ENRICH Clinic is moving to South Yarra  in Jan 2025 – Read More Here

Laser Hair Removal
Laser Hair Removal

Laser Hair Removal Melbourne

Unwanted hair can vary from regular amounts of normal coloured and textured hair to excessive hair growth. Today’s fashion trends are dictating that less body hair is preferable, despite the fact that there is often no medical need for hair removal.

Hair removal options

Removing unwanted hair has long been a human pursuit. We wax, shave, pluck and cream our hair away, and some cultures have been doing this since the dawn of time. Now, we have a long-lasting hair removal system – laser hair removal.

Who can and can’t get laser hair removal

There was a time when laser hair removal was only for those with dark hair and fair skin – the laser required the contrast to work. Lasers are much better now, allowing a wider range of people to benefit from laser hair removal, but red and white hair does not respond to the laser because it isn’t dark enough.

Enrich is a reliable, trusted laser hair removal specialist

Enrich has been at the forefront of laser hair removal, always keeping up-to-date with the very best lasers and equipment, and the best processes and techniques to get your hair off. We have been around for 35 years, with laser hair removal one of our staple crafts.

How does laser hair removal actually work?

The laser beam – tuned up to the exact frequency it needs to be for your hair and skin tone – penetrates the root of the hair follicle. This destroys the hair follicle and removes its ability to produce a hair, thus ‘removing’ the hair.

The beam of the laser only directs its energy at the melanin in the hair root, and spares all other skin, making this procedure very safe and effective.

You will be advised to adhere to the following:

  • No waxing, plucking or threading for a month before treatment
  • No sun exposure or self-tanners
  • No solarium use

How does a laser work?

Lasers work on a frequency-based system, with light absorption as one of its main methods of action. Dark absorbs more light than white (like wearing black on a hot day). This is called photothermolysis.

Once your dark hair absorbs the light, the light travels down the hair shaft and ‘hits’ the end, where it bursts out – energy never disappears, it only changes form, so when the light hits the end of the hair shaft, it changes form – into heat. This heat energy is then spread into the hair follicle, destroying it (hair follicles do not like that much directed heat).

The laser beam causes damage at the most critical time of the hair follicle’s hair-producing time – the active growth phase. The laser light is only on for a very short pulse – it doesn’t need any more for the process to be complete for this hair growth cycle. Then, you come back next time to do the same process to the hair follicles that remain, until none (or just a few) remain.

Does laser hair removal hurt?

Not really, though it can sometimes be a bit uncomfortable. The lasers have a cooling mechanism so they cool the skin prior to the light being emitted. Your skin will be coated in a special substance, ultrasound gel (like KY Jelly). Laser hair removal shouldn’t hurt as such – it will feel like a very small rubber band pinging gently on the skin. Luckily with modern lasers, it’s over pretty fast anyway as treatments are short.

What laser hair removal is like – a treatment

Having hair removal treatments takes from minutes to hours. This depends entirely on the area you are getting treated, and what sort of laser is being used. At Enrich, we use the fastest, most comfortable medical-grade laser for your skin and hair type, so you can be in and out as fast as possible while still getting effective hair removal.

You will always need a course of treatments for best results, since you need to get all of the hair growth cycles. You will likely need up to eight sessions, sometimes more. There are many factors involved in this process, for example, your hair tone.

There are typically three phases of a hair growth cycle, and we need to catch the hair in the right phase. That means the timing of appointments matters, so try to avoid cancelling or rescheduling. It can make all the difference.

After treatments, the skin might be a bit red and warm, but this will disappear in a few hours or overnight. You can resume normal activities immediately.

Is laser hair removal forever?

The idea is that, yes, laser hair removal is a long-lasting hair removal solution, but our hair follicles might have other ideas. Sometimes a fine layer of downy hair may reappear, but this is from different follicles to the ones that you originally had. They may have been dormant, but decided that since all the other follicles were gone, they should up their game and produce a hair. So, some of you will need top-up treatments every now and again.

Where can laser hair removal be performed?

  • Bikini line including full Brazilian
  • Armpits
  • Face
  • Back
  • Buttocks
  • Legs
  • Arms

Can all my hair be removed in one go?

No, because your hair growth is a cyclic process. Sometimes other factors get in the way too, like hormones, which can cause extra hair to grow even after treatments. Some drugs can also cause further hair growth.

What are the risks of laser hair removal?

Our medically-trained laser operators have been doing this for many years. We have proper safety procedures in place, for example wearing protective eyewear. Lasers are not toys, and pointed in the wrong direction can cause significant damage. This is why we take our lasers very seriously and only experienced, highly-trained operators work them.

All of our equipment is approved and certified as being the most appropriate for laser hair removal.

Is laser hair removal effective on the face?

Yes, laser treatments on the face can get results. Laser hair removal is works for the upper lip, chin, hairline, and sideburn area. It can also be used as an eyebrow fixer, for example in a mono-brow. Nasal hair can also be treated. Men’s facial hair and women’s facial hair can be treated equally effectively.

Does laser hair removal cause ingrown hairs?

Ingrown hairs are caused by a hair that has had its ‘head’ chopped off bluntly then trying to make its way to the surface. It gets stuck under a thin membrane of skin, causing an infection – the little red, sore bump we call an ingrown hair.

As soon as you break the skin and set the hair free, the inflammation usually resolves and the skin behaves normally. Problems can arise with shaving or waxing, since these methods of hair removal bluntly remove the top of the hair, cutting the shaft. The hair then tries to keep making its way to the surface, only to find that the skin has grown over the follicle before it had the chance.

The laser beam destroys the hair follicle, which means that ingrown hairs are simply not an issue anymore. If you suffer from ingrown hairs from waxing or shaving, laser hair removal may be a great solution.

We can help you with all your laser hair removal needs.

Contact us for a consultation.
*Results may vary from person to person

Laser hair removal

When it comes to hair removal, laser hair removal offers the most long-lasting of all the hair removal treatment options. Contact us to make an appointment to discuss our Melbourne-based laser hair removal treatments.

Causes of excessive hair growth include:

  • Medications with androgenic effects
  • Other medicines like steroids
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  • Other medical causes which require diagnostic investigations

Laser hair removal on darker skin tones

If you have darker skin, you may need more treatments than lighter skin tones. If you have very dark skin, the laser will pick up on the melanin in your skin and burn your skin, therefore we cannot recommend this treatment to those with very dark skin.

Overview of laser hair removal

You will need to get a series of laser hair removal treatments. For the body, it tends to be every eight or 10 weeks, whereas on the face, it might be less – every four to six weeks. We can remove over 90 per cent of the hair over between four and eight treatments. Darker hair does respond better to the laser, because these hairs have more melanin (pigment) in them. If you have very grey or blonde hair this can affect the hair removal result.

Please Note:

*With all surgeries or procedures, there are risks. Consult your physician (GP) before undertaking any surgical or cosmetic procedure. Please read the consent forms carefully and be informed about every aspect of your treatment. Some surgeries have a mandatory seven-day cooling-off period to give patients adequate time to be sure of their surgery choice. Results may also vary from person to person due to many factors, including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise. Before and after photos are only relevant to the patient in the photo and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience. Ask questions. Our team of dermatologists, doctors and nurses are here to help you with any of your queries. This page is not advice and is intended to be informational only. We endeavour to keep all our information up to date; however, this site is intended as a guide and not a definitive information portal or in any way constitutes medical advice.

Related Articles