| Frequently Asked Questions |
What areas can be treated using the Cutera ProWave?
ProWave can remove hair from all parts of the body including the face, legs, arms, underarms, and back. It can also treat sensitive areas like the chest, nipples, and bikini line. There will always be stubborn hairs and laser hair removal is not 100% guaranteed, but you will see a 80-95% hair reduction. Permanent hair reduction varies with different people - this is due to difference in skin color, hair color, thickness of hair, energy perameters, and client sensitivity to light. Everyone's body is different and therefore each individual's result might be different.
What do ProWave treatments feel like?
When the pulse of light is delivered some clients feel a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required, however, some clients may prefer to use a topical anethesia when sensitive areas are treated.
What do I have to do to prepare for the treatment?
You should shave the hair that is within the treatment area, do not pluck or wax the area before treatment. This is because you want to leave the actively growing hair roots in the follicle so that the laser can directly disable the source of growth. You should also come in with clean skin in the area that you are going to have treated, this means no makeup or cream. It is also important to discuss with the specialist, any medications you may be taking or are applying to the area that you would like to have treated. Finally it is recommended that you do not spend time in a tanning bed or unprotected in the sun for a week before and after treatment. This is to prevent the apperance of spots in the area that you are currently having laser hair removal on. Remember to protect your skin with sunscreen SPF 25 or higher at all times. Avoid sun exposure to reduce the chance of dark or light spots for 2 months (recommended). Use SPF 25 for at least 1 to 2 months post-treatments. Sunblock is recommended over sunscreen.
How many ProWave treatments will I need?
Most areas require 4-6 treatments. At Selais MedSpaTM, however, we do 8-12 treatments, depends on the individual. This is because the number of treatments required for optimal long-term benefit depends on multiple factors such as hair thickness, the area treated, and your hair's growth cycle. Each hair grows at a different rate and goes through three distinct phases: growth, regression and resting. ProWave treatments work by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hair will enter this growth phase at different times, we provide 8-12 treatments to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area. Touch-up treatments are usually needed to treat certain areas going through different growth cycle at different time and rate.
What happens after the treatment?
Immediately following the ProWave treatment, the area may appear a bit red or swollen. Three to seven days after the treatment you may experience what appears to be hair regrowth. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of this treatment and are not regrowing. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hair, but it is permissible to shave.
Are there any restrictions on my activity after treatment?
Following treatment you can return to your normal activities right away, but some redness may occur. The use of sunscreen is recommended on any treated areas that are exposed to the sun. In addition, it may be recommended that you use a specially formulated skin care product line or a skin care regiment especially formulated for your skin type.
What are possible side effects?
Although clients experience few side effects, those most commonly noted are a slight reddening and local swelling of the skin, similar to sunburn. These effects typically last for several hours or less. In rare instances blistering may occur. Consultion is required for complete information on the benefits and risks of treatment. Make sure to keep you skin hydrated at all times and use moisturizer in treated areas.
How does ProWave compare with other hair removal methods?
Shaving, waxing, and other depilatory creams are all temporary methods, which must be repeated on a frequent basis. ProWave offers permanent hair reduction for lasting results.
How does ProWave compare with electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a tedious, invasive, and painful process that involves inserting a needle into each individual hair follicle and delivering an electrical charge to them one at a time. Also, electrolysis often requires years of treatments at regular intervals. By delivering light energy to hundreds of hair follicles at a time, ProWave effectively treats an area in just seconds that would take over an hour with electrolysis.
Why is ProWave a good choice over other hair removal systems?
Using the latest technology for laser hair removal, ProWave can rapidly treat large areas safely and effectively on clients with a wide range of skin types. The cooled hand piece increases client comfort and minimizes the adverse skin reaction commonly seen with other light sources.
What are the intervals for treatments?
The interval per treatment is between 5-8 weeks and the timing depends on the location of the treatment. For a full body package, for example, we block the time for three hours.
What are the possible complications or risks and the side effects?
Normally side effects can include itching or stingy during treatment, redness, and/or slight swelling similar to that which you would experience with waxing. Some clients may instead experience a tingling or numbing feeling on the treated area. In rare cases crusting/scab formation can occur on ingrown hairs. In some instances bruising or purpura (purple coloring of the skin) can occur on tanned areas. Also in rare instances infection or burning can occur. Finally, temporary pigment change, known as hypo/hyper-pigmentation may happen. Overall few clients have had the side effects occur regularlly, and if they do occur they are generally temporary. Make sure to keep the skin hydrated post treatment by applying moisturizer.
Why does tanned skin need lower intensity and fluency?
When we tan, we produce the pigment known as melanin (darkening of color - skin or hair), onto the skin's surface. This darkens the skin through oxidation causing a "suntan." Laser targets the melanin within your follicles. Melanin is used to absorb the laser light and generates heat. Since with tanned skin you have melanin on both your skin and hair color, a decrease in intensity and fluency is required to effectively destroy the hair within your follicles. Remember to keep your skin hydrated with moisturizer.
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