Getting rid of unwanted hair on the face and body has become a breeze with the advent of laser hair removal in India. The basic principle of this remarkable technology is selective photothermolysis – a laser beam destroys stem cells that are responsible for producing hair forever. Once these cells are destroyed for good, no hair will spring out from the hair follicles. This leads to your skin becoming hair free and smooth (as butter!).

Laser hair removal treatment has been on the rise since the late 90s in India with many women resorting to this cosmetic procedure to permanently remove unwanted hair. Over the years, many advancements have been made in the equipment used to render this treatment. Various lasers are now used to perform laser hair removal in India on the various skin tones and hair textures of people who live here.

Let us look at the different professional laser hair removal machines that are often used at skin clinics in India.

Different Types Of Laser Hair Removal Machines

Soprano ICE Laser Hair Removal Machine

Description

Manufactured by Alma Lasers, the leading manufacturers of laser machines in the world, Soprano ICE laser is the ultimate machine for cosmetic hair removal. It has the ability to work on multiple wavelengths – diode and Alex. This entails that this one machine can be used for different skin types and hair types. It is an approved laser hair removal system by the US FDA. The applicator has an attached cooling system that makes the process painless and comfortable.

Skin Types Treated

Skin types I to VI and even tanned skin can be treated with this laser machine.

Who Uses It?

Elite skin clinics that offer cosmetic treatments of the utmost level use Soprano ICE to perform laser hair removal. Only trained professionals, preferably a certified dermatologist, should operate the machine under strict protocols and while taking all the necessary precautions.

Cost Of Machine

The price of the machine ranges between Rs.30 lakhs to Rs.40 lakhs. The versatility, high coverage, and increased efficiency possessed by one machine that can be used on all skin types is a major reason why many clinics are preferring to have this laser system in-house. The cost of the machine definitely factors into the price one needs to pay for a session using it. Even though the cost per session comes out to be higher than other laser hair reduction machines, the overall treatment is cost effective and safer for use on sensitive areas too.

Pros Of Using It

• Painless procedure that does not cause any discomfort.
• Safe for use on all skin types, from fair skin to dark and tanned skin.
• Works with the same efficiency on thick hair, medium hair, and fine hair.
• Has no downtime after the session.
• Does not present any side effects.

Cons Of Using It

Compared to the other laser hair removal machines in the market, the cost per session with Soprano ICE works out to be on the higher side.

Nd:YAG Laser Hair Removal Machine

Description

This laser hair removal system uses long pulsed Neodymium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser of 1064nm wavelength to destroy the stem cells responsible for hair growth. Carbon lotion is applied on the skin before the handpiece is applied so that better absorption of the laser beam occurs. Apart from being used for this cosmetic treatment, it is also often used for removing tattoos and hyperpigmentation from the skin. It is FDA approved for use on tanned and ethnic Indian skin.

Skin Types Treated

Fairer and darker skin types (skin types I to VI) can benefit from using this laser.

Who Uses It?

Many skin clinics use Nd:YAG machine to perform laser hair removal. Only trained professionals, preferably a certified dermatologist, should operate the machine under strict protocols and while taking all the necessary precautions.

Cost Of Machine

A Nd:YAG laser machine can cost anywhere between Rs.2.5 lakhs to Rs.7.5 lakhs. This cost varies depending on the manufacturer and the quality of the machine. When it comes to how this cost affects the price of the treatment, the price per session will obviously work out to be lower than Soprano ICE.

Pros Of Using It

• Minimum risk of blistering and inflammation post the treatment.
• Longer wavelength makes it suitable for use on dark skin and Indian skin.
• Larger areas like legs, back, and chest can be treated quickly when compared to other lasers.
• Hair regrowth is highly delayed in between sessions.

Cons Of Using It

• Not as effective on fine and lighter hair.
• Can be painful and may need external cooling agents to be used.
• May not suit sensitive skin types.
• It is a concentrated laser and may need several sessions for treating larger areas.

Diode Laser Hair Removal Machine

Description

The diode laser machine uses shorter and longer wavelengths (800 to 1000nm) from semiconductors to penetrate into the skin and target the melanin in the hair follicles. The energy from the laser destroys the hair follicles.

Skin Types Treated

It is recommended for use on medium to dark skin types for successful hair reduction. However, it can be used for skin type I to skin type IV.

Who Uses It?

This type of laser is seen in both cosmetic clinics and beauty salons. However, because of the presence of laser, it is recommended that only trained professionals, preferably a certified dermatologist, should operate the machine.

Cost Of Machine

A diode laser equipment costs around Rs.5 lakhs to Rs.6 lakhs. When the price per session of a Nd:YAG laser session and diode laser session are compared, the cost is almost the same as the devices cost around the same amount.

Pros Of Using It

• Penetrates into the skin well and efficiently works for hair reduction.
• Works well for medium and dark skin type.
• Laser’s wavelength can be adjusted depending on the skin and hair type being treated.
• Thick, coarse hair like that found on the back and chest can be easily treated with this.
• Epidermis does not get damaged.

