Frequently Asked Questions – Mayfair Aesthetics

Traditianal lasers use single high intensity ‘shots’ to deliver laser energy, heating up a small patch of skin to 45-50 celsius in a faction of a second. The laser is then moved slighty and another shot is made.  This can be quite painful, traumatic for the skin and a real source of anxiety for many clients. Typically, ‘shots’ based lasers will use either the Alexandrite wavelength 755nm or the NdYag wavelength or a combination of the 2. Different wavelengths penetrate to different depths within the skin and damage different parts of the hair follicle. Many ‘shots’ based lasers cannot be used to treat tanned skin and many can only use the NdYag wavelength when treating darker skin types.

Soprano Platinum and Titanium lasers deliver laser energy in a different way. Rather than employing single, high intensity, painful shots, these lasers flash on and off 10 times a second at lower energy. The laser handpeice is passed back and forth over the area being treated and the hair follicle will gradually warm up to 45-50 celsius. This is far less painful.

Imagine for a moment stepping into a hot bath. This can be quite painful. Now imagine stepping into a cold bath and turning on the hot tap to bring the temperature up to hot. As you gradually acclimatise to the increasing heat you get there without the pain.

Soprano lasers also have a sapphire cooling tip which constantly cools down the surface of the skin during treatment while the laser energy heats up hair follicles making this system one of the least painful on the market. 

Soprano lasers also use the Alex wavelenth 755nm, the diode/Speed wavelent 810nm and the Yag wavelenth 1064nm during every treatment. Using all 3 laser wavelengths has been clinically proven to be more effective in reducing hair growth than using a single or dual wavelength laser.

The Soprano Titanium system has the same triple laser wavelength diode system as the Soprano Platinum for fantastic results on all skin types, including tanned skin. Results with both systems are identical. The Titanium has an improved skin cooling system and 2 rather than 1 treatment hand-pieces attached. The standard hand-piece is the same as found on the Platinum system and an additional larger treatment hand-piece which means significantly quicker treatment times when treating larger body areas such as legs, chest, stomach and back. On average, treatments are about 30% faster with this new system meaning a full body appointment will take just over 2 hours rather than 3!

Laser hair removal is a fantastic choice to control unwanted hair. The average reduction in hair we see from a course of 6 treatments is around 60-90%. Around 5% of clients are more naturally resistant and will likely need more treatments to achieve that level of reduction and about 1 in 5000 is immune to laser hair removal. Our Soprano Ice Platinum and Titanium lasers are some of the best systems on the market, are FDA approved (having been tested and categorically proven to be effective) and are regularly serviced and maintained to ensure they are always in full working order.

Our therapists are fully trained and each have 1 year plus experience using Soprano lasers full time. We also regularly check staff performance, have refresher training and mystery shopper assessments to ensure all our team are carrying out the treatments to the high standards set by the laser manufacturers.

Laser hair removal works by heating up the melanin in the hair follicle, that heat will damage the hair bulb, bulge and vascular supply to prevent hair growth. This works best on dark blonde, brown and black hair.

Very pale blonde hair, ginger hair or white/grey hair will not normally be affected by a laser hair removal treatment.

Laser hair removal is traditionally thought to be very painful. There are 2 main types of laser hair removal systems available today. The traditional method, systems such as Candela, Magma and Cynosure employ ‘shots’ where the laser energy is applied all in one go on a particular small area to raise the temperature in the hair follicle instantly to 45-50 celsius and then moved slightly and the process repeated until the entire area has been covered. This tends to be rather painful, with some systems being a lot more painful than others. Typically it can feel like being repeatedly flicked with an elastic band or poked with a needle. Not pleasant.

The Soprano Ice Platinum & Titanium systems are virtually pain free. Most clients only experience a gentle warming sensation in the area being treated with some feeling a mild pins and needles sensation and stronger heat in more sensitive areas. These systems work by gradually heating the hair follicle to 45-50 degrees by emitting 10 low energy pulses per second and moving the handpiece back and forth over the treatment area. If you imagine stepping into a hot bath, it can be quite painful however if you step into a luke warm bath and turn on the hot tap and bring the temperature up, as you are gradually acclimatising to the increased heat there is little or no pain.

