Which is better IPL or "True Lasers" for hair removal?

[deedee]

The title says it all. Can some of the brainy ones answer this question? I've asked 5 different people including day spas and doctors and got 5 different answers

['mealia]

I researched this in detail. The studies show lasers are better. They are both more specific and can generate much higher fluences (power). IPL is a simpler cheaper technology often used by day spas who also use the same system for photorejuventation, blood vessels et al

[starfish]

Can you point me in the direction of some of these studies amelia?


I was under the impression true lasers but I don't have an authoritative website to prove it (websites of doctors with laser and or IPLs don't count)

[deedee]

This has troubled me for some time too. What is the difference between safety approval and FDA approval?

[Eleanora]

OK this is not an authoritative website or scientific study. No its none other than the well respected, always trusted "dum dum dah" A Current Affair report.

Yes yes I know its the last word in journalistic integrity.

BUt a recent report showed that 80-90% of the lasers used in Australia are not FDA or TGA approved. A lot of the day spas tried to cover it up and.

Hey this is a good topic. I might start up a thread to see what people say about the difference between FDA, TGA and safety approval

[Kwan.G]

IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light doesn't it?

In Canada and the USA here practically no one is using the old IPL systems anymore. I just thought it was common knowledge a real laser is better.

[aaron]

Yelp IPL stands for Intense Pulse Light. It is generally a lot simpler and cheaper system than lasers

['mealia]

Australia isn't that far behind the USA kwan.g.

Most doctors use a true laser.

I think the IPLs are unusually popular here down under only because day spas do a lot of "permanent hair removal" and the beauty therapists and dermal therapists here use an IPL rather than a laser because of the safety factor.

[marissa]

And the cost factor mealia! I think day spas use IPLs because they are a lot cheaper.

The doctors are used to expensive equypiment they just have to swap the lease on their v8 Mercedes for a laser. A beauty therapist would have to the house and their parents house to get a laser.

[t_wylie]

In all my time following this thread I've never seen anyone comment on how much a hair removal laser actually is. Does anyone have a cost? I'm doing my tax return now so I'm all geared up to do cost to benefit ratios and what not. Wanna try and work out how much profit my doctor made off my 6 sessions :)

[Tanny]

I think all medical lasers are incredibly expensive. I can remember being told the laser for my eye surgery was 1.5 million dollars worth!

[Elias]

I would hazard a guess the laser for eye surgery is a lot more expensive than the laser for hair removal!

[Tanny]

true but at least we can guess lasers are on average a lot more expensive than IPLs.

I bet the eye lasers are more expensive but not 50 times as expensive as a hair laser

[jill jill]

I was wondering what other's people perspective was. I think its pretty much a given that a true laser is far better than a "simple" IPL for hair reduction.

Don't the Day Spa and Spa Resorts usually use just an IPL whilst all the big medical clinics here use lasers.

[Eleanora]

My doctor told me $150,000 worth for his laser. I think he said it was an Alexander laser or some such

[Elias]

A thought just occurred to me.

Since a laser is all exactly one precise wavelength.

And IPL is jsut a whole range of wavelengths.

Is this the reason why a laser can be more selective. eg you choose the exact wavelength that will burn out the most number of hair follicles?

[Kwan.G]

I thought this was one of the reasons so many doctors prefer lasers. They are more specific. That and a lot more powerful

[Kwan.G]

That reminds me. On this forum it seems ipl is a really popular type of hair removal. Is this true? Its quite strange very very few places use a ipl here in vancouver. In fact I had 2 look up what ipl was on an australian site!

[swither]

I've thought this is a bit strange as well and posted my thoughts on this on another thread in this forum.


I think hair removal in australia is often considered an extension of waxing. A bit like waxing that lasts a long long time. Consequently a lot of laser hair removal is done in day spas and in general day spas only use IPL systems

[homongsteve]

Laser hair removal (http://www.baywoodclinic.com/) is the best solution and it is a true laser and works and less expensive .:)