Medical alexandrite laser hair removal in Sofia

Yes. Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in the hair, so the results are most predictable with darker hair. Blonde hairs can also be treated if they contain enough pigment, but the result depends on the individual hair and is assessed during a consultation. Our Candela GentleMax Pro Plus allows for a pulse duration of 2 milliseconds, which provides an additional option for treating fine hair. This setting alone does not guarantee results with blonde hair, but it does offer a higher chance of effectiveness in the majority of cases.

Laser hair removal is not effective on white (greyed), grey or red hairs, nor on very light, downy hair. These types of hair lack sufficient pigment for the laser to work effectively.

We mainly use the 755 nm alexandrite laser for lighter skin types (I–III), and the 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for darker skin types (IV–VI) and for tanned skin. With the GentleLase Pro and GentleMax Pro Plus, we can offer laser hair removal for all skin phototypes, with the specialist assessing the appropriate laser and settings on a case-by-case basis.

Sources: Candela — Specifications of the GentleLase Pro and GentleMax Pro Plus · Candela — a clinical comparison of 2 ms and 3 ms pulses on fine, dark hair (PDF) · Finkel et al. — a study of a 2 ms alexandrite laser with light to dark spots · American Academy of Dermatology — restrictions regarding white, grey and red hair

You will feel something during laser hair removal, but only a small proportion of clients describe it as painful. It is normal to feel something during the treatment. Most clients describe it as a slight prickling, pinching or warmth, similar to a rubber band gently snapping against the skin. We use the Gentle Family lasers from Candela and employ a cooling air cryo-jet to minimise discomfort. As a result, the procedure is much more comfortable than a wax strip or a home epilator that works by plucking.

The most sensitive areas are those with thicker, darker hair, such as the bikini line and underarms. In these areas, the sensation diminishes even after the first few treatments, as the hair becomes increasingly sparse, thinner and softer.

If you’re worried about whether you’ll be able to handle the sensation, you can book a free consultation with a few trial shots to get a feel for it.

A treatment covering a small area measuring 10×10 cm will take approximately 5–7 minutes. This includes entering the treatment room, preparing for and carrying out the hair removal treatment, and wrapping up.

Hair removal of A full leg treatment takes 40–45 minutes.

The procedure should not be carried out in the following cases:

• pregnancy and breastfeeding;
• a fresh tan, a visit to a solarium or the use of a self-tanning product in the last 2 weeks;
• taking isotretinoin (Roaccutane) in the last 6 months or photosensitising medicines, such as certain antibiotics;
• an active infection, herpes, a wound or inflammation in the area being treated;
• a tattoo in that area;
• cancer, light-induced epilepsy, or a tendency to develop keloids. In these cases, you should consult a doctor.

The laser is not effective on white (grey) hairs, grey hairs, red hairs and very light, downy hair. For the treatment to be effective, the hair must contain pigment. Before the first session, we always carry out a detailed consultation to establish whether you have any contraindications.

We use the lasers from Candela’s Gentle Pro range to treat a wide range of hairstyles – from finer and lighter to thicker and darker. The short 2-millisecond pulse delivers the energy quickly enough to affect even finer hairs, provided they contain sufficient pigment.

Please bear in mind, however, that we are talking about light-coloured hairs here, not white ones. Hair without pigment (white and grey hairs) cannot be removed by laser. The same applies to moss.

For many people, a course of around 6 treatments leads to a significant reduction in body hair. In some areas, particularly on the face, 8–10 or more sessions may be required. The number varies from person to person: it depends on the area, the colour and thickness of the hair, individual hair growth patterns and hormonal factors.

Hairs go through different growth phases and not all of them are equally responsive to laser treatment at any given time. Therefore, the treatments are carried out sequentially, at intervals determined by the area being treated and the appearance of new growth:

• face: in about 30–45 days;
• body and arms: in about 45–60 days;
• legs: in about 60–90 days.

After each treatment, the specialist will assess when the best time is for your next session. During the free consultation, we will discuss the approximate number of treatments you will need and what results you can realistically expect.

We offer packages of six treatments. After the sixth treatment, you will receive a permanent discount of 25% on individual follow-up treatments in the same area.

The safety of the GentleLase Pro has been proven by numerous clinical trials, carried out by independent scientists over the last 20 years.

Over the past nine years at Body Aesthetics, we have worked with over 6,500 clients. Our experience with Candela’s GentleLase Pro and GentleMax Pro Plus lasers shows that, for suitable hair types, a course of six treatments usually yields very satisfactory results on various areas of the body: hair is significantly reduced and the need for hair removal becomes much less frequent. The face is the area for which we most often plan more than six treatments, and we discuss expectations on an individual basis during the initial consultation.

The result is a long-lasting reduction in hair growth, not a promise that hair will never grow back. Clinical data support the possibility that the effect may last for years: in a study of the 755 nm Alexandrite laser, 87.9% of the 173 patients followed up reported that the achieved effect had lasted for an average of 11.5 years following laser hair removal.

If, over time, any hairs appear that bother you, a maintenance treatment can be carried out. With our 6-session packages, this treatment comes with a 25% discount with no expiry date for the same area.

Sources: Russe et al., 2020 — 948 patients, follow-up for an average of 11.5 years

Laser hair removal leads to a permanent reduction in hair growth, but does not guarantee the permanent removal of every single hair. With suitable hair types and a full course of treatment, hair reduction can reach 80–90%, although individual results depend on the area treated, the characteristics of the hair and hormonal factors. Any hairs that remain or grow back are often sparser and finer.

