Galery

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Simona Peneva

Unwanted hair is a problem faced by almost every woman and now many men. Until recently, two methods of hair removal were popular, namely shaving or epilating. They now remain in the past. Shaving makes hair grow back thicker and causes multiple hairs to grow out of where there only used to be one, which requires applying the procedure more frequently, whereas epilating your hair is too painful. The laser hair removal method comes in their place as it completely removes the hair and is totally painless. 

The majority of women think of the smooth skin of legs shortly before it is time to go to the beach for the first time in a year but experts advise considering permanent hair removal in the first cold days. The weak sunshine, low temperatures and protection of clothes will ensure an even greater effect of the procedure. Therefore, right now, at the beginning of autumn, we sought the opinion of Konstantina Papaioannou, doctor of cosmetic medicine, doctor of clinical laser applications and a member of the European Society for Laser Aesthetic Surgery.

What exactly does the laser do?

The laser is absorbed by the melanin, the pigments of the stem and follicle of the root, causing the selective photothermolysis phenomenon.

To which parts of the body can laser hair removal be applied?

It can be applied to all parts of the body and in all ages, of course, when the necessary medical certificate has been previously obtained. Both sexes undergo this type of hair removal, due to the changes of aesthetic standards on the one hand and for reasons of hygiene and cleanliness on the other.

Is laser hair removal an innovation? How long has it been used?

Laser hair removal has been used for twenty years. The innovations, including constant renewals, come from the companies that manufacture the laser systems and concern their safety and efficacy, and they are a surprise even to doctors.


Is laser hair removal more efficient than the other methods of hair removal?

Of course, it continues to bemore effective than all the other methods because it destroys the hair follicle, it does not merely suppress it. This happens mostly with the use of class 4 systems that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for permanent rather than for long-term hair removal.

Is the sun dangerous after this type of hair removal? Does the person who has undergone this therapy have to take certain measures? If so, what are they?

There are no dangers if the person uses sun protection products and avoids sun exposure in the dangerous hours of the day. We give these instructions for all skin types, whether subjected to laser hair removal or not, in order to avoid cases of skin cancer.

Can everyone undergo this type of hair removal?

It only excludes certain pathological conditions following a dialogue with a therapist, for example in patients with skin cancer or epilepsy. 

In what situations is this hair removal method compulsory?

It is usually recommended as the safest solution in the case of hormonal disorders, bursitis, relapsing forms of a tailbone cyst and in general, when it is forbidden to harm the skin with inappropriate hair removal methods.


Is laser hair removal equally effective in all areas of the body to which it is applied? In which cases is hair disappearance more difficult? Do hormones play a role?

Generally, hormone dependent areas need more treatments. A new finding is that the presence of stem cells around the hair follicles plays a very important role too. 

Therefore, hair gradually disappears with the laser hair removal method. After how many visits does it disappear completely?

Normally hair disappears, or the diameter decreases, gradually. It is not uncommon for the hair growth to discontinue after one to two treatments. 

To which area do your customers prefer to apply the laser hair removal method most often? 

I think the bikini area, legs, face and armpits are the top areas preferred by women, followed by the arms and hips. In men, these areas are the back, shoulders, chest, stomach and neck.

Can you give some advice to our readers?


Due to the economic crisis in recent years, it has been observed that those who are interested choose extremely inexpensive systems of dubious quality, mostly Chinese-made, which are not approved or certified. In addition, they are dangerous to the safety of the skin and health in general. Often, the very cheap ‘ipl’ system is defined as a laser.

I think the safest option is that of experienced medical centres which have been operating for a long time, where hair removal takes place under the supervision of doctors and with certified equipment. Either way, high-quality laser hair removal is now very affordable in Greece and its prices are the lowest compared to all European countries, despite the extensive experience.