Credit options are available. Rather than a credit agreement and charging interest we operate a simple installments payment plan. For example:

£600 course

• 1st instalment £200 due at least 48 hours before first treatment which covers the first 2 treatments.
• 2nd instalment £200 due on 2nd treatment which covers the 3rd and 4th treatments
• 3rd instalment £200 due on 4th treatment which covers the 5th and 6th treatments

The main differences between laser hair removal and electrolysis are speed and pain level. Laser can be used to treat large areas quickly and depending on the type of laser used can be virtually pain free. Electrolysis works by treating individual hairs and passing an electric current down each hair which can be incredibly time consuming and quite painful. Electrolysis can be a good option for treating small areas of white hair which are not affected by laser treatments.

Laser hair removal when performed correctly is safe and has few or no side effects. A patch test will be administered prior to the first treatment and we pre-screen you for any new medications or medical conditions that may increase the risk of side effects prior to each appointment. Some redness or itching is possible after treatment and you may be more susceptible to the sun (tanning, sunburn or pigmentation) so it is important to protect your skin after treatment. As Soprano lasers work by gradually heating the area to be treated, more serious side effects are extremely rare. At any point if you are feeling too hot you can halt the treatment avoiding any skin damage such as soreness or a blister. With traditional shots which work with single high intensity shots, skin damage can be more likely, particularly if a numbing cream is used.

Laser hair removal is effective on darker skin types. Soprano Ice Platinum and Soprano Titanium are the market leading and best-known systems for treating darker skin types safely and effectively.

You can perform laser hair removal on almost any body area. We do not treat the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet as hair will not grow there. Eyes must be protected during treatment so we cannot treat within the eye socket. We only advise to treat areas that have terminal hair (thicker darker hair) and you should avoid areas that only have very fine baby hair which will not be dense enough to be affected by the laser.

A minimum of 6 sessions, correctly spaced is recommended for a good result. Typically, a hair reduction of around 60-90% can be achieved for clients that respond well to treatment from 6 sessions. Areas such as the face and the bikini area tend to be more resistant to treatment and more sessions are usually required to get a good result. A small percentage of clients are more resistant to treatment and will require more sessions to reach that level of reduction. Everyone is different with different hair colour, skin colour, hormones, genetics and general resistance to the treatment.

We use the Soprano Ice Platinum and the Soprano Titanium systems at Mayfair Aesthetics Laser & Skin Clinics. These market leading laser hair removal systems are safe, highly effective, suitable for any skin type, virtually pain free, can be used while you have a sun tan and employ all 3 of the laser hair removal light wavelengths for the best possible results.

After your first laser hair removal treatment you may see some redness or itching which quickly fades but most clients will have no after-effects. Soprano laser systems employ a super cooled tip which rapidly and effectively cools the skin before, during and after treatment (this is where the word ‘Ice’ comes from). A small percentage of clients may see redness that takes a little longer to fade.

As you progress through your course and you have less hair you will normally feel less and less heat and tingling sensation for the simple reason that there is less hair there to heat up!

Facial hair and body hair grow at different speeds. It is recommended to come every 4 weeks for face sessions for the first 4 treatments and then spaced every 4-6 weeks thereafter with a longer gap between treatments if hair growth has slowed down. When treating body areas, it is recommended to come every 6 weeks for the first 4 treatments and then spaced every 6-8 weeks thereafter with a longer gap between treatments if hair growth has slowed down.

Results can vary and some clients may take a little longer to start seeing results. Typically anything from 10%-100% of the hair treated may shed around 2-4 weeks after treatment. Most of this hair will start to re-grow in the week or 2 before your next treatment. As you progress through your course you should see less and less hair re-growing after each treatment and the hair becoming finer and less dense.

• Aftercare is simple. Keep the area cool, applying aloe vera gel is recommended and works even more effectively when stored in the fridge.
• Avoid extended  sun exposure for a week before and after treatment to reduce the chance of hyper pigmentation. Use sunscreen SPF 30 or greater at all times throughout the course of treatment on any areas exposed to daylight. We stock an Aloe Vera Factor 50 sunscreen which is ideal for use during laser treatment.
• Avoid sun exposure, saunas, steam rooms, vigorous exercise, hot baths or showers and treat the skin gently, as if you had sunburn, for the first 48 hours after treatment.

