Laser Hair Removal - Palomar Icon, YAG or Candela?

A wide variety of medical lasers and light systems are used to remove unwanted hair, however most lasers are not effective for all skin types and hair colors. The Elos laser hair removal system is designed for permanent hair reduction by combining both optical and radiofrequency energy to deliver satisfying, longer lasting results with less discomfort than previous laser systems. All skin and all hair colors including gray and blonde hair are effectively treated. Faces, backs, arms, legs, faces, and bikini lines can be treated including those individuals with darkly pigmented skin. Treatments are administered every 4 weeks and generally 3 to 5 treatments are sufficient.

Thank you for your question! First of all, I think you should beware of the cheapest option. Regarding hair removal, the palomar is an intense pulsed light system which in my opinion is less effective than laser for hair removal. The Yag (is a laser) is a better choice only if you have very tanned skin or dark skin. Candela makes 2 lasers for hair removal - a 755 nm alexandrite or gentle lase which is a great option for most skin types and the gentle yag 1064 nm which is better for dark skin types. An advantage of the candela lasers is the cyrogen cooling which provides very consistent cooling and protection of the skin during treaatment. Best of luck!

A variety of lasers and light sources are available for laser heir removal, and the bottom line and most important consideration is that the person using the machine understands the technology being used and is just not being a robot following a cookbook. Most lasers in 2014 that are FDA cleared work extremely well and, with type III skin, they will all work for you. The IPLs, not as popular today as they once were for hair removal, are still really effective when used correctly, so when Iread that they are the jack of all trades and masters of nothing, I find itkind of amusing but also really naïve. I worked with the first dedicated IPL for hair removal over 20 years ago and performed all the pertinent and relative FDA studies, so I know how well they can work. If someone tells you their laser is the best, question them on how many lasers they might have in their office for hair removal. Everyone is different and a device that works really well on skin types 2-3 may not work on types 5-6 that well, and vice versa. So those of us who do this a lot, we usually pick a device based on the skin type and hair texture, not try to match the laser to fit every patient that comes into the office.