Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

Experts recommend that the winter months are the perfect time to have laser hair removal treatments if you’re looking to be hair-free in time for the summer.

Clinics offering laser hair removal will advise consumers on the optimum number of treatments on an individual basis, but on average, four to five sessions will usually achieve the desired results.

While this method of hair reduction and removal is quicker than electrolysis, the treatments must be spaced out over a number of weeks in order to allow the procedure to take effect. As such, planning to have laser hair removal during the winter months is the best idea if you want to be free from unwanted leg, underarm, bikini-line, back, or facial hair in time for the summer.

Advances in laser treatments mean that all types and colour of hair can now be treated effectively, including vellus hair (the short, fine hairs often found on the face) and grey hair.

Epilating, depilatory creams, shaving, waxing…these hair removal methods – let’s call them over-the-counter techniques – are designed to temporarily remove hair from the face and body, and there’s no denying that they do just that. But is temporary good enough for everyone?

For some, it is. Some men enjoy the ritual of shaving their faces, and some women don’t mind shaving their underarms, legs, or bikini line each time they shower. For these people the trick is to remember the importance of preparation and aftercare.

Epilating and Waxing
Reduce the pain of this hair removal technique by soaking the area to be treated in warm water to open the pores and reduce resistance. Exfoliate the skin gently and pat dry. Once you have exfoliated the area, ensure that you use a good moisturiser to reduce the possibility of ingrown hairs.

Depilatory creams
Hair removal creams tend to incorporate moisturisers, but they still involve using chemicals on the skin, and washing the cream off using water, which is proven to dry out the skin. It is therefore advisable to moisturise thoroughly after using hair removal cream, to keep the skin feeling smooth and silky.

Shaving
Shaving offers hair removal and exfoliation in one, but because shaving is often a daily activity, it can cause trauma to the skin, including dryness, itchiness, and redness. Avoid these symptoms by opening up the pores using a warm flannel or having a warm bath or shower before shaving, and by moisturising thoroughly afterwards.

For those who feel that taming and controlling the appearance of unwanted facial and body hair is a full-time job, a more long-term solution is laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal
This method of hair removal offers men and women a way to permanently reduce or remove unwanted hair from just about any area of the face or body. The laser is passed over the area being treated, and this destroys the hairs and reduces the chances of them growing back. Laser hair removal is effective not only at removing all types of hair (including Vellus hair, or ‘peach fuzz’) but it also treats the painful and unsightly problem of ingrown hairs, which can occur in any area that is regularly targeted for hair removal. Most people require a course of treatments of laser hair removal, but afterwards – are left with smooth, soft, and hair-free skin.

A recent report from Research and Markets indicates that the current global recession has caused the cosmetic surgery market to diversify.

The Cosmetic Surgery Market Report 2009 revealed that the cosmetic surgery industry continued to grow in 2008, despite the economic situation. The year’s end saw the estimated value of the total market (including non-surgical procedures) reach £536m, indicating a rise of 8.7 per cent. (more…)

Believe it or not, there is now a laser that evens your skin tone, reduces facial hair and thread veins and doesn’t feel as though elastic bands are being flicked against your skin. And it takes as long as getting your daily caffeine fix. Aesthera PPx makes skin look remarkably clearer in seven minutes.

(more…)