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Millions of women, as well as men, have unwanted hair on their body. If this sounds familiar, you should consider intense pulse light (IPL) hair removal. It offers a safe and effective way to remove unwanted hair. As a result, it’s become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional hair removal solutions like shaving and waxing. Before making the commitment to IPL, though, there are a few things you should about this modern hair removal technique.

Overview of IPL Hair Removal

IPL is a noninvasive hair removal procedure that involves the use of broad-spectrum light pules — typically in the spectral range of 400 to 1,200 nm — to inhibit the growth cycle of hair follicles. Light within this spectral range permanently damages hair follicles.

It’s important to note that IPL is only designed to damage and destroy hair follicles in the growth phase. Therefore, several treatments may be needed to achieve desirable results.

Even if all or most of the hair follicles are destroyed during the first treatment session, new hair follicles may enter the growth phase just months later. And unless these new follicles are targeted with IPL, they’ll form new hair. By scheduling several treatment IPL sessions, you can rest assured knowing that the problematic hair won’t regrow.

IPL has origins dating back to the late 1990s, during which the procedure was described in medical literature. Since then, it’s become one of the most popular solutions for permanent hair removal on the market.

What to Expect During IPL Hair Removal

During a typical IPL hair removal session, a professional aesthetician will use a light-emitting wand to selectively targeted areas of your skin with unwanted or otherwise problematic hair. The wand is designed to create pulses of broad-spectrum light. Each pulse emits light that’s absorbed by your skin. At the same, the light pulses create heat. The combination of broad-spectrum light and heat destroys hair follicles during the growth phase, causing the targeted hair to fall out.

Some of the different areas of the body that IPL laser hair removal can target include the following:

• Lips
• Chin
• Cheeks
• Chest
• Underarms
• Bikini
• Legs
• Back

Is IPL Hair Removal the Same as Laser?

The terms “IPL” and “laser” are often used interchangeably when referring to light-based hair removal solutions. Although they are both offer permanent hair removal, however, they aren’t necessarily the same. Both IPL and laser hair removal use light, as well as heat, to destroy hair follicles. The difference is that laser hair removal uses light in a single wavelength, whereas IPL uses light in a broad-spectrum wavelength. As a result, IPL typically yields better results than its laser counterpart.

Because it uses broad-spectrum light, IPL is a better choice for men and women with dark and thick hair. Single-spectrum light isn’t easily absorbed by men and women with dark and thick hair. With its ability to produce light in a broad spectrum, however, IPL is able to absorb deeper into the skin, thereby destroying hair follicles during the growth phase.

Benefits of IPL Hair Removal

IPL laser hair removal offers several benefits. First and foremost, it’s a permanent solution for hair removal. When you shave or wax, the targeted hair will regrow. Waxing is a little better than shaving in this regard.

Shaving typically offers smooth skin for about two or three days, whereas waxing offers smooth skin for two to four weeks. Nonetheless, the hair will eventually regrow, at which point you’ll have to either shave or wax again. IPL is often preferred over shaving and waxing because it offers permanently smooth skin. The follicles are heated with broad-spectrum light to the point where they are unable to regrow.

Choosing IPL hair removal may even save you money in the long run. To say shaving is expensive would be an understatement. You must purchase new razors as well as shaving cream or gel, all of which can take a toll on your personal budget over time.

According to a survey conducted by American Laser Centers, the average woman spends over $10,000 on shaving-related products during her lifetime. Don’t assume that waxing is any cheaper, either. The same survey found that the average woman spends $23,000 on waxing services during her lifetime. With just a few IPL hair removal sessions, you can eliminate the need for shaving and waxing, allowing you to save money.

Of course, it’s also worth mentioning that IPL is a highly effective hair removal solution. According to one study, the number of hairs in the targeted areas was reduced by 60% after 12 weeks. By one year, the number of hairs in the targeted areas was reduced by 75%.

This is because IPL is able to disrupt hair follicles deep at their roots. As the targeted hair follicles are exposed to light and heat, they begin to die. The dead hair follicles can’t regrow new hair, so IPL is able to deliver permanent results.

How to Get the Best Results With IPL Hair Removal

If you’re planning to get IPL hair removal, you should first consult with a professional aesthetician to determine whether you’re a suitable candidate. IPL, for example, doesn’t work on blonde or gray hair. The good news is that it works for pretty much all other hair colors.

Try to refrain from tanning in the weeks leading up to your IPL hair removal treatment. IPL is more effective at removing hair on dark-skinned individuals than laser, but it still works best on people with fair skin complexions. Therefore, if you get IPL hair removal immediately after returning from a beach vacation, you may not experience the best results.

