At Victorian Cosmetic Dermal Clinics, we are often asked to explain the difference between extremely budget laser clinics and boutique clinics such as ourselves. With so many of these “express clinics” appearing, it is difficult for consumers to differentiate between them all; particularly as some of these chains use similar devices and equipment. So what exactly are the differences between these clinics and high quality laser and skin clinics?
One of the main differences is the treatment frequencies that low quality clinics use. While we always recommend you have your laser hair removal treatments spread across 6-8 week intervals, less reputable clinics work on high turnover and foot traffic, so they tell clients to treat unwanted hair every 2-4 weeks. When our experts hear of these practices, the alarm bells begin to ring. There are a number of problems with this approach:
1. After 2-4 weeks, the hair shaft has not had enough time to grow a new root, so when the laser beam hits the skin it cannot travel down the follicle and destroy the hair at the root. After such a short period new hair has not even begun to grow, so you are essentially treating an area with no hair! The clinic is getting paid for something that will have little to no efficacy.
2. Although you may be paying a cheaper price per treatment, you are actually coming in twice as often (every 4 weeks as opposed to 8) meaning that your treatments are more expensive in the long run. Cost per treatment is only one factor to take into consideration when comparing your options.
Treatment parameters and treating at maximum energies should also be a factor when choosing a laser clinic. To achieve the best possible results with permanent laser hair removal, your therapist should treat you at the maximum energy possible without compromising safety in order to effectively destroy the hair follicle. Many express clinics have one-size-fits-all guidelines and do not allow therapists to treat at higher energies, meaning they require more treatments. At Victorian Cosmetic Dermal Clinics, we take the time to assess you individually, and perform test patches in order to gauge suitability and determine the maximum allowable energy for your treatments. This ensures that we actually destroy the hair follicle at the root, and not simply weaken it with lower treatment parameters.
Another issue with low quality laser clinics is the privacy and discretion factor. Skin treatments can leave one with a little bit of redness and crusting. Express clinics often neglect to advise clients on these sorts of issues and how to avoid them with soothing creams. A clinic which allows for maximum privacy and discretion allows you to explore these issues and ask questions in a relaxing environment with compassionate staff.
Treatment times are also important when comparing laser and skin clinics. Are you going to be rushed through your appointment or have your treatment interrupted by another therapist who is waiting on a spare treatment room? The level of client care and safety is paramount when considering a laser clinic. You want to be treated with the adequate amount of time and care that you deserve. At Victorian Cosmetic Dermal Clinics, you are not a number and we take great pride in giving you and your therapist enough time to discuss your goals and perform a thorough treatment.
Get in touch to learn what we can do for you.