Body hair removal at Me Clinic

Me Clinic offers non-surgical body hair removal treatments at our Malvern East clinic. This page explains how these treatments work, what results are realistic, who they suit, and what the risks are.

Body hair is normal. Whether to treat it is a personal decision, and there is no medical need to do so unless hair growth is a symptom of an underlying condition - which is one of the things assessed before treatment begins.

How laser hair reduction works

Laser hair reduction works on a principle called selective photothermolysis. A laser emits light at a wavelength absorbed preferentially by melanin, the pigment in the hair shaft. That light is converted to heat, which travels down the hair to the follicle and damages the structures responsible for producing new hair.

Three consequences follow from this, and they explain nearly everything about how the treatment behaves:

• It targets pigment. The treatment relies on contrast between the hair and the surrounding skin. Dark hair on lighter skin responds most predictably. Grey, white, red and very fine blonde hair contain little or no melanin and generally do not respond to laser treatment at all - no device changes this.
• It only works on hair that is actively growing. Hair follicles cycle through a growth phase (anagen), a transition phase (catagen) and a resting phase (telogen). Only follicles in the growth phase are attached to the structures the laser needs to reach. At any given moment, only a proportion of the follicles in an area are in that phase, which is why a single session cannot treat all of them.
• Heat affects surrounding skin too. Where the skin itself contains a lot of melanin, or is tanned, more of the light energy is absorbed by the skin rather than the hair. This raises the risk of burns and pigment changes, and requires different settings, different devices, or in some cases means treatment is not appropriate.

What results are realistic

The accurate term is hair reduction, not permanent hair removal. A course of treatment can produce a lasting reduction in the number of hairs in the treated area, and remaining hairs are often finer and lighter. It does not reliably remove every hair permanently, and maintenance sessions are commonly needed over time.

Be sceptical of anyone promising permanent removal from a set number of sessions. Results vary considerably between individuals depending on hair colour and thickness, skin type, the area treated, hormonal factors and the number of sessions completed.

How many sessions

Because only follicles in the growth phase respond, treatments are spaced to catch different follicles in that phase. A typical course involves multiple sessions spaced several weeks apart, with the interval depending on the area - hair on the body cycles at different rates in different regions.

Completing the full course as planned matters. An interrupted or irregular course produces a poorer result than the same number of sessions spaced correctly.

Areas commonly treated

Body areas commonly treated include the underarms, arms, legs, back, chest, abdomen and bikini line. Facial areas are covered separately under facial hair removal.

Assessment before treatment

Treatment should be preceded by an assessment covering:

• Your skin type, usually classified using the Fitzpatrick scale, which determines the settings used and in some cases whether treatment is suitable.
• Your hair colour and thickness, which determines whether the treatment can work at all.
• Medications you take. A number of medications increase photosensitivity - including some antibiotics, retinoids and others - and can make laser treatment unsafe until stopped or a suitable interval has passed.
• Medical history. Active skin infections, a history of keloid scarring, photosensitive conditions, recent sun exposure or tanning, recent use of fake tan, and pregnancy are all relevant.
• Whether excessive hair growth has an underlying cause. Marked or sudden increases in hair growth, particularly in a female pattern change, can be a sign of a hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome. That warrants medical assessment rather than treating the hair alone.

A patch test is standard practice before a first full treatment.

Before and after each session

Common instructions include avoiding sun exposure, solariums and fake tan for a period before and after treatment; shaving rather than waxing, plucking or using depilatory creams in the weeks beforehand (waxing and plucking remove the hair root the laser needs to target); avoiding hot showers, saunas, swimming pools and strenuous exercise for a short period afterwards; and using sun protection on treated areas.

Some redness and swelling around the follicles immediately after treatment is expected and usually settles within hours to a day or two. Treated hairs are commonly shed over the following one to three weeks - this shedding can look like regrowth and is not.

Risks and side effects

Laser hair reduction is a treatment, not a cosmetic service without consequences. Risks and potential side effects include:

• Redness, swelling and discomfort during and after treatment
• Blistering and burns
• Changes in skin pigmentation - both darkening (hyperpigmentation) and lightening (hypopigmentation), which may be temporary or persist
• Scarring, including in people prone to keloid scarring
• Crusting or scabbing of the treated skin
• Folliculitis - inflammation or infection of treated follicles
• Triggering of cold sores where treating near the mouth in people who carry the virus
• Paradoxical hypertrichosis - an increase rather than decrease in hair growth in or near the treated area, which is uncommon but recognised
• Eye injury if appropriate protective eyewear is not worn by everyone in the room
• Poor or no response, particularly with light-coloured or fine hair

The risk of burns and pigment change is higher in darker skin types and in recently tanned skin.

Booking and costs

Costs depend on the area treated and the number of sessions. A skin assessment with a nurse or aesthetician is $50 and is redeemable on products or services; a consultation with a Cosmetic Doctor is $150. Prices are as at September 2024 and include GST.

Me Clinic is at 4 Burke Road, Malvern East VIC 3145 - a five minute walk from Caulfield station. The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 7pm, and Saturday 9am to 2pm.

Related pages

See laser hair removal, facial hair removal, skin treatments, or all body procedures.

Individual results may vary. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.