During your initial consultation, the aesthetician will likely advise you to shave your skin prior to IPL hair removal. Shaving allows the IPL light to penetrate deeper and more easily into the skin, which in turn improves the results of IPL hair removal. Of course, you won’t have to shave the treatment. Rather, you only need to shave prior to IPL so that the light can penetrate deeper into your skin.

Some people assume that IPL hair removal is painful, but this isn’t the case. As previously mentioned, it only causes mild discomfort. Another common myth is that IPL only offers temporary results. As previously mentioned, though, IPL doesn’t just remove hair; it destroys hair follicles so that they are unable to regrow.

In Conclusion

IPL is a noninvasive procedure for the permanent removal of hair. It involves the use of broad-spectrum light to heat and destroy hair follicles during the growth phase. Like laser, it revolves around the use of heat and light. But only IPL uses broad-spectrum light that’s able to penetrate deeper into the skin to achieve better results. If you’re tired of shaving every few days — or waxing every few weeks — perhaps IPL is the answer. It’s a noninvasive and effective solution for permanent hair loss.

Want to learn more about IPL hair removal? Request a free consultation with Radiance Medspa today!

Can’t seem to get rid of stubborn body fat? Well, you aren’t alone. Millions of men and women in the United States struggle with unwanted body fat. While exercising and dieting can help, it’s not always enough to overcome genetics or hormones. CoolSculpting, however, offers a safe and effective way to eliminate unwanted body fat once and for all. But unless you’re familiar with this body contouring procedure, you might be wondering which parts of the body it can target.

Flanks

The flanks, or what’s more commonly known as love handles, is one of the most common areas targeted by CoolSculpting. In September 2010, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CoolSculpting for the reduction of fat in the flanks. Since then, countless men and women have sought the procedure to eliminate fat in their flanks. If you have excess fat on the sides of your lower stomach, you should consider CoolSculpting. Of course, the flanks are just one of many parts of the body on which you can have CoolSculpting performed. This popular noninvasive procedure can reduce fat in several other parts of the body, which are mentioned below.

Abdomen

In addition to flanks, CoolSculpting can also target the abdomen. Also known as simply as the belly, the abdomen is a problematic source of body fat for millions of men and women. While fat can accumulate in any area of the body, it occurs most frequently in the abdomen. The good news is CoolSculpting can shrink your abdomen by significantly reducing fat in this area of your body. Even though the FDA initially approved CoolSculpting specifically for the reduction of fat in the flanks, the FDA later gave the procedure the green light to target the abdomen. Therefore, you can rest assured knowing that CoolSculpting is a safe and effective way to reduce fat in your abdomen.

Under the Chin

You can even use CoolSculpting to reduce unwanted fat under your chin. Known as the submental area, the procedure can help you achieve a slimmer and more contoured jawline by freezing problematic fat cells. It’s difficult to eliminate fat under the chin through dieting and exercising alone. Most people will burn fat in common areas like their stomach first, meaning the fat under their chin will remain. To make matters worse, fat under the chin is more visible than excess fat in other areas of the body.

To put the problem of under-the-chin fat into perspective, a survey conducted by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that nearly three-quarters of Americans have unwanted fat under their chin. If this sounds familiar, you should check out CoolSculpting. After just a single session, you can achieve a more contoured jawline with significantly less visible fat.

Although it’s primarily sought for the reduction of fat, CoolSculpting has been approved by the FDA to improve the appearance of lax tissue under the chin. In one study, 77% of clients reported improved results after using CoolSculpting on their lax tissue. In other words, CoolSculpting isn’t just effective at reducing fat under the chin; it’s effective at dealing with the dreaded “double chin.” When lax tissue is creating the appearance of a double chin, CoolSculpting can help contour and shape it.

Thighs

If the fat on your thighs won’t seem to go away, perhaps CoolSculpting is the answer. Of course, there are other ways to reduce thigh fat, such as a thigh lift. During a thigh lift, a cosmetic surgeon will remove excess fat and skin from the thighs. Because it requires incisions, though, a thigh lift is an invasive procedure. As a result, it has more risks as well as a longer recovery time. A thigh lift is still an effective way to reduce thigh fat, but you’ll probably need to take at least seven to 10 days off work to recover from it.

CoolSculpting, on the other hand, is a noninvasive procedure that doesn’t require incisions. An aesthetician can target unwanted fat on your thighs using a CoolSculpting applicator. When the applicator is applied to your thighs, it will freeze the fat cells at a low temperature without harming your skin or muscle tissue. When the session is over, you can go back to your daily activities. Unlike a thigh lift, CoolSculpting is a noninvasive procedure that doesn’t require any downtime for recovery.

