you.