Hair removal with laser or IPL

Modern lasers with light-based systems remove unwanted hair on the body and face with long-lasting success. Excessive or bothersome hair growth often impairs the quality of life of the affected women and men and is often even psychologically distressing.Laser systems and Flash lamps(English: Intense Pulsed Light, IPL) can solve the problem for a long time on the face, bikini line, legs, back, or underarms.

The luxury of having various options for medical hair removal available to us today sometimes creates a few ambiguities.
With this article, I would like to briefly address laser and IPL technology for medical hair removal and thus answer open questions.

What does IPL mean?

IPL stands for “Intense pulsed light” and means a type of light therapy that is used for various dermatological indications, such as the removal of Pigment disorders, Spider veins or Couperose, but also for hair removal, is used.

Among IPL devices, there are large differences in quality, especially a differentiation between medical and cosmetic systems is given here. IPL can be offered by doctors, but also in beauty salons or cosmetic studios by beauticians.

Laser - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

A Laser works specifically in a specific wavelengthwhile IPL technology has wavelengths of approx. 500-1200 nm, which results in a lower temperature at the hair follicle due to scattering in several planes.

The difference lies in the concentrated light pulse of the laser, which acts specifically on the hair follicle and thus damages the hair root. The laser always uses higher temperatures with almost complete painlessness and achieves optimal results.

IPL technology works with a broad wavelength spectrum and therefore does not reach the penetration depth of a laser. As a result, a less high temperature is reached at the target structure of the hair root, which is important for the effectiveness of hair removal.

The laser is the gold standard

Soprano ICE is the most comprehensive and most effective solution for laser hair removal. The treatments are gentle, practically painless, and demonstrably safe. With Soprano ICE, all skin types can be epilated year-round, even tanned skin.

This laser is a diode laser, which emits light of a specific wavelength (755 nm). We also have a second hair removal laser system, which works with 3 different wavelengths (755nm, 810nm, 1064nm), making the treatment more versatile.

The light pulses penetrate with high intensity specifically into the hair follicle via the pigment contained in the hair and cause the nutrient cells of the hair root to be destroyed through a thermal reaction. An integrated cooling system enables this type of gentle hair removal. Darker hair responds particularly well to the treatment because it contains the pigment melanin to a greater extent, but with new laser systems, even very light hair can be removed well.

To summarize

Both methods have in common that the light energy is absorbed by the melanin contained in the hair and rapidly converted into heat. This heat development destroys growing cells and prevents the blood supply to the hair root. As a result, this treated hair, which is currently in the anagen phase, i.e., the active growth phase, falls out. After each treatment, the number of hairs decreases.

Through studies, which have tested the effectiveness of both technologies over several years, the long durability of hair removal has been proven for both methods. Both the laser procedure and the IPL procedure have the property of destroying the hair follicle long-term.

However, a significantly higher effectiveness in hair removal was found with laser technology than with IPL.

In our practice, we offer both laser treatments with 2 hair removal lasers as well as IPL treatments to meet your requirements and to be able to select the most efficient method for you, tailored to your skin and hair type.

Please use our Online appointment booking, to arrange a consultation for an medical hair removal with laser auszumachen. Gerne können Sie auch direkt in der Ordination anrufen und einen Termin vereinbaren: +43 676 4777829 (Mon-Fri from 8am-6pm).