Back

The back is another common area of the body targeted by CoolSculpting. While most men and women experience problematic body fat on their flanks or abdomen, some experience it on their back. And when fat begins to accumulate on your back, it can affect your self-confidence. You may find yourself wearing additional layers of clothing, for example, in an attempt to conceal your back fat.

Alternatively, you may stay at home rather than engaging in social activities with friends and family. You can regain your self-confidence and eliminate stubborn back fat, however, through CoolSculpting. It’s a proven, FDA-approved procedure for the reduction of back fat.

Banana Rolls

CoolSculpting can target banana rolls as well. What are banana rolls exactly? Banana rolls are rolls of fat between the buttocks and thigh. They are called “banana rolls” because they resemble the shape of a banana. A banana roll is essentially a double crease below the buttocks. Rather than running parallel to each other, the bottom crease rises on the side to connect with the top crease. In doing so, the two creases create the shape of a banana.

Not everyone suffers from banana rolls. For the millions of people who have banana rolls, though, it’s often a driving factor for low self-confidence. If you have banana rolls, you may wear shorts to the beach or pool rather than your favorite bikini.

But like the other areas mentioned in this blog post, CoolSculpting can target banana rolls. The CoolSculpting applicator will freeze the fat cells directly below your buttocks. Once frozen, the fat cells will die, resulting in a more contoured body without the presence of banana rolls.

Armpits

Finally, CoolSculpting can significantly reduce fat around the armpits. Also known as bra bulge, excessive armpit fat is a common condition from which millions of women suffer. As fat accumulates in the bra area, it may bulge out. This is particularly true when wearing certain types of clothes, such as tight dresses, shirts or tops. The excessive fat in this area essentially pushes its way out to create a bulge around the armpits.

You can use CoolSculpting to reduce bra bulge fat. Using the CoolSculpting applicator, an aesthetician can target excess fat around your bra area to eliminate bra bulge and, therefore, help you achieve a slimmer and more contoured appearance.

Whether you have unwanted fat in your flanks, abdomen, below your chink, back, thighs, banana rolls or armpits, you should consider CoolSculpting. This noninvasive procedure has been approved by the FDA to target fat in all these areas of the body.

And because it’s noninvasive, it won’t disrupt your normal activities. Just remember to talk with your aesthetician and let him or her know which areas of your body you want to target. Only then will you get the best possible results from CoolSculpting.

Want to learn more about CoolSculpting? Request a free consultation today!

After reading about how CoolSculpting works, you might be wondering whether this noninvasive cosmetic procedure causes frostbite. Conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that the cold temperatures needed to freeze and shrink your fat cells may also freeze your skin. And since your skin is your body’s first line of defense against infection-causing bacteria and viruses, you probably want to keep it to healthy. So, does CoolSculpting cause frostbite?

What Is Frostbite?

Frostbite is a medical condition that’s characterized by the freezing of the skin, muscle or other tissue. When tissue is exposed to cool air, blood vessels constrict and become narrower, which is why redness is a hallmark symptom of frostbite. As the temperature continues to drop, tissue begins to freeze. When this occurs, ice crystals form in tissue, causing damage to the membranes of cells — a condition known as frostbite.

Our body’s skin can handle cold temperatures pretty well. But if your skin is exposed to exceptionally cold temperatures, it can lead to frostbite.

Like with burns, there are several degrees of frostbite:

• First-Degree Frostbite: The least-severe form, first-degree frostbite generally manifests as temporary redness and numbness in the extremities, including the ears, toes and fingers.
• Second-Degree Frostbite: When skin is exposed to particularly cold temperatures — and/or over a longer period of time — second-degree frostbite may develop. In second-degree frostbite, red and black blisters form over the affected tissue.
• Third-Degree Frostbite: An even more severe form of frostbite, third-degree frostbite is characterized by the freezing of tissue deep below the surface of the skin. While some people experience a full recovery from third-degree frostbite, others suffer permanent long-lasting cold sensitivity.
• Fourth Degree-Frostbite: The most severe form of frostbite, fourth-degree frostbite occurs when muscles, tendons or bone become frozen.

What Is CoolSculpting?

CoolSculpting is an FDA-approved body contouring procedure that involves the use of cool air to freeze fat tissue under the skin. It uses a vacuum-powered applicator to blow cool air over select areas of your skin. During a CoolSculpting session, an aesthetician will place the applicator over the parts of your body where fat is a problem. The applicator will then perform a create a light suction to draw the skin, as well as the underlying fat, into the hollow interior where it’s exposed to cool air.