„Permanent hair reduction“ (permanent hair reduction) means a sustained reduction in the number of hairs that regrow, measured 6, 9 and 12 months after completion of a course of laser hair removal in phototypes I–VI, including tanned skin.

New hair growth may occur as a result of hormonal changes. A follow-up treatment is carried out as and when necessary — if the hair growth starts to bother you again. For some people, this is about once a year; for others, it is less frequent or not required at all.

Sources: PubMed · NCBI Bookshelf · FDA — „permanent hair reduction“

Lifetime guarantee for maintenance procedures Laser hair removal for all customers who purchase a package of 6 treatments per area.

Once you have completed the sixth treatment from the package you have purchased, you are entitled to follow-up treatments with 25% discount at the current price as set out in the price list. This entitlement may be exercised without any time limit and for an unlimited number of procedures per year.

Our guarantee is valid indefinitely. Even if you are completely satisfied with the results, should you wish us to make a correction or improvement years later, the price will be reduced by 25% for that area.

This way, we save you time and money. You don’t pay in advance for packages containing more treatments than you need; instead, you can book additional treatments as and when required at a much lower price.

In order to be able to treat hair removal with a laser, The hair must be shaved off cleanly. Waxing or other methods of removing hair from the root are not suitable, because the laser light must reach the root of the hair in order to destroy the follicle.

If you usually remove hair using wax or an epilator, you should wait before your first laser treatment at least 3 weeks. This is because this period is necessary for new hair, connected to the root, to grow back, so that the laser treatment is effective.

Afterwards, between treatments, the hair in the treated areas is removed only by shaving, trimming with clippers or cutting with scissors, if they are on the person. Under no circumstances should you pull it out!

Let’s reassure those who are worried about their hair becoming coarse after shaving or about an unpleasant prickling sensation when touched. Our laser produces results after just the first treatment, and such unpleasant side effects do not occur.

It is not recommended to sunbathe, use a sunbed or apply self-tanning products: with an alexandrite laser (755 nm) – for at least 2 weeks before and after laser hair removal, and with an Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) – for at least 2 weeks before and 72 hours after the procedure. Throughout the course of treatment, avoid tanning the area being treated and do not use self-tanning products on it before a session. If your skin is tanned, please let us know in advance – we may need to carry out a test or reschedule your appointment until the tan has faded.

When the treated area is exposed to daylight, protect it with clothing or a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen, in accordance with the specialist’s post-treatment instructions. Sun protection does not make sunbathing safe immediately after laser hair removal.

Sources: https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/hair-removal/laser-hair-removal-preparation

The effects of laser hair removal can be seen after the very first treatment. In this method, a laser is used to target hair follicles that were in the growth phase and are on the surface of the skin. For those that were in the anagen (i.e. active) phase of their growth cycle, the following stages will be observed:

I: The hairs will break through, and so-called ‘false growth’ will be observed in the first few days following the procedure.

II: The hairs will fall out – this happens no sooner than two weeks after the treatment, depending on the area we have treated.

III: This is followed by a period during which there will be no hair growth – a hair-free period lasting at least two weeks, although this also depends on the area being treated.

IV: Shortly before it is time for the next treatment, new hairs will start to grow back. However, these are not the hairs that have already been treated with the laser, but the next „batch" of hairs in that area.

Supporting procedures must be carried out whenever and IF growth is observed, which is noticeable or bothers you.

Sometimes, following hormonal changes (pregnancy, hormonal imbalance, illness, the menopause), it may be necessary to carry out a maintenance treatment. Or if, during the course of six treatments, the intervals were not adhered to, anagen phases were missed, or there was tanning, and we have adjusted the parameters accordingly.

In most cases, we manage to remove the hair after 6 sessions, and follow-up treatments are then required rarely – every 1–2 years or according to individual circumstances.

Laser hair removal with the GentleLase Pro alexandrite laser Candela remains the global leader in The gold standard worldwide. The only drawback of this type of hair removal is that it cannot be used on tanned skin or on people with a naturally darker skin type.

That is why Candela has created Gentle Max ProPlus – a laser for hair removal, skin rejuvenation and regeneration, which can be used on both tanned skin and darker skin types (phototypes IV, V and VI).

Nd:YAG lasers They have been around for many years. However, they have a reputation for being painful and slow. They are many times more effective than diode lasers, but due to preconceptions about them and the much higher cost of the equipment, they are rarely used.

The Gentle Max ProPlus has changed all that. Whilst standard Nd:YAG lasers have a laser spot size of 3 to 5 mm and a maximum pulse duration of 10 ms, the Gentle Max ProPlus has a spot size of 18–22 mm and a pulse duration of 2 ms. This makes it significantly faster.

Nd:YAG lasers have the longest wavelength, which means that penetrate deepest into the skin. They do not act directly on the hair follicle, but cut off its blood supply.

After an Nd:YAG laser treatment, you may expose yourself to the sun 72 hours after the procedure, whereas with an alexandrite laser you have to wait at least two weeks.

С Nd:YAG laser We work with a lot of dark leathers – Phototypes IV, V and VI or if you have fair skin but have built up and retained a tan.

In this case, we can begin the treatment with an alexandrite laser, and once you have developed a tan, we can continue with an Nd:YAG laser.

If you’re not sure which one is right for you, Come along for a free consultation with one of our medical specialists.