FAQ

Permanent hair removal is alaser hair removal process that removes all the hair from an area permanently and sustainably. Our Paris laser center is a guarantee of efficiency and comfort for men’s and women’s laser hair removal. Epilium offers the care protocols best suited to your phototype and hair type.

Permanent hair removal requires 4 to 12 weeks between sessions. This timeframe varies according to the area treated and the patient’s progress through the hair cycle. It also varies according to individual hairiness. To optimize the results of your laser hair removal treatment, it is imperative to respect the deadlines indicated by your practitioner. We remind you that between two laser hair removal sessions, you must not pluck or remove the hair. You can, however, shave the treated area.

Laser hair removal destroys an average of 85% of body hair. This average is based on a light-skinned, dark-haired subject. This result is possible once the hormones have stabilized, i.e. from the age of 25 for women, and 35 for men.

Our rates for permanent hair removal are calculated according to a number of parameters, including the fees of the doctors and their assistants, room occupancy, equipment costs, laser maintenance and treatment room upkeep. At our Epilium & Skin Paris center, we charge fair prices to make our treatments affordable.

Permanent laser hair removal is safe if the contraindications are respected. There are several types of contraindication to laser hair removal, some of which are permanent and others temporary.

Suitable for all skin types, laser hair removal is now also available for black and dark skins. Hair removal from dark skin is made possible by the use of the latest generation of lasers at Epilium hair removal centers. Until recently, darker skins could not benefit from this new practice, as Alexandrite-type lasers, by acting on the melanin contained in the skin, caused skin burns. Dark skins concentrate much more melanin in all layers of the epidermis, and conventional lasers cannot distinguish between melanin in the hair and melanin in the skin.

There’s no minimum age, and laser hair removal can be carried out without any problem once you’ve passed puberty, but parental consent is still essential for minors. Adolescents, on the other hand, can trigger reactions that can adversely affect laser hair removal treatment, so you need to be vigilant, and laser hair removal should be carried out by an experienced laser physician.

Similarly, it is advisable to be cautious about the choice of permanent hair removal in certain areas, so that the choice is well thought-out.

Generally speaking, the younger you start, the more sessions you need. Hair growth is hormone-dependent, which is why we recommend waiting until hormonal maturity, around age 25-30 for women and 40 for men.

Before beginning each laser hair removal session, the practitioner will check that there are no contraindications to the session:

• your skin is not tanned in any way (sun, UV, self-tanners, betacarotenes)
• you are not taking any medication incompatible with laser hair removal.

After observing the evolution of your hair growth, the doctor will adjust the laser parameters so that your laser hair removal session is optimal.

He shaves the area to be treated himself, and everyone protects their eyes with the appropriate goggles.

During the session, the area treated by the hair removal laser is around 2cm2 and involves around ten hairs per pulse. This will cause a temporary tingling sensation due to the heat, made bearable by the blast of cold air built into the laser head.

This pain, although quite bearable, can be reduced by applying an anaesthetic cream a few hours before the session.

Epilium & Skin laser centers are staffed by a team of experienced doctors. Indeed, laser hair removal must be carried out under the full responsibility of a doctor. However, an assistant can also perform laser hair removal, but the follow-up and procedures are carried out under the responsibility of the doctor.

The machines used by the laserist can treat a wide range of skin and hair types, but the settings must be adapted to each patient. However, laser hair removal carried out by non-professionals can cause serious burns. What’s more, only a doctor can detect any pathologies, allergies or contraindications.

Laser hair removal can be risky, which is why it must be carried out in a medical center.

Several types of complications can arise following a laser hair removal session. Most are not serious and last only a few hours to a few days. If in doubt, contact your doctor:

• Burns
• Pigment disorders
• Hematomas
• Paradoxical regrowth

Laser hair removal can be performed on a wide range of areas, for both men and women: legs, eyebrows, underarms… few areas are contraindicated.

• Women: discover treated areas.
• Men: discover treated areas.
• For certain areas where laser hair removal presents a risk of “paradoxical regrowth” (particularly downy areas), we can offer you electric hair removal for optimal results.

The hair removal laser emits a beam of light which passes through the epidermis along the hair until it reaches its final target, the hair bulb.

It’s the melanin in the hair that absorbs all the laser energy, transforming it into heat at the melanin targets and enabling the hair to be removed. This thermal input permanently destroys the structures responsible for hair production and growth.

Once the bulb is destroyed, hair regrowth is virtually impossible, resulting in a permanent result. Permanent hair removal destroys 80% to 95% of the hair present at the time of treatment: results vary according to age and area treated.

Between two treatment sessions, there should be no regrowth when the laser hair removal parameters have been correctly set. However, if a few new hairs get in the way, only shaving or facial scissors will be allowed.

To avoid interrupting the rhythm between laser hair removal sessions, we recommend avoiding sun exposure, UV treatments and photosensitizing medications. To avoid irritating the skin during this treatment, we strongly advise against steam baths, saunas and swimming pools for 10 days before and 10 days after your session. Discover all the precautions to take.

We also recommend moisturizing your skin throughout your laser hair removal treatment.

Laser beams are not the cause of skin cancer. These are caused by so-called “ionizing” radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Lasers and flash lamps do not emit UV light, but beams of high-powered visible (violet, red) or infrared light. Visible and infrared light wavelengths are not carcinogenic.

