Laser hair removal is the process of removing unwanted hairs from an area of the body using a high-heat laser.

This form of laser therapy heats up the hair follicles just below the skin which are responsible for the production of new hairs. Heating up the follicles temporarily stops any new hairs from forming.

More common hair removal techniques, such as shaving, waxing and tweezing, are not as successful in preventing hair regrowth. This is because they only target the hair above the skin and do not impact the follicle in a way that stops new hairs from appearing. Tweezing and waxing have to be performed much more regularly than laser treatment to maintain the same aesthetic goals.

If you’ve been on the hunt to find the best laser hair removal, you’ll probably have been looking into the various devices used to perform this popular treatment. The treatment for unwanted hair has evolved greatly over the past decade, with new and advanced technology making the treatment more comfortable and effective than ever.

One name that you may have heard is the Soprano ICE laser from industry-leading medical and aesthetic device manufacturer Alma Lasers. At our clinic in Southampton, it was a no-brainer to choose this laser for a number of our popular laser treatments, including laser hair removal.

Tired of constantly shaving, tweezing and waxing? Constantly paying for razors, waxing kits or treatments at a clinic can be expensive and time-consuming.

Laser treatment may be the more permanent solution for your unwanted hair. After only a few sessions you can achieve near-permanent results. Benefits of this treatment include:

• Achieve permanent results after a number of sessions.
• Lasers target hairs with much more precision than traditional hair removal methods.
• No need to worry about ingrown hairs.
• Fast and effective treatment with quick results.
• Fixed cost and no need to keep paying for waxing kits or tweezing treatments.

Laser hair removal is one of our most commonly performed treatments and is completely safe.

This treatment can be performed on almost any area of the body where unwanted hair grows and can be removed in a virtually painless way.

Our safe and professional environment aims to help you to feel at ease before, during and after your treatment. We understand how medical treatments can sometimes feel daunting, so making you feel comfortable is a fundamental part of our experience. A consultation with our trained Dermatologists in Southampton will provide all the clarity you need and help to define the right treatment for you.

If you are considering a hair removal treatment, it is important to be fully aware of the potential side effects that may occur. Although these treatments can cause side effects, they are often temporary and are kept to the area that the removal took place.

The most common side affects of laser hair removal include:

Redness

Skin irritation

Sunburnt feeling

Pigmentation changes

The risk of the above side effects differ between skin type, hair colour, your chosen treatment plan and pre-treatment and post-treatment care. At Kaizen we will guide you through the right aftercare and pre-treatments plans to ensure that your treatment is as comfortable as possible.

In most cases, there is minimal pain to no pain at all with laser hair removal, especially if you are comparing it to pain that can be experienced with waxing.

Different areas may cause more of a sensation than others where the hairs are thicker or the skin is more sensitive. Overall, the procedure does not hurt, you do not feel the heat from the lasers, however, patients have described the feeling as a slight pinch or slap on the skin.

With a single session, laser hair removal is not a permanent treatment and does not completely prevent hairs from ever growing back in a treated area. With that being said, you can achieve near-permanent results from multiple sessions of laser hair removal.

Unlike waxing and shaving the area, laser hair removal makes it much more difficult for hairs to remerge, and when they do they will appear lighter, finer and less will reappear. By having multiple sessions, we can completely disable the follicle from producing hairs in the future.

So, although this treatment is not permanent with one session, it does help to keep unwanted hairs at bay, and when they do re-emerge they are much less noticeable. If you do want near-permanent results, multiple sessions will be needed.

Yes, our laser hair treatment works on any skin complexion!

At our clinic in Southampton, we use the Soprano ICE machine which makes this treatment inclusive of all complexions. It used to be common that old-technology laser treatments would impact melanin in the skin to achieve the same permanent results. We only use industry-leading technology, that that targets the hair at the follicle, providing precise, comfortable and safe results for our clients.

Although the hairs that are targeted will grow back lighter after each session, our lasers have no impact on the pigmentation of your skin.

