IPL Hair Removal Fact Sheet

The objective

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) prevents hair growth in areas where hair is unwanted, such as the bikini-line, legs, face and chest, using a high-powered and very concentrated light beam pulse to damage the hair follicle through a generation of heat. This is seen as a gentler or more adjustable alternative to laser hair removal, and may suit some people more than laser treatment.

The procedure

The procedure can be carried out using a topical anaesthetic cream and takes about 15-60 minutes per treatment. Patients would need to be assessed for suitability for this procedure.

The practitioner will normally apply a cooling gel to the skin to ease discomfort through the procedure. An Intense Pulsed Light beam, less concentrated than a laser as it emits many different wavelengths of light, will then be directed through a prism to deliver intense energy to the hair follicle being treated. This destroys the follicle and prevents new hair from growing from it.

Several treatments will be needed over a period of time to achieve the final results, as the light beam can only work on hair follicles that are actively growing at the time of treatment.

The outcome

Following the procedure, the treated area will be red, sensitive and painful for a short while.

Normally, you can leave the clinic a few minutes after the procedure. You can usually return to work and resume activities immediately.

You can expect hair in the treated areas to stop growing as a result of this procedure, with long-lasting rather than permanent results.

The risks

Complications associated with Intense Pulsed Light include skin blisters or burns which can lead to mild scarring and changes in skin colour or pigment.

If pigmentation problems occur, it may be anywhere from 3-12 months before normal skin tome returns.

People who have had radiotherapy to the area or a recent course of vitamin A skin treatments may be more prone to developing ‘keloid’ scarring, which are red, bumpy and raised scars, and may not be suitable candidates.

Hormonal changes may activate new hair growth and so further treatments might be needed.

If you experience cold sores, then there may be a recurrence of them after treatment, although the chance of this can be minimised by the use of antiviral medicines.

The costs

Usually, a course of at least 5-6 treatments will be necessary and cost depends on the size of area being treated. In the UK, expect to pay from around £55-£100 per session. Abroad, expect to pay from around £150-£300 per session (USA).

The availability

Intense Pulsed Light procedures are widely available at private cosmetic surgery clinics and specialist skin care clinics within the UK and abroad.

The popularity

Intense Pulsed Light is a relatively new procedure but is growing in popularity, particularly amongst people who are veering away from using short-lasting conventional methods of hair removal, or for those with unsightly patches of hair in conspicuous areas. Many women use this method as a way of removing bikini-line hair and also for dark ‘moustache’ growth above the upper lip. Men may use it to remove unwanted hair on the back and shoulders.