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Apogee Laser - a specialised laser for hair removal
What is the Apogee Elite laser?
The Apogee Elite laser is designed specifically by Cynosure for laser hair removal . The Apogee Elite laser is essentially two lasers in one. It has a 755nm wavelength laser (also known as the Alexandrite laser) and a 1064nm wavelength laser (also known as the Nd:YAG laser). Each wavelength is suited to a particular hair/skin type combination. This maximises the types of skin and hair types that can be treated with this laser, and the safety and efficacy by which it can remove hair.
The general principles of laser hair removal are that;
- the laser is attracted to melanin (pigment) in the hair much more greatly than the melanin in the skin.
- the skin also releases the heat energy acquired from the laser a lot quicker than the hairs do, and therefore the temperature of the hairs is raised to a critical temperature, and this denatures the DNA in the hair follicle and prevents it from regrowing
What is the 755nm Alexandrite laser used for?
The Alexandrite laser is used to remove hairs from fairer skin types. The 755nm wavelength is highly attracted to the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicle over the melanin in the skin. This causes selective destruction of the stem cell in the hair follicle and this can lead to its permanent destruction.
The 755nm wavelength is more highly attracted to the melanin (pigment) than the 1064nm wavelength. It therefore is not suited to the treatment of hair on darker skins, as the high affinity to skin melanin may lead to skin damage.
The advantage of this higher attraction to melanin is that it is more highly attracted to melanin in the hair than the 1064nm wavelength. Therefore, in fairer skins, it is a more effective hair removal laser than the 1064nm wavelength . It is also able to target thinner or finer hairs as a result of this higher attraction to melanin.
Overall, the 755nm wavelength is the ideal laser for laser hair removal on fairer skin types and can also remove finer hairs than the 1064nm wavelength .
What is the 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength used for?
The 1064nm wavelength is also used for hair removal treatments, but is used in darker skin types as it has less attraction to melanin than the 755nm wavelength.
The 1064nm wavelength is the safest wavelength for the treatment of olive to dark skin types. However , due to its lesser affinity to melanin than the 755nm wavelength, the 1064nm wavelength requires use of higher energy levels for the treatment, and slightly higher levels of discomfort. It is also this lesser affinity to melanin that gives it a larger margin of safety when performing laser hair removal on darker skin types.
The advantages of the 1064nm wavelength are its ability to penetrate the skin deeply to reach the hair follicle, and its ability to treat hair on darker skin types. Hair on fairer skin types can be treated, but not as effectively as the 755nm wavelength laser.
What is a variable pulse width?
The pulse width of a laser is the time in which the laser energy is delivered. It can range from 5 milliseconds to 300 milliseconds. Coarser hairs will disperse heat slower than fine hairs, and therefore, finer hairs require treatment with a shorter pulse width. This ensures that the energy entering the hair follicle is absorbed quicker than it is dissipated, causing the hair follicle to heat. However, the shorter the pulse width, the greater the chance of affecting/heating the skin. The Apogee laser has a variable pulse width to target both finer and coarser hairs.
How is the skin kept cool whilst heating the hairs?
The Apogee laser is used in conjunction with a skin cooling machine called a Zimmer cooler. It cools the surface layer of the skin, allowing the laser to penetrate through the cooled skin to the hair follicle thus minimising the chance of any injury/damage to the skin.
What is the cost of laser hair removal with the Apogee Elite laser?
For more information on laser hair removal, please click here.
Why choose The Victorian Cosmetic Institute as your provider of Apogee Elite laser hair removal treatments?
The Apogee Elite laser is an effective and versatile hair removal laser. It is operated by our doctors and nurses who have specialised in laser treatments. The Victorian Cosmetic Institute also has another 3 lasers (Ruby laser, Medlite laser, and Gemini laser) that remove hair, and the appropriate laser machine will be selected to treat your condition.
Making that first phone call about any cosmetic procedure can be a confronting task - many of our patients have preferred filling out our online enquiry form. We can then contact you with an understanding of the results you are hopeful of achieving and ensure the treatment is appropriate.
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Ask our Doctors a question about Apogee Laser |
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Request a Apogee Laser consultation |
• What is the Apogee Elite laser?
• What is the 755nm Alexandrite laser used for?
• What is the 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength used for?
• What is a variable pulse width?
• How is the skin kept cool whilst heating the hairs?
• What is the cost of laser hair removal with the Apogee Elite laser?
• Why choose The Victorian Cosmetic Institute as your provider of Apogee Elite laser hair removal treatments?