This treatment is just as safe for people with fair or blonde hair as it is for those with dark and coarse hair, however, laser hair removal works best when there’s a contrast between the color of the hair and skin. Blonde hair has low contrast against fair skin and therefor treatment may not be as effective.

The Soprano ICE machine targets breaking down the follicle as opposed to the melanin pigment of the hair.

If you want to get the most out of your laser hair removal, and want close to permanent results, then follow-up treatments are necessary. Most people can achieve permanent hair removal in 4 to 6 treatments, however, this number varies per person. Each follow-up will need to be separated by 6 weeks. This means that a full treatment cycle could take 9 months to achieve permanent results.

After each laser session, you should notice that each time fewer hairs grow back. As mentioned above, any hairs that do re-emerge will be a lot lighter and finer.

Treatment time depends on which areas are being treated. This can span anywhere from 2-3 hours for a full body session, to under an hour for a more focused area such as the shoulders or back. This procedure is available to adults over the age of 18 and requires a full consultation prior to treatment.

Laser hair removal can be performed on most areas of the body where unwanted hairs appear. This includes:

Face (Not eyes)
Neck
Shoulders
Back
Chest
Bikini Line

We do not recommend laser hair removal for eyelids, eyebrows or surrounding areas, due to the possibility of severe eye injury. Please be extremely cautious of any clinician that offers treatment in that area. If you require laser treatment in an area not listed above, speak to one of our technicians about what the best options for you are.

When preparing for laser hair removal, it’s less about what to do and more about what to avoid. Before attending your treatment, for the best results, you must avoid:

Avoid any sort of tanning either from a tanning bed or in the sun generally

Avoid using any lotions, creams, deodorant or cosmetics on the area that you are having treated.

Avoid waxing, tweezing and bleaching for up to 4 weeks before your hair removal.

Avoid shaving 2 days before your treatment, as this will prevent the hair follicles from being accessible and visible to our lasers.

For 24 hours post-treatment, you should avoid:

Shaving, waxing, or plucking hair

Excessive sweating, for example, heavy or strenuous exercise.

Swimming or saunas.

Very hot showers.

Tight restrictive clothing.

All treatments provided at our clinic in Southampton are available for adults aged 18+ and will always require a full medical consultation before going ahead. 

Treatment for under 18s is strictly prohibited.

To ensure that you have effectively removed unwanted hair in time for summer, we would recommend starting your course of treatment close to November. 

This would be the best option if you want smooth hairless skin for summer in the following June. Treatments for hair removal are spaced 6-8 weeks apart and often require multiple treatments to achieve permanent or near permanent results.

Depending on the time you want to have the hair fully removed, keep in mind you will need 6-8 treatments that are 6-8 weeks apart. Following this rule, you will be able to calculate the best time for your individual needs.

Results vary from person to person. Our dermatology specialists will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for your hair removal goals.

We would recommend avoiding direct or extended periods of exposure to the sun’s UV rays.

Following a treatment, your skin will be sensitive and need time to naturally heal. Your skin will be at risk of damage if exposed to harmful UV rays for a prolonged period of time.

We also strongly advise against using any tanning beds and avoiding sunbathing until the area has healed.

You may experience some very mild redness and heat in the areas that you’ve had treated. This isn’t the case for everyone, but is still quite common for some people.

If you do experience this, we would recommend the following actions to take following your treatment and between sessions. You should:

Apply an ice-pack on the treated area to reduce any discomfort or irritation.

Apply cooling creams or Aloe Vera gel for 3 days following your treatment.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Make sure that the treated area is kept clean for up to 2 days prior to treatment.

Wear loose clothing around the treated area for up to 2 days prior to treatment, to avoid friction which may cause discomfort.

It is worth keeping in mind that not all people experience any discomfort or redness after their laser hair removal treatment. If you do not experience any post-treatment discomfort, then you do not need to follow the bullet points above. Live your life as you would, and refer to this list should you need to.