Ram K Reddy, MD

swelling after picosure is common but less then other devices , it should go down in 2-3 days

IPL is not an effective treatment for hair removal. Why? Because IPL is good for pigmentation, sun damage, age spots, and rosacea. Reduction of hair after several treatments is just a side effect from the IPL.  Laser technology is simply much more effective, and achieves substantially better results than IPL Hair Removal. The majority of patients experience permanent hair reduction after 6-8 sessions. Lasers are far more precise, and can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Lasers are safe for all skin colours, whereas IPL can cause burns on darker skin tones. Also each laser pulse takes a fraction of a second and can treat several hairs at a time.

Thank you for your question. Ten months is a sufficient amount of time to wait before beginning your microneedling treatments.

Doing the research and finding the laser that is right for you is very important.  In our office, a Yag laser is used for skin types 4 through 6, which would include Asian and darker skin types.  The best type of laser to safely treat darker skin types is a nd:Yag laser.  The Yag laser has a 1064 nm wavelength which is the preferred wavelength for effective laser hair removal for darker skin.  The advantage of this type of laser is that it can identify the difference in the concentration of melanin in the hair and the skin.  Also make sure you are treated by a well qualified and knowledgeable clinician.  Appropriate settings are still necessary for an effective yet safe treatment.

Good Luck!  Dr. Reddy

Your clinician wants the best results for you as possible and has more than likely followed a strict guideline of settings based and your skin and hair colors.  Her goal is also to be sure that you have minimal side effects such as burning and discoloration just to name a few.  Be very cautious finding laser hair removal settings online.  While laser hair removal can be performed on virtually any skin color and hair type, hair color is the most important factor. The light emitted from the laser is attracted to the melanin, or dark pigment, in the hair follicle. This means that dark hair is treated most effectively. Treatments performed on red, blonde, and gray hair are not generally as effective.  I would suggest making a follow-up appointment with your clinician to discuss alternative hair removal options considering the laser is not as effective on red and blond hairs.

  All the Best, Dr. Reddy