The Speed of Light

By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 20th September 2011

One of the biggest drawbacks of permanent hair reduction on a large area is that treatment time can be very lengthy. Market leaders Lumenis introduce LightSheer Duet which promises high speed permanent hair reduction

In a world where everything moves so fast, we demand faster and more effective treatments. The LightSheer Duet System could be the quick fix for permanent laser hair reduction as it cuts treatment times by up to 75 per cent and vastly improves patient comfort, eliminating the need for topical anaesthetics.

In fact, the LightSheer Duet is so swift that it is possible to treat an entire back in 15 minutes instead of an hour or more. It is able to achieve this much shorter treatment time because of its separate high speed hand piece that is specially designed for treating large areas such as legs, arms, chests, abdomen, shoulders and backs.

The high speed hand piece uses vacuum assisted technology to gently suck up the targeted area whereby it is stretched and thinned, spreading skin pigmentation over a larger area and pulling the hair follicle closer to the skin's surface. The cumulative result is that energy is delivered more efficiently to achieve excellent clinical results with speed and comfort. It is these combined features which allow clinicians to treat large areas easily and quickly.

Laser hair reduction is a fantastic permanent solution but treatment length and associated discomfort can be very off putting for many people. Lumenis' new LightSheer Duet could be the answer.

MALE CASE STUDY

Treatment: Permanent laser hair reduction on back
Name: Eric Brotherton
Age: 51
Occupation: Hairdresser

What prompted you to have the treatment?
I work in the hair and beauty industry so I'm very conscious of looking good and I hated my back hair. I had tried waxing but I found it excruciatingly painful - I don't understand how women can have it done regularly - and it left me with rashes and ingrown hair.

How was the experience?
I had tried laser hair reduction with another machine that had a much smaller hand piece and I found that more painful and also the whole process took much longer.

The Lightsheer Duet has a bigger hand piece which works by sucking up the skin - it is an unusual sensation but not painful. The bigger hand piece means it is a much quicker process and that means I can get back to work faster which is very important to me.

It takes about 20 minutes with the Lightsheer Duet whereas with the previous system it could take up to two hours to do a full back.

Are you happy with the treatment?
I'm incredibly happy with the results of this treatment. I've got one session left to do but already it feels like there is nothing there.

FEMALE CASE STUDY

Treatment: Permanent laser hair reduction - leg, bikini, underarm
Name: Nina Rogerson
Age: 30
Occupation: Beauty Therapist

What prompted you to have the treatment?
Although the hair on my body isn't too dark or thick I was always very conscious of it, but I hated shaving and found waxing very painful.

How was the experience?
It took about 15 to 20 minutes to do the half leg which is about the same time as waxing but not at all painful in comparison. Obviously everyone's pain threshold differs but I found it fine. There is a slight warming with the laser but it is not painful.

Are you happy with the treatment?
I've had two sessions on my legs so far as you have to wait eight weeks in between. I have already noticed that it is much finer and patchier and, even better, I don't have to shave so often.

It is recommended you have six sessions in all and by that point you should have an 80 to 90 per cent reduction - very fine downy hair is left because it doesn't contain enough pigment to be removed.

My bikini and underarm areas have had even better results - probably because the hair is darker and the area is so compact that results are more visible. I've now had four treatments in those areas and now there are just a few hairs left.