Due to the recent surge in popularity for beauty treatments, laser treatments have quickly become one of the most sought-after aesthetic procedures around the world. Whether you’re looking for smooth, hairless skin without the ingrown hairs or to rid your skin of fading acne scars, laser treatments make it easier than ever before to achieve flawlessly rejuvenated skin safely, comfortably and with optimal results.
At NuSkinnovation, we firmly believe that being informed is the first big step towards starting your skincare journey. In this quick read, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide on absolutely everything you need to know before you start your laser skincare journey so you can be more informed.
What Are Laser Treatments And How Do They Work?
Before we explore whether laser treatments are for you, it’s important to understand what exactly and how they work. Laser treatments are procedures that make use of concentrated or focused beams of light energy that target specific components of your skin, most commonly the melanin (the pigment found in our hair and skin), or water (in the case of skin rejuvenation).
When going for hair removal treatments, the laser targets the melanin found in your hair shaft by converting light into heat, which damages the follicle and ultimately reduces growth over time. This process is known as selective photo thermolysis, which enables our technicians the ability to target your unwanted hairs or pigmentation with laser precision while leaving your surrounding skin mostly unscathed.
It should, however, be noted that there are different lasers and wavelengths that are used to achieve different skincare goals. Here’s a quick breakdown of the major laser types used at NuSkinnovation:
- Nd: YAG Laser: These lasers we use for deeper penetration and are also safe for people with darker skin tones.
- Er: YAG And Fractional Laser: These types of lasers are used for resurfacing and the stimulation of collagen production, rejuvenating the skin overall.
- Diode Laser: This laser type is commonly used for hair removal on people with lighter skin tones.
At all of NuSkinnovation’s various branches, we only use medical grade laser systems, including the world-class, industry leading Fotona system, to make sure that all our clients benefit from treatments that are safe, efficient, effective and comfortable.
Skin Rejuvenation & Beyond: The Most Common Laser Treatments
While achieving hairless, silky-smooth skin is made possible with laser treatment, it’s important to know that laser treatments are not only used for hair removal as this technology has become a powerhouse in the world of non-surgical skincare. If you’re not sure which laser treatment you need to treat your specific skin issues, we’ve outlined the most popular laser treatments available at clinics:
Resurfacing And Skin Rejuvenation
A growing trend in the skincare world is the use of laser treatments to stimulate collagen production, improve skin texture and softening those pesky fine lines. As we get older, our skin loses proteins, like elastin and collagen, that are essential for giving your skin elasticity and strength. Thankfully, laser treatments allow you to regain that youthful, tighter skin look by increasing the production of collagen in the skin tissue.
Pigmentation Correction
If you know anything about skin issues, you’ve probably heard of sunspots, age spots and melasma. With laser treatments, specialists can break down the excess melanin and even your skin tone over a number of laser sessions. Lasers are the perfect tool for treating uneven skin tones or pigmented lesions as they target the pigmentation precisely.
Reducing Stretch Marks And Removing Acne Scars
If you struggle with prominent stretch marks or acne scars, you can treat these skin concerns by using certain laser wavelengths that stimulate your skin’s healing and cell turnover in damaged or scarred areas, smoothing out your skin over time.
How Do You Know If You’re a Good Candidate For Laser Treatment?
While you may have an idea of which laser treatments address your skincare concerns, it’s important to ask whether you’re a good candidate to receive laser treatment or not.
To put it simply, laser treatments do not offer a “one size fits all” approach for treating skincare issues, which is why we offer essential, personalised consultations at NuSkinnovation. Your individual skin tone, hair colour, and how sensitive your skin is all have an influence on how your body will react to laser treatments. Once you’ve attended a consultation conducted by one of our laser specialists, you’ll know whether your skin type is able to undergo laser treatment.
Why Does Pigment Matter For Laser Treatments?
As previously mentioned, laser hair removal works by targeting the melanin in your hair. If your skin has more pigment, the laser can more easily find and destroy the follicles. This is why people with darker hair and lighter skin tones commonly react the best to laser hair removal, as this contrast allows for the most effective follicle targeting with less risks associated with side effects and surrounding skin tissue damage.
Can I Get Laser Treatment If I Have A Darker Skin Tone?
