Cheap Laser Hair Removal
Inexpensive equipment, especially cheap, unregulated laser devices from China, are one risk associated with very low cost laser hair removal. Australia experienced a massive surge in the use of these machines in 2010, with one salon expert estimating that 60 percent of that country’s machines were illegal, cheaply made, and dangerous machines imported from China.
John Patterson, a radiation and electronic expert, measured the radiation levels put off by the machines. “It’s actually a danger to hold, just having it on standby,” he told Today Tonight, an Australian current affairs program. “It’s spraying the radiation across the whole room and not only that, it’s probably spraying out into the foyer and other shops in that area.”
For comparison, Patterson measured the radiation emitted by one of the illegal devices at 800,000 kH of radiation frequency, whereas a cell phone has 25 kH of radiation frequency, Today Tonight reported.
While inexpensive lasers translate into extremely low prices on procedures such as laser hair removal, industry experts and wary consumers warn that, when it comes to laser hair removal, you get what you pay for.
Anne Warren of Virginia told NBC that she claimed a $99 special on laser hair removal only to find herself badly blistered on her face. Trisha Ip, another woman who claimed a similar deal for her legs, said her skin “erupted” in reaction to a treatment performed incorrectly.
Laser hair removal is still a medical procedure, requiring the proper training and equipment to be performed effectively and safely. In addition to the risk of poorly made machines, inexperienced technicians or improper settings can be dangerous. Some locations may raise the power of the laser in order to get faster hair removal results, which increases risks of burns to the skin. Texas law also requires that any facility that offers laser hair removal must have a written contract with a physician who can provide oversight and assistance.
One local man, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he went with a “Mom and Pop” spa in the Houston area and regretted that decision. Even though the procedure was performed by a nurse, she was not following correct protocols. “She chose to change the setting, and next thing I know I was burned,” he said. His back blistered and he experienced intense pain because the nurse did not follow a unified protocol.
When performed legally and correctly by trained personnel at the proper setting, laser hair removal is a safe procedure. Amerejuve MedSpa and Cosmetic Surgery uses laser hair removal devices primarily from Candela and Syneron, two trusted U.S. producers of laser-based medical devices. Every clinic also has a senior technician who oversees a team of certified technicians, and the volume of laser hair treatments means that each staff member is experienced working on a wide array of skin and hair types. Amerejuve has also implemented standard, company-wide protocols to ensure every treatment is both affordable and as safe as possible for every combination of skin and hair type.
As a client, it is important both to choose a reputable facility for laser hair removal and to communicate with the consultant and the technician performing the procedure to ensure the safest, most effective results.
Information on Candela and Syneron:
https://syneron-candela.com/na
Database of FDA-cleared medical devices:
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRL/rl.cfm