CoolSculpting is often compared to liposuction, as both procedures are used to reduce body fat. Liposuction, however, is considered an invasive procedure, whereas CoolSculpting is noninvasive. CoolSculpting doesn’t require any incisions. Rather, it simply uses an applicator to blow cool air over specific areas of your body where you want to shrink and reduce fat.

If you have unwanted fat in one more areas of your body, CoolSculpting may offer a safe and effective solution. Keep in mind that it shouldn’t be used as a substitute for dieting and exercise. If you are overweight or obese, CoolSculpting won’t help you lose weight. If you’re looking to eliminate fat and contour your body, on the other hand, you should check out this increasingly popular fat-reduction procedure. By targeting problematic areas with cool air, CoolSculpting can shrink and even destroy fat cells.

With CoolSculpting, fat cells are exposed to cool air at a temperature that causes cellular death within subcutaneous fat. The applicator forces the temperature-controlled cool air over your skin, which then freezes the underlying fat tissue. You may notice a reduction of body fat in the targeted areas within just a few weeks of having CoolSculpting performed. However, it usually takes at least two months for the fat cells to completely die.

No, CoolSculpting Doesn’t Cause Frostbite

Although it relies on cool air to freeze fat tissue, CoolSculpting doesn’t cause frostbite. The applicator machine used in CoolSculpting contains a highly precise temperature control mechanism. As a result, the aesthetician can raise or lower the temperature to achieve the best results without leaving your skin susceptible to frostbite. If the temperature is too warm to effectively freeze the fat cells, the aesthetician can lower it. If it’s too cold, he or she can raise it.

How is CoolSculpting able to freeze fat cells without causing frostbite to skin or other tissue? Well, the temperature of the cool air created by the applicator is lower than that needed to cause frostbite. Fat cells freeze and die at a temperature that’s lower than the temperature of frostbite. Using an applicator, an aesthetician can target fat cells in your body with temperature-controlled cool air to protect against frostbite.

When you’re outside, it usually takes 15 to 30 minutes of exposure to a temperature (without windchill) of 18 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler to cause frostbite. CoolSculpting uses slighter higher temperatures to protect against frostbite. The air created by the applicator is cold enough to freeze fat cells, but it’s not cold enough to cause frostbite. This means you can rest assured knowing that you won’t sustain frostbite during a CoolSculpting procedure.

Will My Skin Feel Cold After CoolSculpting?

You won’t develop frostbite from CoolSculpting, but your skin may feel cold both during and shortly after the procedure. When the applicator is placed on your skin, you’ll feel pressure as your skin is vacuumed into the hollow interior. At the same time, the suctioned skin will feel cold from the cool air passing over it.

The area of your skin suctioned into the applicator will feel intensely cold. After all, this is the basis on which CoolSculpting works. Of course, the cold sensation associated with CoolSculpting is only temporary, so don’t confuse it with frostbite. After having the procedure performed, the sensation will gradually fade without any lasting effects (other than reduced body fat).

The bottom line is that your skin will feel cold during and shortly after CoolSculpting, but this doesn’t mean it causes frostbite. Your skin and other tissue won’t freeze, nor will they develop ice crystals. Only the fat cells in the targeted areas of your body will freeze. In turn, CoolSculpting won’t cause frostbite since it only freezes fat cells and not your skin or other tissue.

How to Prevent Frostbite With CoolSculpting

If you have CoolSculpting performed by a qualified aesthetician, you won’t have to worry about frostbite. Unfortunately, some people have taken the DIY route with this fat-reduction technique. CoolSculpting is a branded procedure, so only licensed and affiliated aestheticians can perform it, but DIY cryolipolysis isn’t unheard of. And without the expertise and training of a licensed aesthetician, there is a risk of frostbite with DIY cryolipolysis.

Therefore, you should avoid DIY cryolipolysis and, instead, schedule a real CoolSculpting procedure with an actual aesthetician. Not only will this protect you from frostbite; it also ensures you get the best results possible from this increasingly popular fat-reduction procedure.

In Conclusion

Millions of people from across the world suffer from frostbite each year. However, none of these cases are attributed to CoolSculpting. When performed by a licensed aesthetician, it’s a safe and effective procedure for the reduction of body fat. It uses cool air to freeze fat tissue without placing your skin or other tissue at risk for frostbite. The targeted fat cells will freeze and die, but your skin will remain healthy.

Want to learn more about CoolSculpting? Request a free consultation today!