A consultation and patch test are mandatory prior to treatment. This is a requirement of our special treatments license and our insurance and is there to ensure you are fully informed about the treatment and will not have an adverse reaction to treatment. The patch test is also when we will work out the best laser settings to use for you to get the best possible results and ensure the treatment is safe and comfortable.

A patch test involves trying out the laser on a small patch of each different body area you are interested in treating. It is necessary to shave a patch of each area to be treated, roughly the size of the palm of your hand around 8 hours prior to the patch test. This provides a smooth area to apply the laser and also 8 hours is sufficient time for your skin to calm down after shaving while not being so long a time that hair is starting to re-grow.

A patch test is necessary and essential prior to any laser treatment to ensure the treatment will be safe, comfortable and effective.

Prior to treatments there are a few things to do to prepare. Avoid waxing, plucking, threading or epilating the area to be treated. As laser works buy heating up the melanin in the hair present, if the hair has been pulled out the laser will have nothing to work with. Avoid the sun for a week before treatment and do not apply any kind of fake tan in the 2 weeks before treatment. You should shave a patch of each area to be treated, roughly the size of the palm of your hand around 8 hours prior to the patch test.

Laser hair removal is safe and effective. Since becoming commercially available in the late 1990’s laser technology has been refined and improved to the extent that it is now widely available on almost every high street. A well trained and experienced laser specialist is essential to ensure that the correct treatment and safety protocols are followed for each treatment. Laser is a safe and effective treatment as long as the therapist uses the correct settings and follows the safety and treatment protocols to the letter.

Laser hair removal is long lasting and can help you achieve smoother softer skin that can last for years and in many cases can be permanent. Laser will only treat hairs that are what is known as ‘terminal’ (thicker, darker adult hair). Fine baby hair (vellus hair) will not tend to be reduced by laser treatment. A natural part of the ageing process is for your finer baby hair to gradually thicken and become terminal hair. Some hairs that have been switched from terminal to vellus hair rather than being completely destroyed by the laser treatment may switch back to terminal hair over time and existing vellus hair may switch to terminal hair so top up treatments may be required.

Laser hair removal is surprisingly affordable. When you factor in the cost and time of shaving, epilating or waxing over the years, a longer term option can work out better in money saved as well as time. The price for laser treatments has dropped significantly as it has become more widely available and laser technology has improved.

The vast majority of patients will see no side effects at all from treatment. Some redness, swelling or itching which quickly fades can occur and in extremely rare cases longer lasting redness or blistering may occur. Because Soprano lasers gradually build heat, it is extremely rare to see any skin damage from a treatment. If at any point it is feeling too hot, the therapist will stop the treatment. Our first concern is always your safety so we rigorously follow all safety protocols for every treatment. We ask you to complete a medical questionnaire online the day before every treatment. If you identify any medications, medical conditions, sunburn etc that will make the treatment potentially have a higher risk of side effects, we will simply reschedule for a later date.

Laser hair removal may not feel the same on each treatment. Factors such as the ambient temperature, recent sun exposure, your reproductive cycle and the amount of hair remaining in the area to be treated can all have an impact on the sensation felt during treatment.

You can request the same therapist and we will let you know if that therapist is not available due to illness/holiday etc. Some of our clients see the same therapist for each treatment but many will go to whoever is available on the date required. We spend a lot of time and effort training our team to ensure the same high standard of treatment is offered throughout your course.

Most patients will not feel any after effects from a laser hair removal treatment. Some redness, swelling or itching that will quickly fade is possible. Soprano lasers have a highly effective skin cooling system incorporated into the treatment hand-piece to ensure the treatment is safe and as painless as possible.

Men can have laser hair removal! We treat a lot of men at Mayfair Aesthetics with the back and shoulder area being some of the most popular areas to treat. We treat buttocks and perianal for men but do not currently offer treatment for the private area.

Laser hair removal can be used on dark skin. The Soprano Ice Platinum and Soprano Titanium systems used at Mayfair Aesthetics are the market leading systems for treating darker skin types safely and effectively. Many of our clients seek us out as they are aware that Soprano lasers are the best option to treat them.

