Motus AX: What You Need to Know
Pros & cons
Safety concerns
How long results last
Fast facts
Motus AX is a laser hair removal treatment manufactured by Deka, one of the top laser device producers in Europe. It uses an alexandrite laser, the most powerful hair removal laser, which seeks out very dark pigment in order to destroy hair follicles and break up pigment lesions in the skin. The treatment is relatively quick, with small areas completed in less than five minutes.Â
Alexandrite lasers, like the Motus AX, usually deliver results more quickly than other types of lasers, but they aren’t typically used on medium or dark skin tones, since they could also lead to burns or changes in pigmentation. Motus AX is the first high-speed alexandrite laser that’s safe for all skin tones, even those that are a type VI on the Fitzpatrick scale.
It circumvents concerns about burns or hyperpigmentation with its proprietary Moveo technology, a special handpiece that delivers low-energy pulses in slow, repetitive motions (rather than intense bursts of heat) over small areas. By gradually heating the area up, this delivery system minimizes damage to the skin around the follicles.
The Moveo handpiece can also get extremely close to the skin’s surface. Unlike other lasers, which lose a portion of their energy when it reflects off the skin, the Motus laser’s energy is entirely absorbed by skin, making it effective enough to remove up to 90% of hair in as few as four treatments (vs. six to eight, with most laser hair removal treatment options).
Finally, the tip of the device cools skin on contact, which minimizes discomfort.
Pros
- It’s more comfortable than many other laser hair removal devices, which can be notoriously painful. There’s no rubber-band-type snapping sensation and not too much heat.
- Motus AX is the only alexandrite laser that’s safe for all skin types, even very dark skin.Â
- It’s more powerful and requires fewer hair removal sessions than the same procedure would with an Nd:YAG laser.
- The pulse duration is extremely short, which allows it to target all hair types, including finer hair (which typically poses more of a challenge with traditional lasers).
Cons
- Because it’s so new, not many RealSelf members have weighed in yet on its effectiveness or cost.
- The treatment area may still be sensitive afterward or have a bit of redness, which usually subsides within a day or two.
Laser hair removal is generally safe, though it’s imperative that you see someone with experience who fully understands all the settings. Motus is purportedly safer for brown and deep skin tones than other alexandrite lasers, which have the potential to burn—but again, this largely depends on an experienced provider.
All kinds of laser hair removal can potentially reactivate a latent virus, such as herpes, and exacerbate skin conditions like eczema. Be sure to mention any of these concerns to your provider.Â
If you have a tattoo in the desired area of hair removal, the laser could lighten it.
Lasers like this one can’t technically remove all hair permanently, but they can permanently and significantly reduce the number of hair follicles in a given area.
Any stray hairs that aren’t destroyed by Motus treatments could be removed via electrolysis, for permanent results.
Updated June 13, 2023