Doctor V interviews Medical Aesthetic Technician Patrizia about laser hair removal
Patrizia has been working in our aesthetic centre for one year. She performs IPL Fotofacials, Blue light therapy, laser hair removal, chemical peels microdermabrasion and medical facials. She has performed numerous treatments and I have asked her to answer some commonly asked questions.
Doctor V:. What do patients enjoy most about laser hair removal?
Patrizia: Patients enjoy the non invasive, easy way to remove unwanted hair that has been bothering them for years. Patients love the fact that they don’t have to worry about ingrown hairs, irritation from shaving or stubble after they finish their treatments.
Doctor V: How long does the treatment of underarms or a bikini take?
Patrizia: Depending on how much of an area you’re treating most underarm and bikini treatments take anywhere from 30-45 minutes from start to finish.
Doctor V: What do you enjoy most about doing laser hair removal?
Patrizia: Its interesting to work with such an advanced technology. Its amazing how people see such drastic reduction in hair growth after just a few treatments.
Doctor V: Is there anyone who should not have laser hair removal?
Patrizia: Patients that are not good candidates for laser are people who have white, blonde, red or grey hair. The laser is attracted to the pigment (colour) in the root of the hair. So the hair must be brown, dark brown or black for it to be effective. Also, patients with certain medical conditions such as lupus and women who are pregnant must not have laser. Patients who have had any gold injections or pills in the past, should not have laser hair removal, as laser may produce permanent green spots in the area treated.
Doctor V: How often do most people have laser hair removal treatments done?
Patrizia: When treating facial hair, treatments are done every 4-6 weeks. Treatments for the underarms, bikini and legs are done ever 10-12 weeks.
Doctor V: What can be done to minimize the discomfort during the treatment?
Patrizia: Although there may be some discomfort, it is tolerable. We have a Zimmer Cryo Chiller that blows out cool air over the treated area. This helps to minimize discomfort. Patients may also use a topical anesthetic like EMLA when treating smaller areas such as the upper lip.
Doctor V: What do you do to maximize the protection and safety of the patients during laser therapy?
Patrizia: First off I would start by accessing the skin to ensure that the skin is not tanned. Then I check that the laser settings are correct, based on the patients skin type and type of hair. All prior treatments and laser energy settings used are recorded and kept in each patients chart. Both the technician and patient will wear protective eye wear to protect their eyes. Calibration is done prior to treatment to ensure the machine is working properly and safe for use. Warning signs are posted both inside and outside our rooms so that others are aware that there is a treatment being done. The room has no reflective surfaces to minimize the risk of unwanted reflection of the laser beam. To ensure safety during treatment there is a double protection mechanism. To pulse the laser, the technician must activate the laser pulse with both a foot pedal and hand piece.
Doctor V: What safeguards does the office have for patient privacy and confidentiality.
Patrizia: There are many safeguards in place. Patient records are protected by a password, so that access to the patient's chart is limited. We do not discuss the reason for a patient's visit with other staff members or other clients. All photographs are identified by a patient number, not a name and access to photographs is also pass word protected. We never publish a patient's photos without prior written permission - photographs are kept strictly in the patient's chart.
Doctor V: How long have you been doing laser hair removal?
Patrizia: I have been working with laser hair removal for about 5 years, and I really enjoy it!