Yet, in the last decade, it was proved that the most effective method for unwanted hair removal is photothermolysis caused by laser beam or intensive pulse light beam. Essence of photothermolysis: optical photo energy is absorbed by melanin located in hair bulb; absorbed photo energy turns into thermal energy, which destroys the target that has absorbed the light. Often, patients and doctors, who treat them with laser or intensive pulse light, face some problems: the higher probability of side effects is on the patients with darker complexion or those with sunburn (energy is absorbed by melanin located not only in hair, but also in skin; and the skin burns are possible), insufficient effect - on bright hair (absorbed energy is not enough for her to become a thermal energy, capable to destroy the hair follicle).
Solution of these problems lies in elōs technology. elōs is the first and the one and only, patented technology of aesthetic medicine, designed by combining the bipolar radio frequency energy and optical thermal energy. Acronym elōs stands for “Electro-Optical Synergy”.
elōs technology was designed by SYNERON Medical company that had performed a number of scientific researches and clinical tests. This technology has no defects of the above-mentioned photo energy - while using elōs devices, the treatments are performed safely and effectively to the patients with all skin types.
How is it obtained? Light (intensive pulse light or laser light) is selectively absorbed by the skin structures containing chromophores (melanin, haemoglobin) – blood vessels, pigment derivatives, hair follicles. Light, while affecting these structures, turns into thermal energy, thus, there is an increase in local temperature in those areas. Therefore, skin resistance minimizes, skin briefly gets conductive to radio-frequency energy. Radio frequency energy, when flowing through the skin from one electrode to another, also turns into thermal energy, which destroys the structures that have absorbed thermal energy (in case of hair removal – hair stem and bulb). Current local thermolysis causes desirable result – hair root is destroyed and the hair does not grow anymore.
Safety of the treatment is ensured by measuring the change in skin temperature and skin resistence during each impulse. According to relation of these indexes, the doctor may regulate intensiveness of the photo energy and radio wave energy, considering the individual skin type of each single patient and its response to temperature. Furthermore, during each impulse, skin is locally frozen up to 5 °C, thus, again minimizing the risk of damage to the skin. Generally, patient, during treatment, feels only the heat or pins and needles, while during hair removal only with laser, the patients complain with the sense of pain or burning.
Thus,elōs technology is much safer and more comfortable, in comparison with other technologies based on photo (laser or intensive pulse light) energy or on radio frequency energy only:
- combined energy principle provides possibility to use less laser energy or photo energy (intensive pulse light) than applying usual photo therapy, therefore, the risk of side effects minimizes, and treatments become nearly painless;
- each elōs device contains a contact freezing unit, which cools the skin surface up to 5°C, and patented active skin control system measures changes in skin temperature after each impulse. Thus, safety of treatment and comfort to patient is ensured additionally.
To obtain a long-term effect, usually, 5 – 6, sometimes 8 – 10 treatments are needed, with performance made each 4 – 6 week. Number of treatments depends from hair density, physiology and localization. For example, the upper lip area has 500 hair bulbs in one square centimetre, and the legs have 60 of them in one sq. cm. The greatest effect is obtained when a hair is affected by laser or intensive pulse light in the growth phase. Different areas of the body have uneven number of hair, in the growth phase: e.g., the upper lip has 65 per cent of them, and legs have only 20 per cent of them. After growth phase, a hair enters into the rest phase, which is also uneven in different areas of the body, e.g., in the upper lip area: 6 weeks, on legs: even 24 weeks!
Therefore, to obtain a long-term effect of hair removal, it is necessary to repeat treatments regularly. Furthermore, effectiveness of the treatment depends also from the hormone, genetic causes, adjacent illnesses and conditions, that condition the hairiness.
Treatment contraindications:
1. Pregnancy;
2. Fever;
3. Oncological (cancerous) cases during treatment;
4. Serious, non-compensated illnesses of inner organs, uncontrolled diabetes;
5. Illnesses, the progress of which may be influenced by intensive light (laser) wave effect: systemic lupus erythematosus, porphyria, epilepsy;
6. Atrophy of the immune system due to AIDS, HIV or taking immunosuppressants;
7. Blood clotting disorders (increased bleeding risk due to coagulopathies), taking anticoagulants;
8. Light and/or sun allergy;
9. Infection caused by herpes virus or that of other origin, as well as damage to skin integrity (eczema, psoriasis, etc.) on areas of treatment;
10. Keloidic (hypertrophic) scars, of skin in a precancerous state on the area of epilation;
11. If hair removal is expected in the facial area, laser treatment or deep chemical peel for face skin recontouring;
12. Metal implants on the area of treatment;
13. Current pacemaker.
Performance of treatment is not recommended in the following cases:
- when taking antibiotics of tetracycline group;
- after strong sunburn.
Taking preparations for thyroid or other hormone preparations that stimulate hair growth, may reduce the effectiveness of epilation treatments.
Preparation for treatment:
Before treatment, it is required to carefully rub the skin area, from which the hair will be removed, and shave the hair from that area.
Possible side effects:
- skin reddening, intumescence, lasting mainly for 2 – 3 hours, rarely – up to 48 hours;
- rarely – blisters, wounds, crusts or scars, changes in skin colour.
Recommendations before and after treatment:
- It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks before and after treatment. If it is impossible – during the aforementioned period, it is necessary to apply the especially high factor sun cream.
- Take 24 val. for not using a tanning bed, to avoid possible hyperpigmentation (increased pigment accumulation within the skin);
- It is necessary to repeat epilation under regime regimen prescribed by the doctor, each 4th – 6th week.;
- The hair should be shaved or removed by means of epilation cream among the treatments. If, among treatments, the hair will be removed with tweezers, wax or other non-surface removing methods, effectiveness of laser treatment will decrease.