This Article is also in our FAQs section.
Q. What happens at consultation?
A. Consultations are free of charge and are with one of our friendly nurses or aestheticians. This will take roughly 45 minutes, and we will discuss your medical history, assess the area, and discuss your expectations. Should you wish to proceed to treatment, we are required to complete a patch test to the area and there is a charge of £30 for this. A patch test limits the risk of complications or side effects, and ensures we’re using the right settings for your skin and hair type.
Q. What is the patch test, and does it hurt?
A. The patch test is just as it sounds, a test patch of treatment to the area. The same as hair salons patch test hair dye prior to treatment, we test the area we’re treating. This is usually between 4-10 shots in the area for treatment. This gives you an indication of what to expect during treatment, and allows us to tailor your treatment for you as an individual.
Q. How soon after the patch test can I have treatment?
A. This depends on a few factors, such as your skin and hair type, your medical history and any medications you might take. As a rough guide, treatment can commence after 48 hours – 1 week after having your patch test. In rare cases we might suggest leaving 4 weeks between the patch test and your first treatment – this would be discussed with you at consultation.
Q. How long should I leave in between treatments?
A. This depends on the area being treated. We would suggest 4 weeks as a minimum gap between treatments (for face, underarms) an average of 6 weeks for some other areas (bikini, abdo) and up to 8 weeks for other areas (back) but your practitioner will advise you what is most suitable for you as an individual.
Q. How many treatments will I need?
A. This really depends on what you want to achieve, but on average most people require between 6-8 treatments to achieve permanent hair reduction. Many factors influence hair growth – age, ethnicity, weight, metabolism medication and hormones all play a part where and when hair grows. Following your consultation and patch test, you will be advised of realistic expectations.
Q. Does it hurt?
A.Laser hair removal is a gentle, non-invasive process and requires no anaesthetic. Most people feel nothing more than a slight warmth or tingling sensation.
Q. Is the treatment safe?
A. Yes. The Laser Clinic Ltd provides you with safe, effective and proven technology. All treatment is carried out by Registered Nurses and Aestheticians who have extensive laser experience and hold the BTEC Advanced Award in laser and IPL applications.
Q. How long will a treatment take?
A. This really depends on the area being treated, but you might find the information below helpful. Please note this is a guide only, and times might differ with individuals. Treatment itself should take less time, this is indicative of the duration of the appointment only:
Top lip: 15 mins
Full Face: 30 mins
Back: From 30 mins
Legs (full) From 1 hour.
Underarms and bikini: 30 mins
Q. Why can’t I have a sun tan?
A. The reason we cannot treat anyone with either an active suntan, a fake tan, or a tan obtained from a sunbed is because the laser would target the colour in your skin AS WELL as the hair. This increases your risk of blistering, burning and pigmentation changes.
Q. Is there anywhere that cannot be treated?
A. Yes, we cannot treat any internal hairs – for example nostrils and ears. Please note – the area immediately surrounding the eye is unsuitable for treatment.
Q. Is it suitable for men and women?
A. Yes, men find it particularly beneficial for excessive facial and back hair. And we offer a discrete ‘out of town’ service which is still close to Swindon town centre and Old Town – laser hair removal is becoming the preferred choice for both men and women.
Q. Is it suitable for all hair colours?
A. No – the laser will not effectively treat white, grey or red hair as there is insufficient pigment. If you have white, grey or red hair, Electrolysis will treat it effectively.
Q. Do I need to prepare the area?
A. Not for consultation. We ask that when attending your consultation you leave the hair as it is – this can be difficult when you’re coming to talk about facial hair and so we ask that if you can’t leave the hair you shave the area.
Q. Can I shave in between treatments?
A. Yes! We ask that you do. If you remove the hair with methods such as waxing or bleaching, this can make laser and IPL treatments ineffective. A growth of about 2mm is ideal for treatment – this usually means shaving the night before or the morning of your appointment, depending on when your appointment is. You don’t have to shave in between treatments if you don’t want to, but shaving or clipping are the only methods of hair removal that we can advise whilst having treatment.
Q. How much is treatment?
A. The patch test – which is required before ALL treatment is £30. The prices for individual treatments can be found at http://swindonlaserclinic.co.uk/prices/ Please note these prices are per treatment.
Q. What is the aftercare advice?
A. We will give you written and verbal aftercare advice at your appointment. If for any reason, you are unsure of the aftercare advice, please call us on 01793 686486 or email us at info@swindonlaserclinic.co.uk
Q. Can I have more than one area treated at a time?
A. Of course! The most popular combinations are underarms and bikini, and top lip and chin, although other combinations are also popular. Please ask for details and prices.
Q. Will the hair disappear during the treatment?
A. No. The hair will fall out about a week after treatment, during the growth faze of the hair cycle. When you leave, the hair will look pretty much the same as when you came in. The area may be red afterwards, but this usually fades quickly.
We hope that this covers any questions you may have. Should you wish to discuss any of this any further, then please contact us for a free consultation.