Venus Versa IPL Hair Removal

Whatever your skin colour or hair type, our advanced system calculates the precise treatment to achieve maximum results. A handset is then placed onto the area that needs treatment and a light-based energy pulsates with a quick flash of light. This leaves the skin unharmed but destroys the hair follicle, removing hair and discouraging re-growth. The hair follicles are damaged by heat but the hairs remain in the follicles. The hairs fall out after 1 -3 weeks as the epidermis renews. During this period the hairs will seem to ‘grow’ as they are pushed out by the new epidermis. After treatment the hairs are loose in the follicle and can sometimes be easily pulled out with tweezers. Venus Versa IPL hair reduction treats a much larger area of skin per light pulse than laser hair treatment does (which explains why IPL can be a much faster and cheaper method of hair removal).

You will be asked to put on goggles to protect your eyes. The area will also be cooled to increase comfort during treatment. The light guide is placed on the skin and a short pulse of light is released, targeting many follicles simultaneously. The applicator is then moved to the neighbouring area of skin and the process is repeated until the entire area is treated. The chilled gel is removed and the area moisturised.

The ideal patient is fair skinned with dark hair, but there is much evidence to show that through carefully researched settings, results can be achieved for different hair and skin types. The darker the hair, the more easily it is treated; as darker hair contains more melanin it will heat up more easily. Fairer hair contains less melanin and is harder to treat. Grey/white hair has no melanin so cannot be effectively treated.

No anaesthesia is required and most patients describe the discomfort as moderate and acceptable. Sensations vary but most describe it as a very short hot pin prick making it the preferred choice for hair removal.

The skin can become quite red immediately after treatment, however most patients experience no side effects and any skin reaction usually disappears within a few hours.

Only hair in the active growth stage of the growth cycle is affected, therefore multiple treatments are needed. Treatment is conducted every 2-8 weeks, depending on the site treated, until a satisfactory result is seen. The number of treatments required varies, but typically 6 or more treatments are required for maximum results.

Treatments can take from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on which area is being treated.