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 annoying hair growth often impairs the quality of life of the women and men affected and is often even psychologically stressful. Laser systems and Intense Pulsed Light ( IPL) can solve the problem for a long time on the face, bikini line, legs, back or armpits.

The luxury of having various medical hair removal options available to us nowadays sometimes creates a few uncertainties.
In this article, I would like to take a brief look at laser and IPL technology for medical hair removal and answer any unanswered questions.

What does IPL mean?

IPL stands for "Intense pulsed light" and is a type of light therapy that is used for various dermatological indications, such as the removal of pigmentation disorders, spider veins or couperose, but also for hair removal.

There are major differences in quality between IPL devices, with a particular differentiation between medical and cosmetic systems. 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 optimum results thanks to a higher level of intensity.

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

The laser is the gold standard

Soprano ICE is the most comprehensive and effective solution for laser hair removal. Treatments are gentle, virtually painless and proven safe. With Soprano ICE, all skin types can be epilated all year round, even tanned skin.

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

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

To summarize

What both methods have in common is that the light energy is absorbed by the melanin contained in the hair and quickly converted into heat. This heat destroys growing cells and cuts off the blood supply to the hair root. As a result, the treated hair, which is currently in the anagen phase, i.e. the active growth phase, falls out. The number of hairs decreases after each treatment.

Studies that have tested the effectiveness of both technologies over several years have proven the long durability of hair removal with both methods. Both the laser method and the IPL method have the ability to destroy the hair follicle for a long time.

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 and 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 bookingto make an appointment for a consultation for medical hair removal with laser. You are also welcome to call the practice directly to make an appointment: +43 676 4777829 (Mon-Fri from 8h-18h).