Cons Of Using It

• When used on light skin, the results are not as good as when used on dark skin.
• Finer, lighter hair does not show results when treated with diode laser.
• Hives (urticaria) are commonly seen as a side effect.
• There is lack of research, which is why there is not much clarity about the long-term results of this laser.

Ruby Laser Hair Removal Machine

Description

Ruby laser system is one of the oldest machines used for laser hair removal commercially. In the initial stages of the development of this cosmetic treatment, this machine was designed to work on the concept of melanin absorption (dark hair) on light skin. It is a safe treatment for hair reduction on light skin with dark hair and is relatively pain-free. An inbuilt cooling system is present and has a laser beam of 694.3nm wavelength.

Skin Types Treated

Only light skin (skin types I and II) can be treated with Ruby laser.

Who Uses It?

Skin clinics that are still performing laser hair removal using old technology tend to have Ruby laser devices in their clinics.

Cost Of Machine

This ranges between Rs.1.5 lakhs to Rs.2 lakhs. As the machine is priced lower than the ones discussed above, the laser hair removal cost in India per session comes out lower too. However, the limitations are many for Ruby laser machine usage.

Pros Of Using It

• Shows great results on light skin with dark and fine hair.
• Has minimum side effects because of the built­-in cooling system.
• There is little to no downtime.
• The two-second delay between each laser pulse reduces the pain experienced.
• Delay between pulses also reduces the chances of burns.

Cons Of Using It

• Can only be used on small areas of the skin.
• Cannot be used on medium, dark or tanned skin.
• Causes discoloration of skin (and even burns) when used on any skin that is darker than the suitable very fair to fair skin.
• Transient redness may be present in the treated area.
• Mediocre results are observed with thick hair, even if they are present on very fair skin.
• Based on outdated technology with high competition from the latest machines.

Alexandrite Laser Hair Removal Machine

Description

Alexandrite laser treatment works by using a long wavelength laser from alexandrite crystal to destroy hair follicles and effectively reduce hair growth. Larger areas of skin can be treated conveniently with Alex laser. Rapid pulses are used to treat the selected area and reduce hair growth to the desired extent.

Skin Types Treated

Fair skin to up to olive skin (skin type I to III) can be treated.

Who Uses It?

Alexandrite laser machine is used in cosmetic skin clinics. Only trained professionals, preferably a certified dermatologist, should operate the machine under strict protocols and while taking all the necessary precautions.

Cost Of Machine

An Alexandrite laser machine can cost between Rs.8 lakhs to Rs.15 lakhs. Like the Nd:YAG laser machine, the cost varies depending on the manufacturer and quality of the machine. The per session cost for Alexandrite laser treatment is higher than Nd:YAG and diode laser treatments because the equipment cost is higher than these two laser systems.

Pros Of Using It

• Can be used on slightly darker skin (olive toned) too apart from fair skin.
• Larger area can be treated faster with this laser.
• Shorter time duration of each session because of rapid laser repetition.

Cons Of Using It

• Not suitable for use on dark or very dark skin.
• Risk of skin discoloration.
• Very fair skin can get burnt easily with the use of Alexandrite laser hair removal system.
• The use of rapid pulses makes treatment with this laser comparatively painful.

IPL Hair Removal Machine

Description

IPL stands for ‘intense pulsed light’ to destroy the hair follicles using the light energy that is transformed into heat energy when it encounters the melanin in the skin. IPL hair removal for the face and body is the most widely used forms of hair removal. It is not a laser per se, but is still a popular method of hair removal based on the same principle of converting light energy into heat energy and destroying hair follicles.

Skin Types Treated

Can be used for skin types I and II.

Who Uses It?

Most commonly seen in spas and salons that offer permanent hair removal treatment. No certification as such is required for the usage of an IPL machine, which may make the procedure not as safe and effective as other machines that are operated by skilled and trained professionals.

Cost Of Machine

Compared to all the permanent hair removal systems, IPL machine is the cheapest. The price starts at Rs.50,000 only and can go up to Rs.2 lakhs for extremely high-quality machines. Because of this inexpensive cost, it is conveniently stocked in beauty salons and is used for long-term hair reduction. The cost per session is also the lowest compared to the other laser treatments discussed above. It may seem like a bargain price, but the treatment is carried out by untrained technicians and can result in complications more often than not.

Pros Of Using It

• It is a quick and almost painless treatment.
• Works really well for light skin with dark hair.
• Can treat larger areas of skin easily.

Cons Of Using It.

• Only light skin can be treated effectively with this hair removal machine.
• The hair reduction seen with IPL is not as pronounced as laser hair removal systems.
• Skin discoloration is common with patches of light-colored skin or dark-colored areas being formed after the treatment.
• It cannot be used on skin that has recently been exposed to sunlight.

While all laser hair removal machines result in long-term hair reduction, Soprano ICE laser is the most effective and safest technology out there among all the laser treatment types. It works efficiently on different skin types and hair textures. Your dermatologist may suggest the use of other laser hair removal systems like Nd:YAG and diode laser depending on your skin’s requirements and also to suit your budget.

Hope this article can help you to make an informed decision in conjunction with a certified dermatologist’s advice!

Also Read: How To Find Best Laser Hair Removal Clinic

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