Cutis Medical Laser’s Weblog

Greetings from Cutis Medical Laser Clinics!

Hair removal has become one of the most popular aesthetic treatments. More and more women – and also men – prefer the smooth and clean look and feel and hairless skin all over the body.

However, hair removal is also a source of potential complications such as burns. Burns may result when melanin in the skin absorbs the light meant for the hair follicle.  This generates too much heat for the normal surface of the skin resulting in a burn. Patients who have a darker skin type or are newly tanned are at particular risk of burns.  The ability of operators to classify skin types, determine a treatment setting or dose, and the usage of appropriate equipment (Laser vs. IPL)  are critical elements to avoid complications while providing an effective treatment.

We at Cutis Medical Laser use only US FDA approved equipment manufactured by Cutera, Inc.  Our 1064nm laser is the first US FDA approved laser treatment that results in permanent hair reduction for all skin types.  More information on our equipment can be found on www.cutera.com

Also, our medical and scientific director, Dr. Sylvia, is the medical trainer for Cutera in the Asean region and a speaker at Cutera’s Medical Forums.

We invite you to experience permanent hair removal at Cutis with our 1-for-1 hair removal special*.

Please call 6327 9700 to set up an appointment.

Your Cutis Team

81 Club Street

6327 9700

info@cutislaser.com

www.cutislaser.com

Hair Removal Video using the Cutera Prowave 770

Hair Removal Video using the Cutera 1064nm

In an earlier article, we’ve discussed laser hair removal in general. Today, I’d like to discuss the systems we use here at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics for hair removal. We have both a laser and a light system – both from Cutera.

Let’s start with the laser system – the Coolglide 1064nm.

The CoolGlide CV laser was the first 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser cleared by the FDA to permanently reduce hair in patients of all skin types (I-VI), those who are tanned or tanning and patients who suffer from Psuedo-Folliculitis Barbae (PFB). While some technologies require the suspension of treatments during the summer months, the CoolGlide laser may be used year-round. 

The 1064 nm wavelength was initially controversial amongst laser users. One reason was confusion about the use of a longer wavelength with weaker absorption by melanin. But it is important to remember that melanin, the target chromophore for hair, is also contained in the epidermis. By using a longer wavelength with the right parameters, the hair bulb is reached and the wavelength bypasses the epidermal melanin thereby offering protection to the outer skin. With Cutera’s ability to provide the required combination of pulse width, spot size and fluence, excellent results can be obtained on patients with all skin types.

Our light system – the Prowave 770

The ProWave contains two groundbreaking innovations. First due to the custom design, the ProWave emits mostly infrared light above 770 nm, wavelengths recognized as the most versatile for hair removal. The second innovation is the output spectrum that can be shifted to optimize treatment for each patient. Three distinct programs tailor the wavelength and pulse width to optimize performance and efficacy for each patient.

Program A: Shortest wavelengths & pulse widths
Program B: Mid-range wavelength & pulse widths
Program C: Longest wavelength & pulse widths

Some photos:

What is Laser Hair Removal? If you’re like most men or women, you’ve had some form of hair removal procedure. There are several options in the market but most are temporary hair removal systems. In this blog, we introduce you to laser/light permanent hair removal, one of the most popular skin treatments in Singapore today.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal is the use of laser energy to produce permanent hair reduction. This is accomplished by producing heat in the hair, which is transferred to the hair follicle, which in-turn produces inflammation, and this inflammation sends a signal to the hair follicle to go into the resting (telogen) phase.

What is a laser versus an IPL?

First of all, what is a laser? A laser is a device that produces light of a single color or wavelength. In the case of hair removal, the target is the melanin pigment contained within the hair shaft. In contrast, intense pulse light, which can also be an effective hair removal device depending on your skin type, the equipment being used on you, and the experience of the doctor, uses a broad band of light for hair removal.

A delicate balance

The tricky part of laser hair removal is targeting the hair shaft without damaging the melanin pigment in the surface of the skin. Thus the laser light has to be on long enough to heat the hair, but not too long to allow that heat to spread to the surrounding skin causing damage. In addition, the darker a patient’s skin, the more difficult it is to avoid injuring the surface of the skin while treating the hair. The laser we use in our clinic, the Cutera CoolGlide is the first US FDA approved hair removal device that is proven to remove hair on all skin types (regardless of skin color or whether there is any tan), safely and effective.

How many treatments?