Back in the day, laser treatments were not considered safe enough for people with medium to dark skin tones. This is because the lasers would often overheat the surface of the skin before reaching the follicle, which caused burns or even further issues with pigmentation.
Luckily, modern problems come with modern solutions, and today’s advanced laser technology has changed the game. Here at NuSkinnovation, we use Nd: YAG laser technology, which can penetrate deep into the skin without the risk of it being absorbed by the surface melanin. This means that laser treatments are now safe and effective for everyone, from very fair skin to very deep skin.
What Happens During A Skin Consultation At NuSkinnovation?
Before we start any treatment, we begin every client’s laser skin journey with a thorough, personalised consultation.
Here’s what you can expect from your first consultation:
- An Analysis Of Skin And Hair: Firstly, we carefully examine your skin tone, the density of your hair, and any other medical conditions or concerns that might affect your treatment.
- The Fitzpatrick Classification: Following this, we categorise your skin type using the Fitzpatrick Scale, to determine what the safest laser settings for your skin will be.
- Setting Your Goals: Whether you’re visiting us for smoother legs or a brighter skin tone, we will walk you through all your goals and expected outcomes.
- A Custom Plan: Our technicians will custom build a treatment plan, prescribed schedule and quote that is perfectly tailored to your skincare needs.
What’s The Pain And Downtime Like?
Laser treatments are far more comfortable than most people would expect. That’s why we at NuSkinnovation prioritise your comfort as much as your results. All the advanced laser systems we use come with built-in cooling mechanisms that help soothe your skin during the procedure. For most of our clients, all they experience is a sensation that they have described as a quick elastic band “snap” against the skin, which is a mild and manageable feeling.
Sensitivity does depend on the area you are treating. Naturally, your bikini line and upper lip might feel more intense than other areas like your arms or legs, but we do adjust the settings and as well as offer cooling, numbing, and topical gels to our clients that need it.
What Is The Expected Downtime?
Another common question we get is how long the recovery process will be, and believe it not, one of the biggest advantages of modern laser treatments is that there is almost no downtime at all. You’ll be able to walk out your session and go right back to work, lunch or whatever you had planned for the rest of your day.
However, some clients do experience some mild redness or warmth in the areas that were treated for a few hours, but this usually subsides quickly, and we’ll also provide you with a simple post-care instruction guide to keep you and your skin happy.
The Results: What to Expect And When
First things first, if you’re expecting to have smooth skin instantly, a laser treatment is in no way a miracle procedure. That being said, it is one of the most reliable, long-term solutions for treating those unwanted hairs and many, many other skin concerns.
If you’re going for laser treatments for hair removal, be sure to keep in mind that:
- Most of our clients need between 6-8 sessions, which are spaced around 4-6 weeks apart.
- Results are cumulative, and after 2-3 sessions, your hair’s regrowth does slow down, and you’ll notice your hair becomes finer.
- Certain areas, like the underarm and bikini area, tend to respond faster than others like your back and face.
- Once you’ve completed your sessions, we recommend that you book for 1-2 maintenance sessions.
For skin rejuvenation and pigmentation issues:
- You’ll notice visual improvements as soon as the first and second sessions have been completed.
- Over time, you’ll notice the full benefits like a more even tone, smoother texture and a drastic reduction in scarring.
Book With NuSkinnovation & Let’s Find Laser Treatments That Work For You
Whether you’re after that hair-free skin, a more even skin tone or simply want to spend less time shaving, laser treatments most definitely offer a much longer-term, far more low-maintenance solution that works with your body, and not against it. Here at NuSkinnovation, we are proud to be able to marry advanced, medical-grade tech with real, caring human expertise.
From your very first consultation with us, to your final session, everything our technicians do is tailored with precision and expertise to your skin tone, hair type and your individual lifestyle. We don’t do guesswork, we’re here to provide advice that is sound and honest. We offer top-tier professional care, and the kind of results that will make your glow shine from the inside and outside.
From world-class skin rejuvenation to highly precise hair removal, NuSkinnovation has a laser treatment for any and every skin concern you may have. If you’re ready to take the first step to feeling more confident in your skin, visit our website today and make a booking for your first consultation with our ready and able team at NuSkinnovation.