Consumer Alert: Are you really getting LASER hair removal or IPL hair removal?

Recently, we have received many questions about the effectiveness of laser hair removal. A lot of people (who think) they have received laser hair removal at MedSpas say they don't think laser hair removal actually works. They say the results of their "laser hair removal" at a "MedSpa" were disappointing. They comment that after their "laser" treatment, their hair all came back!

In reality, if you have gone through the laser hair removal process, you should expect to have permanent hair reduction, with somewhere between 85% to 95% hair reduction after completing 6 to 8 sessions (if darker skin 8 to 10 treatments).

Meet Jessica: She is a 32 year old working professional who is tired of shaving her underarms and legs at least 3 times per week. That takes a lot of time, she gets razor cuts, and the razor and supplies are not cheap either. She starts researching laser hair removal and likes what she finds. She gets an email from Groupon or LivingSocial or any of the other "daily deals" company (see an example below) which is advertising for laser hair removal from a local MedSpa. She sees that she can get 6 "laser hair removal sessions" for her underarms for $99. She also sees that she can get 6 "laser hair removal" sessions for her upper legs at $299 and 6 "laser hair removal" sessions for her lower legs for another $299.

"It's a good deal!" Jessica thinks to herself. "I will spend less than $700 for my legs and underarms and I won't have to shave again!" She undergoes the 6 "laser hair removal" sessions, having not only spent $700, but more importantly spending many hours for treatments. Unfortunately 4 months after her last "laser" hair session, most of the hair starts to come back. She has to start shaving again. She gets very upset and frustrated! She thinks it was a complete waste of her time and money! What Jessica doesn't realize is that she is a victim of false-advertising of not only the MedSpa that she went to but also the "daily deal" company.

Laser hair removal can save you a lot of time from having to shave as well as money in the long run

So what is the reason behind their disappointing "laser hair removal" results?! The main reason is that they did not actually receive LASER treatment, but rather IPL hair removal!

The purpose of this article is to provide the consumer with some information to help them make sure they actually receive "laser" treatments and to make sure they get what they actually paid for. If you spend money and time going for "laser" treatments, you should receive laser treatments and you should see results!

In a previous article, we had discussed the difference between LASER hair removal and IPL hair removal. We explained that a lot of places will advertise for laser hair removal while in fact they are treating individuals with IPL for hair removal.

As an example, if you're trying to go somewhere, you can either ride a bicycle or ride in a car. Both are modes of transportation. But it is very false to call a bicycle a car. Most places using IPL will call it a laser, or worse yet, they will say they are using an IPL Laser! It's either a car or a bicycle. There is no such thing as a bicycle-car!

So, let's take a look at an example of one of these misleading advertisements. This is from a "deal" we received by email this week:

So what is wrong with this daily deal? There are actually a couple of things wrong:

They claim they are offering "LASER hair removal" when in fact they are not. This place uses the Palomar Icon "Laser". The Palomar Icon is an IPL platform, NOT a laser. IPL hair removal is much LESS effective than actual laser hair removal.

The issue is the MedSpa is calling it the Palomar Icon "Laser". The manufacturer of the Icon calls the device the Palomar Icon Aesthetic System

NOTICE: The manufacturer of the device does not say anything about a laser because this is an IPL platform.

When we called this MedSpa to see what wavelength they were using on this "laser", we first got the run-around and then they finally admitted that there were using an IPL machine. This is unfortunately a great example of false-advertising by a company. Both the "daily deals" company as well as the actual MedSpa should take full responsibility for this misleading advertisement to the consumer!

The 2nd major issue with this "deal" is the line which says:
PROMOTIONAL VALUE EXPIRES 120 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE.

It is NOT safe, neither effective, nor logistically possible to receive 6 sessions in 4 months.

Say that you purchase this "deal" and are lucky enough to schedule your first appointment that same day (most likely you will have to wait a few weeks before you can get in though). That means you will have 120 days to finish your 6 sessions. That means 4 months to do 6 treatments.

If you have read about laser hair removal and the growth cycle of hair on different body parts, you understand that you will have to wait AT LEAST 4 weeks (4 to 6 weeks) in between your laser sessions for certain body parts and AT LEAST 6 weeks (6 to 8 weeks) for other body parts such as hair removal on the legs.

Say that you purchase a "deal" of $299 for 6 IPL hair removal (you already know you're not getting LASER) on your legs. At the most, you can only receive 3 sessions. The other 3 sessions will EXPIRE and you will not be able to use them!

After reviewing other "deals", we found plenty of other MedSpas who offer the same 6 sessions, but you only have 90 days to finish the 6 sessions. How is that even possible?!

What can you do?

1. Make sure you are actually getting LASER hair removal and not IPL.
How can you tell?     Do your research!

We have provided you with lots of information about laser hair removal. Ask them what type of LASER they are using? What wavelength? There are really only 3 wavelengths used for laser hair removal: 1064nm (YAG laser), 755nm (ALEX laser), and 810nm (Diode laser).

2. Go in for a (free) consultation and be sure to ask to speak with their Medical Director who should be a physician. If there is no physician on-site, be very careful! If a laser technician will be operating the laser, (in Florida) a physician must be on-site at all times!
If a technician is doing the procedure and there is no doctor on-site, they are either breaking Florida law or they are using an IPL machine! So be very careful!

3. If something is too good to be true....it probably is! Be very careful of any place that is offering very cheap "laser hair removal" services. Lasers are very expensive equipment and are costly to operate.

If anyone calls an IPL device a "laser" or says "IPL Laser", just think of "Bicycle-Car" and walk away!

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If you are interested in laser hair removal for permanent hair reduction in Orlando and Central Florida, please contact Pristine Laser Center for your free consultation. Stop shaving and start enjoying more time!

Pristine Laser Center proudly provides laser hair removal services to residents of Orlando, Lake Mary, Oviedo, Winter Springs, Casselberry, Winter Park, Dr Phillips, Sanford, Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Wekiwa Springs, Longwood, Deland, Deltona, Clermont, Ocoee, Kissimmee, Melbourne, Titusville, Daytona Beach, and Central Florida areas.