Laser hair removal can be used on Asian skin. A large proportion of our patients at Mayfair Aesthetics could be described as having Asian skin. The Soprano Ice platinum and Titanium systems that we use are well known to be the best laser hair removal systems to use when treating darker skin types and tanned skin.

Laser hair removal can be used on Indian skin. A large proportion of our patients at Mayfair Aesthetics could be described as having Indian skin. The Soprano Ice platinum and Titanium systems that we use are well known to be the best laser hair removal systems to use when treating darker skin types and tanned skin.

Laser hair removal works by heating up the melanin within individual hairs. The heat passes down the hair and radiates out to damage the structures that actually created hair – the hair bulb, bulge and vascular supply. As these structure become more and more damaged through the laser treatment they lose the ability to create hair.

There are many different types of laser on the market a lot of which will claim to be the best. Different factors such as the power level, the laser wavelengths employed, the cooling system, the pain of the treatment, the suitability to treat darker skin types and tanned skin can all add up to a fantastic laser system or an average or poor system.

The Soprano Ice Platinum and Titanium systems score highly in all these categories. They are class 4 medical lasers, are FDA approved, use all 3 laser wavelengths at once – Alex 755nm, Diode 810nm and Yag 1064nm, they use the most effect contact cooling method, are one of the least painful systems on the market, can treat all skin types and tanned skin. Soprano lasers are the market leading laser system, we love them!

You should not use a sauna for 48 hours after laser treatment. For 2 days after treatment your skin can be more sensitive than normal and you should try to keep your body temperature as close to normal as possible. Avoid saunas, steam rooms, Sun exposure, vigorous exercise and very hot showers or baths.

It is recommended to keep your body temperature as close to normal as possible for 48 hours after treatment. A pronounced increase in body temperature through vigorous exercise can result in an unpleasant heat rash. Gentle exercise is not normally problematic after laser treatment.

For many patients six treatments gets the results they are looking for. Typically a hair reduction of 60-90% can be achieved by those who respond well to treatment. A small proportion are more resistant to treatment and areas such as the face and bikini area tend to be more resistant for all patients. Typically the more treatments you do, the more hair reduction is achieved.

It is recommended to avoid prolonged sun exposure for 1 week after a laser hair removal treatment. Your skin will be more sensitive and will tan or burn more easily after treatment. After a week, careful sun exposure while using a high factor sunscreen and monitoring your skin, covering up or getting into the shade if skin starts to redden is permissible. A good quality aloe vera gel should be used to look after your skin. Click tanning and laser to find out more.

You cannot have laser hair removal over or close to any tattoos or semi-permanent make-up. The tattoo will blister and burn instantly if the laser passes over it during treatment. We cover all tattoos with gauze and masking tape and avoid the area during treatments.

Laser hair removal is a long lasting treatment. Many patients get results that last for years and it is often permanent hair reduction. Some patients may need top up treatments depending on their own particular reaction to treatment, their age and the amount of terminal and vellus hair they have at the time of treatment.

For the majority of patients a minimum of 6-8 treatments is required but areas such as bikini and face can be more resistant and may require more treatments. Each person will react slightly differently to treatment but typically the more treatments you do, the more reduction is achieved.

Laser is unlikely to work well on fine blonde hairs. Laser hair removal works by heating up the melanin within each individual hair, that heat then damages the structures that create hair. The thicker and darker the hair, the more melanin the hair contains. Very fine blonde hair will not contain enough melanin to heat up to the necessary extent to result in significant hair reduction.

Laser hair removal does not usually work on ginger hair. Laser hair removal works by using the laser light wavelenths to heat up the pigmentation within each hair. This heat will radiate out to damage the structures that actually create hair. There are two types of melanin in hair, brownish black eumelanin and reddish yellow pheomelanin. All hair colours are made up of a mixture of these apart from white hair that does not contain any melanin. Laser hair removal will usually work on hair that contains eumelanin but has no affect at all on hair that is made up of pheomelanin.

