Cool thoughts on body hair.

I love cool science facts.

Research shows that we humans lost all our body hair through evolution about a million years before somebody finally figured out how to purchase clothes at one of the first primitive Walmarts.

One theory says that we lost our all body hair in an attempt to avoid parasites like ticks, fleas, and lice, and that we've only kept the hair on our heads because other people think it's pretty. As proof, consider that you haven't seen many bald pregnant women.

Comments

[ari]

Just starting out in my medspa. Would like to know your opinions on the Aesthera hair removal system.

Pro's Cons

thanks

ari

[laserdoc]

A general question to all and graditude to those who answer:
I've been getting excellent results from the Cutera with the Prowave 770 handpiece. I've gotten tremendous results with up to 70% reduction of hair on a few patient's legs after only one treatment. I usuallly use Program A at 25J for Fitz I and II. However, my patients tell me that the pain is sometimes unbearable. I use EMLA and have tried ice as well. I've even decreaesd the energy to 20J, but still getting a lot of pain. I would be grateful for any suggestions.

[LH]

Try a Zimmer it works well with the 1064.

[southwest md]

This brings up a question I would like to ask, I have another spa that opened earlier than I did with a laser, more like a IPL with multiple heads for everything. The one thing I have heard from every client is that for veins or hair removal it is so painful that they have stopped the treatment and left. They are very reluctant to even try any other lasers and are very down on spas in general.I agree cooling is important and of coarse they did not purchase a zimmer. But one machine with multiple heads is cheaper but I am not sure the best way to go.

Also 70% hair reduction after one treatment sounds really high with th 20% rule for active hair growth. I have seen what looks that good intially with my diode but is only the temporary hair lost not the permanent. It takes about 4 to 5 treatments.

Thanks

[SalvDo]

I have to say that the Zimmer is a huge expense for what is basically a cold air blower. Does anyone know the 'street price' for one of these?

[Dexter]

Laserdoc,

Are you applying a good amount of pressure? We have found that this helps quite a bit. Also, what repetition rate are you working at? The faster you go the less heat gets dicipated from the previous pulse. Slowing down may help. The problem with the ProWave is there is not near enough cooling. The chilling mechanism is not powerful enough. It's intention is to have enough cooling for epidermal protection but it does not have enough to provide very much anesthesia. I do agree that a Zimmer chiller would help this dramatically. You should be able to buy a Zimmer chiller for $6500-$7000. They are expensive because they have no competition. Hope this helps.

Dexter

[DermaDoc]

We use a Prowave as well as a 1064 for hair based on the area being treated and skin type, leaning more toward the prowave for FST 1-3. Topicals help dramatically and using the Prowave at 1.0 Hz seems to cause a potentiation of the cutaneous nerves that minimizes the pain. Essentially I think the patient gets tired of trying to sort out the pain sensations at that rate and it eases the perception. It seems kinda weird to suggest but keeping the patient talking and joking during the procedure seems to help as well. Never had anyone quit in the middle!

[laserdoc]

Thank you all for you're input. I feel honored to be associated with a great group of docs like yourselves.
By the way, I was very surprised by the results i got with the Cutera IPL. I didn't expect these results as the manufacturer states it takes three treatments and you can expect 80% reduction. But on a few pts that I treated they went from heavy hair growth and having to shave daily to having to shave Q5days with a great reduction in hair density after one treatment. this has lasted 2 months so far. 10% is in telogen phase so I expect some of it will grow back. 3 treatments will probably be necessary, maybe 4.
Anyway, thank you again. I'll look into the Zimmer. Does the Zimmer work well with IPL too? anyone know? I've used EMLA cream, but it doesn't seem to help all that much. I left on for 60min prior to treatment and used almost 30gm. Its very expensive too $30 for each treatment. Any suggestions?

[LH]

LaserDoc,

The Zimmer works well with IPL but you need to remember pigmentary changes are relatively superficial and the more you cool the surface the higher the energies needed to get a response. So it is best to use the least amount of cooling possible when treating superficial pigment. If you are using it on fitz 1 to 3 for collagen stimulation then you will need more penetration from the IPL and higher energy settings. It is OK to use the Zimmer for the deeper treatments.

If you own the Limelight from Cutera you can set the cooling temperature directly from the IPL itself. I never use any topical pain meds except for Fractional resurfacing.

[LH]

Sorry I forgot to mention that you can find used Zimmers on the internet as low as $4,000. In the long haul it will be worth it.

[DermaDoc]

Question for all my esteemed and knowledgeable colleaues - it seems like the 1064 does a decent job and the 770 Prowave does a decent job on hair as well. Is there anything to keep us from hitting the patient with both during a treatment session and accelerating the results? Different wavelength have different penetrations from what I recall from my training, so it seems like it may have an additive effect. I look forward to some feedback before I try it however!

[LH]

It may be worth a try but I would do the 1064 first then give a few minutes between and start the prowave. I would use the prowave at longer pulse duration and higher energies.

Of course all settings will depend on Fitz skin type. Some recent studies on se3lective photothermolysis are showing some benefit from longer pulse durations and higher energies.

If you were to do the above you be using both short pulse and long pulse durations. Just make sure to do test spots and give the skin a little time to "rest" between the 2 modalities.

[SkinHealthMD]

Anyone have any feedback on intervals between treatments with the Prowave 770? Their treatment guidelines say every 6-12 weeks, quite a big range. We have been bringing most patients back at 6-8 week intervals for most body parts. 8-10 weeks for legs. But we noticed that results on the chest in particular have been less than expected. The clinical nurse specialist at Cutera says Cutera does not provide any specific guidelines on this (what?) but in her experience and what she's heard, the interval should be every 12 weeks! Did I miss something? Is anyone aware of established guidelines? Or any anecdotal experience to share? Your feedback is much appreciated.

[Armelya]

Hi,

I always would like to stick with natural things to use on my body, but I would like to remove some hair permananetly and I was wondering whats the effects of using the laser hair removal, I read this article here favorite it The Beauty of Hair removal but I am still wondering would it effect my skin tissue and damage it?

I would appreciate if someone would be able to answer me

Thanks