By Azim j Khan April 4, 2013 - 1:32am

It is no more a secret that unwanted hair on the face and body (armpits, bikini area, legs, arms and trunk) can be safely removed and reduced permanently using the latest laser hair removal technology. Fortunately, lasers are extremely effective and have proven to be absolutely safe with their more than 13 years of safety track records. Today, Dermatologists, all over the world, believe in the gospel of laser treatment for the permanent removal of unwanted body and facial hair. And just in case you have been misinformed, laser hair removal does not cause cancer.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL-FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Q: Is the laser hair removal safe?V-Beam

A: Yes, laser hair removal is absolutely safe, but only with a few considerations. Firstly, the treatment should be done using a high quality laser hair removal machine and secondly it must be done by a competent and properly trained doctor. On the other hand, most burn cases that you may have heard about were either done by an untrained/ill trained doctor, the person may not even be a doctor and/ or with a low quality Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) machine which is not a true LASER. You as a patient should understand that cheap laser hair removal treatment can only be offered by using low cost, low quality equipment which may not be safe and can burn the skin leaving permanent scars. Also, these cheap IPLs are not effective and you may need many more laser hair removal treatments to get long lasting results. So be wise, and choose the right man with the right machine.
Q: Is laser hair removal painful?

A: No. A special local/topical anesthetizing cream is applied prior to laser hair removal that makes the procedure almost completely painless. Some patients with extra sensitive skin may experience a mild needle prick sensation ---- but not pain.
Q: How Many laser hair removal treatments will I need?

A:Well, it varies from person to person. The correct assessment can be made only after a thorough dermatological evaluation. More specifically, especially in females, increased hair growth over the face and body could be secondary to some hormonal imbalance which must be taken care along with the laser hair removal. In some patients only 5-6 treatments are needed while in others 12 or more treatments may be required.
Q: Other laser centers claim to permanently remove the hair in only 4-5 treatments, is that possible?
A: Unfortunately many such clinics are run by unethical doctors with a commercial mind frame or even mere beauticians, who make big claims without any scientific knowledge or evidence. The fact of the matter is that in some cases it may be true, but for most of the patients 6-9 treatments are needed and in some rare patients even more laser hair removal treatments may be required. As mentioned earlier, the hormonal status and hair density gives the final word.
Cutera
Q: What is the cost of laser hair removal?
A: Although we use the exact same lasers in Pakistan that we use in our U.S. clinics, the cost of laser hair removal in Pakistan is only a fraction of what one would pay in the U.S. The cost of the laser hair removal starts from Rs. 4000 per session, depending upon how much area needs to be treated and the hair density in the targeted area. The exact cost can be determined only after the final assessment by one of our doctors.
Q: Why are our charges for laser hair removal slightly higher?
A: This is not true. Since we use the latest, most effective and the safest lasers made by some of the finest laser manufacturers in the world, we may only seem slightly more expensive than those who use cheaper Chinese lasers or the cheaper, less effective and less safe technologies like Intense Pulsed Light. Whereas a good laser likes Nd:YAG costs between US $ 50000 and 60000, a cheap Chinese Intense Pulsed Light system costs only US $ 3000 to 4000. Consequently, the cost of a single laser hair removal session by our machine would seem slightly heavy on the pocket, but it is, in fact, a much safe and undoubtedly the most effective option available in the world today. Moreover, with such high level technology, a faster response result and only a few sessions are needed which economizes the total cost of the treatment. So the rule is to consider THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ENTIRE TREATMENT RATHER THAN THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF A SINGLE SESSION. We are very proud of the fact that all of our lasers are made in the United States by some of the finest companies in the world such as Cutera, Iridex, Candela and Palomar. These are the exact same laser hair removal machines that are used in our US affiliated clinics in New Jersey and Ohio. Also, it is not just the machines which assure the best treatment. It is "the man behind the machine" who matters even more than anything else. Our consultant dermatologist Dr. Azim Jahangir Khan has more than 18 years of experience in his field. He has learnt, practiced and taught lasers for more than 15 years in the U.S. before returning to Pakistan. He has trained a team of highly dedicated doctors in Lahore to take care of his patients with him in a very efficient way.
Lyra
Q: What is the difference between LASER and IPL?
A: The word LASER is an acronym made from the first five letters of “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. It simply means that a very specific kind of light is amplified or made extremely strong, so strong that it can burn. The beauty of laser is that it only burns a specific color or substance – in case of hair – it is the color of the hair that the laser targets. Therefore, lasers can only destroy the black/brown hair and not the white or grey hair. The safety of laser is also inherent in their very specific damage, so the better the laser, more specifically; it burns only the targeted hair and not the normal surrounding skin. On the other hand, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), is a broad spectrum light that can damage the skin around the hair. Since the laser technology is far too difficult to build, lasers are much more expensive than IPLs. In a nutshell, if you are looking for more effective yet safe laser hair removal treatment, go for a “true” laser rather than an IPL treatment. Make sure that you ask your doctor to tell you the brand of laser they use and go on the web to make sure that it is a laser by a reputable company. After all it is your health and your skin – so take care of it with the best possible technology, even if it is slightly expensive. The final choice is yours.