Dark ginger/auburn hair may have a mixture of eumelanin and pheomelanin in which case laser may have some effect as it will interact with the eumelanin. If your hair is made up of concentrated pheomelanin only (which is what dark ginger may be) laser hair removal will not have any affect at all. For clients with dark ginger hair we recommend a patch test and if any change in hair growth occurs around 8 weeks after the patch test, a reasonable hair reduction result may be achieved from treatment. If no change occurs from the patch test, laser is not recommended.

Laser hair removal is suitable with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). One of the symptoms of PCOS is increased hair growth which can occur all over the body. Laser hair removal is an excellent choice in reducing this hair. PCOS will constantly be trying to undo the effects of the laser treatment so more regular top ups may be required after a course is complete. We treat many clients at Mayfair Aesthetics who have PCOS.

Laser hair removal is safe during breast feeding, however we recommend to wait until breast feeding is completed before having a laser hair removal treatment. It is not possible to have laser hair removal during pregnancy. There are hormonal changes that occur that can result in increased or reduced hair growth during pregnancy, this may change after birth and may change again after breast feeding is completed.

Laser hair removal is not suitable during pregnancy.

Photosensitivity is an increased reaction to light and heat. If you are experiencing photosensitivity due to a medical condition or a medication you will not be able to have laser hair removal. The treatment will be far more risky and is more likely to damage your skin. Light sensitive epilepsy will also present a barrier to laser hair removal treatment.

Facial hair and body hair grow at different speeds. It is recommended to come every 4 weeks for face sessions for the first 4 treatments and then spaced every 4-6 weeks thereafter with a longer gap between treatments if hair growth has slowed down. When treating body areas, it is recommended to come every 6 weeks for the first 4 treatments and then spaced every 6-8 weeks thereafter with a longer gap between treatments if hair growth has slowed down.

Full body laser hair removal means just that – almost! We do not treat the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet where hair does not grow and we do not recommend treating areas that have vellus hair rather than terminal hair. We do not treat within the eye socket for safety reasons and we do not offer treatment for the male private area.

You can have laser hair removal while taking medications in many cases. If you are taking a medication that has the potential to cause the side effect photosensitivity (an increased reaction to light and heat), further checks are necessary prior to treatment. In order to be able to treat you, the protocol we are required to follow by our laser licensing authorities and our insurers is to have you obtain a doctor’s note stating that the chance of these medications causing photosensitivity is low and you are not exhibiting any symptoms of this side effect. We can then perform a patch test and book from there if there are no issues or skin reactions.

We do not offer numbing cream prior to a laser hair removal treatment. It is not necessary with a Soprano laser treatment and it can actually make a treatment unsafe! During a Soprano laser treatment the therapist will be checking with you constantly to ensure the heat felt is comfortable. The use of numbing cream would prevent you from feeling the heat generated which could potentially lead to burns.

It is not possible to have laser hair removal if you have light sensitive epilepsy. Laser hair removal involves a rapidly flashing light that can potentially bring on an epileptic seizure. If your epilepsy is not light sensitive, it will not present a barrier to treatment.

The minimum age for laser hair removal treatment is 18. We are not licensed or insured to treat anyone under the age of 18.

All our staff are properly trained. Each will have NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in laser hair removal and will have completed a manufacturers training course with the laser they will be using. We also then train each staff member intensively within our clinics to ensure each treatment we perform is carried out perfectly. We do not rush treatments (a problem in many clinics) and always ensure there is enough time to complete treatments thoroughly and professionally. We also regularly check staff performance, have refresher training and mystery shopper assessments to ensure all our team are carrying out the treatment to the standards set by the laser manufacturers.

Precautions to follow during treatment involve taking care of your skin. Use a good quality SPF 30 or higher sunscreen on any treated areas that will be exposed to daylight. Follow the aftercare protocols, keep your body temperature as close to normal as possible for 2 days after treatment. Avoid electric sunbeds and ensure you do not have any fake tan present on your skin for your next treatment.

You will need more than one session of laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is a gradual process as you have different hairs within the anagen phase of growth on each visit. A minimum of 6 treatments is required and sometimes more.

Laser hair removal is suitable for sensitive skin. Soprano lasers tend to be more gentle on the skin than traditional shots based lasers but some short term redness, swelling or itching may be experienced after treatment.