CW Epilation uses special high power lasers which produce a steady (uninterrupted) beam that can be scanned across the patient's hair growth areas like a razor.

Constant Wave laser shaving has the distinct advantage of showing immediate cosmetic improvement (over that of an Intense Pulsed Light or similar system). A new patient may walk into a laser hair removal office covered with unwanted hair then leave hairless and smooth just a few hours later.  Permanency rates from a single treatment (on a type1-2 skin with black or brown hair) is 70-80%.  Any hairs which do emerge in the weeks following the procedure will generally be destroyed with additional treatments.

An additional advantage to choosing a constant wave laser is the many optical configurations available.  A CW diode laser can be fitted with dot, line, cross hair or parallel beam outputs. 

The most favorable results with CW epilation have been achieved by applying laser treatment in the early stages of hair growth (known as the anagen phase). It is during this brief window of opportunity when follicles are small, weak, shallow and highly vulnerable to trauma.

Laser Treatment 1: CW Laser Epilation With Intact Follicle

Laser Treatment 2: CW Laser Epilation With With Follicle Extraction and Carbon Dye

Using a cotton-tipped applicator, completely cover the treatment area with the special dye included in your kit. Massage the dye into the follicle pore with a firm downward circular motion. Repeat 2-3 times to saturate the follicle pore. Use an ethyl alcohol based wipe to lightly clean the excess from the surface of the skin. At this point you will have all desired follicles visibly highlighted with a dark spot (as seen above) and are ready to power up your laser for treatment.

Focus the laser at the treatment area. If you are using a laser with a pin-point output, match the angle of growth and focus directly down the highlighted pore. If using an elliptical or square beam, match the angle of growth and scan slowly across the treatment area. The laser will not react with the skin. As soon as it passes over the pore you will see a brilliant flash of light accompanied with some vapor and smoke. You may wish to advise the patient to expect a brief zap (or pinch sensation) while the photons cauterize the pore.

If your patient has a low tolerance for discomfort, you may wish to apply an OTC topical anesthetic prior to treating (such as Dermal-Plast®). Continue to hold the beam over the pore until all activity ceases. Move on to the next follicle, or continue to scan across the treatment area until the photon reaction diminishes.

After the desired area has been completed, apply a cold pack. This will cool the dermis and soothe any uncomfortable neural activity.

Apply the post-treatment gel and advise the patient not to pick or scratch the area. The dermis will show some trauma in the form of eurythmia (reddening) which may last 12-24 hours.

Schedule the patient for their next treatment in 3 weeks. By then some of the new anagen hairs will be surfacing. Hair growth activity will diminish substantially after each application.

Client Pre-Qualifications

The best candidate for laser hair removal has fair skin with dark terminal hairs. Skin typing for exposure to ultraviolet light can be categorized by the Fitzpatrick classification, developed by Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick of Harvard Medical School.
Skin Type I:  Never tans, always burns (extremely fair skin, blonde hair, blue/green eyes)
Skin Type II:  Occasionally tans, usually burns (fair skin, sandy to brown hair, green/brown eyes)
Skin Type III:  Often tans, sometimes burns (medium skin, brown hair, brown eyes)
Skin Type IV:  Always tan, never burns (olive skin, brown/black hair, dark brown/black eyes)
Skin Type V:  Never burns (dark brown skin, black hair, black eyes)
Skin Type VI:  (black skin, black hair, black eyes)  
Types 1 through 4 are outstanding candidates. Type 5 will have excellent results as well but care must be taken to assure that the laser will not burn the skin. Type 6 should not undergo laser hair removal unless used in conjunction with skin bleaching due to the high risk of burning and hypo/hyper pigmentation issues.