Normally, a series of five to seven treatments are administered at four to eight week intervals depending upon the location of the hair. Following the initial series of treatments, subsequent treatments are administered, usually at longer and longer intervals. Some number of maintenance of treatments may be needed to keep all the hair away in a given area. After a single treatment, the hair in a given area is usually reduced in amount and thickness for a very long period of time. However, it may not be completely gone. To keep an area completely devoid of hair, maintenance treatments may be required. These maintenance treatments may eventually be required at only yearly intervals or even longer. This depends on the area being treated as well as the individual. As with any other traits in an individual, the frequency of maintenance treatments varies considerably from person to person

Is it Effective?

Although other forms of hair removal–such as electrolysis, depilatory creams or waxing–can be used, each has its own limitations as to effectiveness and ease of use. In an average of five treatments, laser hair removal may accomplish a permanent reduction in the majority of hair (usually 80%). The procedure is very rapid and well tolerated. Even the hair that remains is many times reduced in diameter, making them significantly less of a cosmetic issue while also reducing the irritation of the hair follicle. Overall, this procedure is commonly performed with high patient satisfaction. Remember lasers are medical devices that need a high level of expertise to be used safely. Ask your doctor about their experience in hair removal.

Things to Consider Before Treatment

Before you begin treatment, you should talk to your doctor to determine if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. The three most important questions to ask during a consultation are:

Do you own the laser or rent it? If the doctor owns the laser, that tells me they have a high level of commitment and experience.

How many patients have you treated?

What kind of results can I expect?

You should also note that in general, equipment that is used in medical clinics for hair removal differs in several ways from equipment used in salons/spas. First, lasers are only used in Singapore by doctors, and so only IPL systems are used in salons/spas. Second, the IPL systems used in spas/salons are generally of a different grade and effectiveness than that used by a doctor. This is why when you have hair removal at a spa/salon, you need many more treatments than when hair is removed at a clinic.

What can I expect during the laser hair removal procedure?

The length of a laser session may range from a few minutes to an hour or more depending on the size of the area being treated. How long the procedure takes depends on the area of the body involved. A small area such as the upper lip may take several minutes. A larger area such as the back may require several hours.

Since laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase (anagen), several treatments are required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase.

During the procedure, laser light will be delivered through a hand held piece attached to a laser console. You may experience a stinging sensation as the laser pulse is delivered. To reduce discomfort, the cooling system automatically removes heat from the surface of your skin before, during and after the laser exposure. You should not need general anesthesia or pain medication, but a topical anesthetic cream may be applied to sensitive areas. The process can take from just a few minutes for an upper lip to several hours for a full back and legs.

Laser treatment itself may cause a slight tingling sensation. Most patients tolerate the procedure well. But because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia can be an option. The appearance of the treated area immediately after the laser session will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of treatment and skin type. Immediate after-effects, if any, are minor. They may include redness and swelling, which disappear in a short time. Most people return to normal activity right away.

During the procedure, you wear goggles to protect your eyes from accidental exposure to laser light. The procedure causes a slight charring of your stubble. You may notice a strong odor of singed hair, which is normal. Afterwards, you may experience some temporary redness and swelling.

This is an interesting product which we have been using for a couple months now here at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics. To see results, we will have to wait at least 12 weeks but the first indications are very promising.

Some say it is the hair that makes the man; it’s been called our crowning glory and defines our style, framing our personal presentation. Sometimes we even joke about it, but for the many people whose hair is thinning, hair loss is no laughing matter. Thanks to new technology breakthroughs in hair loss treatments, proven solutions for men are quickly advancing and being made available worldwide. 

There are a lot of places who do hair removal (or reduction as we like to call it) with different messages to clients. Some promist to be able to do a permanent hair removal in one treatment which of course is not possible. The reason for that is that hair grows in stages:  Anagen is the active growth phase, catagen is the transition phase, and telogen is the resting phase. The duration of the anagen phase governs the length of hair at different body sites.

Lasers or Light treatments are truly effective in only the anagen phase, when the melanin content is at its highest. The ratio of anagen follicles to telogen follicles varies with body location. Because not all of the hairs are in the anagen phase at any 1 time, laser or light  treatments must be repeated to capture the new hairs coming into the anagen phase. At any one time, only 30% of the hair is in the anagen phase.
The timing of treatments is important because hair should be treated during the anagen phase. This phase is short (6-12 wk) for hair on the head, and treatments are spaced a month apart. On the trunk, the telogen phase lasts 12-24 wk, and 2-month spacing is best.