Laser Hair Removal
Safe, effective and permanent, anywhere on the body.
Hair growth and its management is an emotional and social issue throughout the world, and women in particular are subject to enormous pressure to conform to social and cultural norms. The development of laser treatment has made long-term hair reduction possible for all skin types.
How does it work?
At the Brookdale Clinic we use Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL, as a safe, long-term solution to unwanted or excess hair for men and women.
You can have hair removed from any area of your face or body and results can be seen after just a few treatments.
IPL hair removal works through firing short bursts of intense light at the skin, using a hand-piece varying in size according to the area of skin being treated. The light is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair shaft. This causes the hair folicle to heat up, which destroys it, so that it is no longer able to produce a hair.
As IPL works by its attraction to pigment, not the hair itself, you don't need to let your hairs grow before a treatment, unlike waxing.
How long does it take?
The time taken for each treatment will vary, depending on the area being treated. A small area such as your top lip, for example, takes just 10 minutes. A larger area, such as your back or two full legs will take up to 60 minutes.
Laser Acne Treatment
Fantastic for mild to moderate acne and associated skin discolouration.
Acne is a disorder of the skin's sebaceous glands that affects over 80% of the population aged 14-30. Although commonly considered to be an adolescence problem, 25% of the people affected by acne in their teens will go on to develop permanent scars. The effects on personal appearance caused by acne and the resultant scarring can cause significant psychological, social and occupational problems if left untreated.
Active acne - papules or pustules caused by skin bacteria. The bacteria invades the sweat and sebaceous glands and the hair follicles. The sebaceous glands are aggrevated, they enlarge and overproduce sebum which builds up under the skin causing spot eruptions.
Laser treatment using intense pulsed light has shown good success in clinical trials. It is non-invasive and does not require a prescription. It is a good alternative to strong drugs e.g. retinoic acid.
Laser can treat all aspects of acne. The wide spectrum of intense pulsed light helps destroy bacteria and control the secretions in the sebaceous glands.
A mild chemical peel prior to laser treatment can be helpful as it removes the dead skin cells that block the pores causing pustules. The light is then better able to penetrate the skin.
How many do I need?
A specific number of treatments cannot be guaranteed, as acne
is a complicated condition. Up to 6 treatments may be required.
Cellulite Reduction
Cellulite can seriously affect the way a woman feels about herself. An effective cellulite treatment is the holy grail for many women and many cellulite treatments have been developed, but few have proven long term beneficial results. ThermaLipo radiofrequency treatment, offered by The Brookdale Clinic, is an exciting new method for the reduction of cellulite and localised areas of fat.
A course of ThermaLipo treatments can significantly reduce the unsightly appearance of “orange peel skin” and improve overall skin tone, elasticity and your skin texture.
ThermaLipo works through the use of a form of energy called Radiofrequency, which gently heats the deepest layers of the skin, where the fat cells reside. Raising the temperature in this skin layer increases local blood circulation and encourages drainage of fatty deposits into the lymphatic system. It also promotes the breakdown of the fibrous tissue that binds the fat cells together and so reduces the volume of fat cells stored in the area of the body being treated.
Another beneficial result is that the controlled heating of the deeper skin layer also produces a reaction that encourages the creation of more collagen, which acts to restructure and tighten the affected tissues, so improving the overall skin tone, elasticity and skin texture of the area treated.
This treatment is not only designed for cellulite on thighs, but can be used to address fatty deposits around the stomach, waist, back and buttocks, upper arms and knees.
Body sculpting is now a reality even for those who want to avoid the pain and long healing process of liposuction. If you are healthy and not excessively overweight, then ThermaLipo can help you re-contour your body with minimal risk.
PHOTO Rejuvenation
Sun-damaged skin, with fine lines, mottled skin tone and broken capillaries
is extremely ageing.
Photo-rejuvenation provides long-term improvement in the firmness of the skin and removal of pigmentation and broken capillaries which give visible signs of ageing.
The three aspects of ageing can be targeted using intense pulsed light and laser.
- Skin tone
- Sun and age spots
- Fine thread veins
The use of a mild chemical peel assists intense pulsed light or laser treatment, and is usually incorporated into the treatment process.
The peel removes dead skin prior to laser treatment, allowing better penetration of light into the skin.
Typically 3 to 4 treatments are required.
Treatment areas
- Face and neck
- Declotage / Chest
- Hands
- Backs of the arms
THREAD VEINS
Whether you call them red veins or thread veins, these fine blood vessels running close to the surface of the skin can be unsightly and affect the way you see yourself when you look in the mirror.
Intense Pulsed Light and Laser treatments can offer a long term solution to;
- Swollen or broken capillary spots
- Mild port Wine Stains
- Rosacea (permanent flushing to the face)
- Superficial and deep leg veins
How does it work?
IPL red vein removal works through firing short bursts of intense light at the skin, using a tiny hand-piece desiged specifically for this purpose.
The light is absorbed by the blood vessel, as it is attracted to the darker pigment in the cells. The resulting heat generated causes the destruction of the veins being targeted. Deeper leg veins up to 3mm in diameter can be treated with the Laser, which produces a narrower beam of light, which penetrates more deeply into the skin.
How long does it take?
The time taken for each treatment will vary, but on average takes between 15 and 45 minutes. Treatment takes place at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks.
How long does it last?
Once the veins are destroyed they cannot re-grow. However, there still may remain some traces of the original veins, as we cannot guarantee a complete removal in every case. Best results are obtained when treating fair skin and with treating facial thread veins, spider naevi and rosacea.
How many sessions will I need?
Usually 3 to 5 treatments are necessary but some smaller areas may clear in just 1 session.
Does it hurt?
It can sting a little. Because we're using IPL to create sufficient heat to destroy the pigment cells, this heat can build up and be felt. It's been described as like a fast, hot pin-prick. The laser flashes incredibly quickly, so it's a very brief sensation.
We apply a cooling gel to the area being treated in advance of the treatment taking place and offer use of a cold air jet to cool the skin as the treatment continues. We actually don't recommend that this option is taken however, as reducing the heat impact of the laser can also reduce its effectiveness!
Are there any side-effects?
As with all treatments affecting the skin there are of course small risks of side-effects. Following the treatment your skin may feel a little sore, but very mildly. There may be some slight reddening of the area treated. This doesn't even happen in all cases, it depends on the skin type and area treated. We apply cooling aloe vera gel to all areas treated, which is very effective at reducing any inflamation that results. The redness and sensation of warmth will last only a few hours, or maybe overnight, but soon disappears leaving no ill-effects.
Before we commence any treatment we take the time to undertake a detailed consultation with you, making sure that you are comfortable with the process and that you have no pre-existing conditions that could adversely affect it. You will have a 'patch-test' undertaken, to be sure that your skin does not react adversely to the IPL. If you experience no adverse reactions to this small test within 7-10 days, then we can proceed with the full treatment.
How much does it cost?
The initial consultation costs £25. This is refunded when you book a full course of treatments.
