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Hair removal is an issue as old as time; whether it be to look and feel good in yourself day-to-day or to spruce yourself up before a special occasion, around 90% of women and 45% of men regularly remove hair from some part of their body. As the most effective and cutting-edge method for hair removal, it is no wonder that our Elysion Laser Hair Removal is one of the most popular treatments at the Greenwich Spa!

Being one of the latest additions to the world of hair removal, this innovative treatment is often accompanied by many questions, so, to save you the effort of scouring the internet, here are all the answers to all of them before you book your appointment!

What is Laser Hair Removal?

Put simply, laser hair removal involves using a beam of light, known as a laser, to remove hair follicles from your face or body.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

During a laser hair removal procedure, a concentrated wavelength of light (a laser) is applied to the skin and is absorbed by the melanin within each hair follicle. The light energy is converted into heat energy and, when it travels down to the base of the hair, the blood flow to the follicle is cut off. As a result, the hair follicle is destroyed, thus inhibiting or delaying future hair growth.

What Types of Laser Hair Removal Are There?

Many people wonder whether you can get laser hair removal on your face or even full body laser hair removal, and the answer is yes! At Greenwich Spa, we can target almost any location on the body where hair grows; be it your upper lip, chin, jawline, back, shoulders, thighs underarm, bikini line or even your full body and face, we can treat it! See our extensive list of target areas and pricing here.

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

While laser hair removal is not permanent, it puts hair follicles in a state of dormancy for a long period of time; significantly longer than shaving or waxing. That being said, it is common for people who have multiple laser hair removal sessions to see a reduction in the amount of hair that regrows.

How Many Laser Hair Removal Treatments Will I Need?

Did you know that, at any one time, only 30% of hairs are dormant and not visible on the surface of your skin? Thus, while visible hair will be removed with each treatment, a course of treatments is required to target dormant hairs.

Elysion achieves maximum clearance in just 8-14 sessions, meaning that you can enjoy smooth, flawless and lasting results while saving yourself time and money!

How Long Should I Wait Between Laser Hair Removal Treatments?

While it does depend on your hair, skin type and the area being treated, we advise scheduling treatments 6 to 8 weeks apart while the next phase of hair growth appears on the surface. During your consultation, your aesthetician will be able to give you a more accurate time period. You will be hair free in between treatments.

How Long Is A Laser Hair Removal Session?

The length of a laser hair removal session depends entirely on your target area; for instance, a session to remove upper lip hair will be a lot shorter than a full body hair removal session. Moreover, at the Greenwich Spa, we offer the ground-breaking Elysion Advanced Diode Laser Technology which is one of the fastest hair removal lasers.

How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?

The cost of laser hair removal varies depending on the clinic, location and therapist. At Greenwich Spa, our prices are lower than other clinics who use older, slower laser technology as Elysion is one of the fastest lasers for hair removal.

Is Laser Hair Removal Better than Waxing or Shaving?

Did you know that, on average, a woman will spend a total of 72 days (1728 hours!) shaving her legs over the course of a lifetime? But, with laser hair removal treatments, long gone are the days of shaving rashes, ingrown hairs, and waxing pain. Laser hair removal with Elysion Advanced Diode Laser Technology is the long-lasting, pain-free solution for beautiful hairless skin.

Will Laser Hair Removal Help with Ingrown Hairs?

Yes! In fact, because it targets the root of the hair follicle, laser hair removal is the best and most effective method to clear your skin of ingrown hairs quickly.

Is Laser Hair Removal Worth It?


Absolutely! Not only is laser hair removal safe, but it is an incredibly effective way to achieve long-lasting results after just 6 sessions. So yes, it is 100% worth it! See the results for yourself!

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?

Yes, laser hair removal is safe. While it sometimes causes minor side effects, such as pain or discomfort, laser hair removal is not dangerous.

One of the main questions that people worry about is “can laser hair removal cause cancer?”. But you can put your mind at ease as the National Health Service (NHS) have debunked this myth: ‘there is no evidence to suggest that laser hair removal causes skin cancer’.

Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

While many laser hair removal treatments are painful for some clients, The Greenwich Spa provides Elysion Advanced Diode Laser Technology which is pain-free.

How is this possible? What causes pain during most laser hair removal treatments is the intense heat that hits the skin. However, Elysion has meticulously designed a laser with an integrated ‘Crystal Freeze’ cooling system which counteracts the heat and, therefore, provides clients with a painless treatment. Not only does this make the process very comfortable for clients, but it also significantly reduces any damage caused to the surrounding skin.

Are There Laser Hair Removal Side Effects?

Yes, there are expected side effects following laser hair removal – but rest assured, they are entirely normal! These side effects are:

  • Pinkness
  • Swelling
  • small bumps (that look somewhat like goose bumps!)
  • little black specks that come out of your skin. As explained by dermatologist Ellen Marmur, “people often misconstrue that as new hair growth, but it’s not—it’s dead hair shedding.” – this shows that the treatment has worked!

Will Laser Hair Removal Remove Tattoos?

In short, laser hair removal and tattoos are a no-no. If you have a tattoo on an area that you would like to be lasered, the dermatologist will need to work around it. The reason being that the hair removal laser may not only distort your tattoo, but it may even lead to burns, blisters or skin damage. All certified dermatologists will be aware of this and, therefore, will know to avoid any tattoos that you have.

Who is Suitable for Laser Hair Removal?

Is Laser Hair Removal For Men Too?

Of course! Laser hair removal for men is, in fact, very common. Just like women, men care about maintaining appearances too; whether it be hair wax, beard trimming or laser hair removal!

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe During Pregnancy?

While it is deemed to be safe by the NHS, most doctors advise against laser hair removal during pregnancy simply due to there being no data to prove that it is 100% safe for both you and your unborn baby.

What about laser hair removal and breastfeeding?

There is no data to suggest that having this treatment during breastfeeding is unsafe for you or your baby. It is simply advisable to not have hair removed from the areola or breast tissue as this may cause you pain or discomfort.

What Does Laser Hair Removal Feel Like?

Most of our clients describe the treatment as comfortable, thanks to the advanced cooling that is integrated into the Elysion laser system. Its ‘Cool Freeze’ skin cooling technology keeps the skin at a nice temperature throughout treatment, which protects the skin and ensures a painless treatment.

Can I Do Laser Hair Removal At Home?

While small laser hair removal devices do exist, they are less powerful than the advanced technology used by professional spas and aestheticians, and with less power comes less effectiveness at removing hair. Secondly, at-home devices have an increased potential for adverse effects, such as scarring, particularly on sensitive areas. So if smooth hairless skin, safety and no scarring is more important to you than saving a bit money in the long run (at-home laser hair removal devices usually cost £300-£400), we would recommend sticking with professional laser hair removal treatments.

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