Treatment time

The treatment time for hair removal procedures is important to both patients and physicians. For patients, shorter time mean less inconvenience. For physicians, faster treatment allows more patients to be seen in a given unit of time, increasing office productivity and revenue.

In a study comparing the LightSheer HIT™ handpiece and the LSET sapphire-cooled handpiece, the authors conclude that treatment with the LSHS is faster6. An internal analysis conducted by Lumenis on 15 patients undergoing LHR in a variety of treatment areas found that the mean treatment time was 0.1 ± 0.02 hours (average of 6 minutes) for the LightSheer and 0.16 + 0.02 hours (average of 9.6 minutes) for the Vectus.

Although the promotional literature for the Vectus claims that full treatment of the male back can be done in 5 minutes, this interval does not include time required to measure melanin levels (1 minute), apply gel (2 minutes), or remove gel (1 minute). These additional steps increase total treatment time to 9–10 minutes for the Vectus, compared with 6 minutes to fully treat the male back using the HS handpice of the LightSheer DESIRE.

Physician perspective

I have been using a LightSheer device since I first began offering my patients LHR in 1999. The ongoing improvements in technology found in each of these systems have allowed me to provide my patients with a safe, effective, and comfortable LHR experience. In addition to developing high quality LHR systems, I have found that Lumenis also provides excellent customer support, helping to make sure that my practice gets the most value out of its investment in the LightSheer product line.

My office conducts LHR procedures on 25–30 patients every month, and patients report a high level of satisfaction with the procedure and the results of their LightSheer treatment. I routinely use the LightSheer system for a variety of aesthetic purposes, including removal of hair from the axilla, face, bikini line, and legs for female patients, and the back and neck for male patients. I have also had very positive experiences using the LightSheer system for non-aesthetic procedures to treat folliculitis, pseudofolliculitis, inflammatory lesions and granuloma.

One reason that patients have such a positive experience when I use a LightSheer system for LHR is that the procedure produces little to no pain during or after treatment. This is due to the HIT™ that is incorporated into the LightSheer handpiece, which helps to bring follicle closer to surface, enabling effective treatment at lower energy level.

Also, the sensation of suction provides ‘distraction’ anaesthesia that reduces the sensation of pain that may arise from heating of the skin.

In addition to its increased level of comfort, another aspect of the LightSheer DESIRE that I find to be highly advantageous is its ability to target pigment within the hair follicle effectively. Light absorbed by melanin generates heat, which damages the follicle and results in long-lasting hair removal and permanent hair reduction. The efficacy of this targeting is greatest when there is a high degree of contrast between the colour of the skin and hair. Consequently, I’ve seen very positive outcomes for patients who have darker hair and lighter skin, but don’t consider this a practical approach to treating very light hair or fuzz.

The market for LHR is becoming increasingly crowded and competitive owing to the growth of medi-spas and other providers of aesthetic services. From time to time, this competition has impacted the number of patients that come to me for LHR. However, patients who visit a medi-spa or aesthetician often come back to me because they find treatment in my office with a LightSheer device to be faster and more comfortable, while providing more effective hair removal.

As a result, the LightSheer system not only provides value to my patients by giving them a better experience, it adds value to my practice by differentiating the care that I provide from that of the competition.

My highly-trained and experienced laser technician is another reason that my patients return to my office for LHR even when they have other options. Training my technician to use the LightSheer was fast and simple, and created additional opportunities to generate revenue for my practice by allowing the technician to conduct LHR procedures while I see other patients. My patients have an added level of comfort in knowing that the technician performing their LHR treatment was trained by a physician, and that I am immediately available for unusual or more complex LHR cases.

My patients are a priority, and managing my practice effectively is essential for meeting my patients’ needs today and in the future. The LightSheer products help me to achieve both those objectives by providing my patients with fast, comfortable, and effective hair removal, while positioning my practice for success in an increasingly competitive market.