Medical photoepilation is a treatment whose objective is to eliminate body hair permanently. At the Miramar Institute we have three different types of equipment, the choice of which will vary depending on the type of skin, the location of the hair as well as its size. Depending on these characteristics, one or the other will be chosen:
- Alexandrite Laser
- Diode laser: soprano
- Leo lights
- IPL
How many photoepilation sessions are usually needed?
Normally, about eleven sessions are used for the body, and for the facial area the figure is around 14 sessions. In turn, once the sessions have been completed, the hair will never come out again, so maintenance sessions are not necessary.
What is the photoepilation procedure like?
The treatment is performed under selective photothermolysis. Photo means light, thermo heat, and lysis destruction. The term selective is included because it will work on the hair and hair follicle, which contain melanin. This melanin acts as an “antenna” capturing the light and reaching the hair matrix, which will be destroyed by heat.
Is photoepilation suitable for all skin types and is it suitable for all ages?
The advancement of technology has advanced towards hair removal in all skin types, even the darkest skins. At present, Miramar has a series of systems that allow us to heat the area without damaging it, a fact that allows us to work with patients with high phototype, that is to say, those patients with very dark skin or even those of black race, untreatable only a few years ago.
In the case of age, the important thing is that the hormones are regulated, so it is not advisable for girls or boys who are still growing. For a girl who has already regulated menstruation, the treatment will be feasible. In the case of children, it is recommended to wait until they are 16 or 17 years old.
Advantages of intimate photoepilation: Is it a painful treatment?
One of the main advantages of performing photoepilation in the intimate area is that it is not necessary to worry about the image of this area, in the case of elite athletes, actors or models, for example.
In general terms, it provides a sense of hygiene, and psychologically it is true that it brings a feeling of youth, personal well-being and greater satisfaction, especially in sexual and sporting life.
Is photoepilation a painful treatment?
Intimate photoepilation is more uncomfortable compared to other areas of the body, although in no case could it be defined as a painful treatment. It is recommended that, before undergoing photoepilation, the patient should use an anesthetic cream half an hour beforehand to avoid possible discomfort during the process.
What areas can be photoepilated?
Nowadays, the sides of the groin, the labia majora, the area of the Mount of Venus, the perianal area and the intergluteal area can be photoepilated.
The only area that cannot be depilated is the labia minora, as they do not contain hair, contrary to the false belief of many patients.
Photoepilation: skin risks and tips
The new state-of-the-art lasers have the ability to pass through the surface of the skin with pulsed light. The melanin in your follicle absorbs the light, and is destroyed by the action of the heat without damaging adjacent structures and preventing the growth of new hair.
The treatment is contraindicated in people with pathologies such as herpes simplex, with epilepsy, during pregnancy and lactation, in cases of fever or infection, in cases of diabetes.
It is also contraindicated in patients with pigmentation disorders or with dark skin. Its main complications may be the appearance of burns, scars or alterations in skin tone.
For more information, consult a specialist in Aesthetic Medicine.