The number of sessions required for your laser hair removal treatment can only be determined after a thorough examination of your skin. In fact, hair growth is linked to various parameters: body zones, age, sex, weight, hormones, ethnic origins, drug treatments, diet…

Since the laser only acts effectively on hair in the growth phase, it destroys only 15-20% of hair during each laser hair removal session. You therefore need to wait until all the hairs have passed through this phase for the removal to be complete. Once the hair bulb has been destroyed, the hair no longer grows back. That’s why it’s called permanent hair removal.

• On average, 6 to 8 sessions are required for areas such as the bikini line, underarms and half-legs, since the hair is darker and thicker.
• An average of 10 sessions are required for the thighs and forearms.
• Finally, facial areas require a variable number of sessions, which will be determined at the first appointment.

Note also that a few special cases have already been identified:

• More sessions are needed for men and younger patients.
• Nd-Yag laser treatment (dark to black skins) requires an average of 2 sessions more than Alexandrite treatment.
• The interval between sessions for the body varies from 8 to 12 weeks, and from 4 to 8 weeks for the face.

However, this spacing can vary according to each individual’s regrowth cycle.

IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL POSSIBLE IF I HAVE MOLES?

Hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our bodies. It maintains the skin’s moisture level by capturing water and holding it in the deep layers of the dermis. Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that acts like a sponge.

Hyaluronic acid wrinkle treatment involves injecting a viscous gel in small doses. Once infiltrated into the skin, the gel retains water and blends with the dermis’ natural hyaluronic acid. The volumizing effect restores the skin’s original appearance, smoothing out wrinkles.

It is a biodegradable and absorbable product that is naturally depleted in the body. You’ll need to repeat the operation to benefit from its long-term effects.

Depending on the number of wrinkles to be treated, a session lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

Since hyaluronic acid breaks down naturally in the body, the effect of the injection is variable and depends on several factors:

• Patient’s skin type,
• Severity of wrinkle to be corrected,
• Filler used,
• Injection zone,
• Injected volume.

The duration of the effect of the injection varies from 4 to 18 months, depending on the area treated and the product used, but can extend to 36 months when a denser, more volumizing acid is injected into certain areas of the face, such as the cheekbone.

Although hyaluronic acid is a natural constituent of the dermis, an injection of hyaluronic acid is likely to cause skin reactions.

They translate into :

• redness, bruising, ecchymosis, oedema, itching, slight pain at the injection site, which may occur following injection and resolve between 24 hours and 8 days, indurations or nodules which may appear at the injection site between 15 days and 3 months after injection,
• reversible discoloration of the injection site.

Please note that these side-effects are rare and resolve quickly.

Injections are performed using micro-needles just a few millimeters in size, making the treatment virtually painless. The pain experienced varies according to the area injected and the individual’s personal tolerance. For some people who are very sensitive to pain, your doctor will prescribe a Lidocaine-based anaesthetic cream to be applied 45 minutes before the treatment for a comfortable session.

The effect of hyaluronic acid is immediately visible. At the end of the session, your wrinkles have already disappeared, but the final result is optimal 10 days after the injection. This is the time it takes for the body to fully assimilate the acid.

Hyaluronic acid is an absorbable molecule. Its effects are therefore temporary, lasting an average of 6 to 8 months (and up to 36 months in the best cases).

Hyaluronic acid is not recommended in cases of :

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Antibiotic treatment with aminoglycosides (Amiklin, Gentalline, Streptomycin)
• Recent anticoagulant treatment
• Recent anti-inflammatory treatment
• Known hypersensitivity to Botox A
• Myasthenia gravis
• Lambert-Eaton syndrome
• Patients taking medication should report it, and the concomitant use of certain drugs should be avoided (aminoglycosides).

After an injection session, it is advisable to avoid wearing tight-fitting hats or caps, saunas and steam rooms, and air travel for 24 hours after treatment.

Although hyaluronic acid remains the safest product on the anti-wrinkle injectables market, inflammatory effects can occur. This allergic risk has been reported, but is extremely low (1 case of hypersensitivity reaction in 2000 has been reported).

Aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided for eight days prior to treatment, to prevent the formation of small hematomas.

If your skin tends to bruise easily, we recommend taking Arnica tablets 2 to 3 days before and up to the next day to reduce the risk of hematoma.

A peel is an aesthetic medicine technique that deeply regenerates the skin, restoring its youthfulness and radiance by eliminating dead cells from the upper layers of the epidermis.

The medical peel boosts collagen and elastin synthesis, encouraging the production of new cells.

• Dull skin and uneven tone
• Young, acne-prone skin
• Skin marked by acne scars
• Wrinkled or wrinkled skin
• Spotted skin (pigment spots and lentigos)
• Folliculitis
• Sagging skin, neck and décolleté

We advise against peeling in the following cases:

• Herpes on the face
• Acne medication (retinoids)
• Skin allergies
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Sun exposure for the duration of treatment

Generally speaking, this technique is not suitable for hyper-reactive, hypersensitive or intolerant skin. After a medical examination, the doctor will recommend the most suitable treatment for your skin.

One week before the peel, you must not use :

• Hair removal or electrolysis,
• Scrubs and the use of irritating products,
• The use of retinoic skin products,
• Men should avoid shaving for two hours before the peel.

In the two weeks following treatment, you should avoid: Exposure to the sun or UV rays (use of sunblock 50+ is strongly recommended for the month following treatment).

All our peels come from Mene&Moy™ and Dermaceutics™ laboratories, specialists in aesthetic dermatology and anti-aging medicine, which guarantee the highest level of safety and expertise for our patients. These peels are formulated with glycolic acid or beta-hydroxy acid (fruit acid), which enable cell renewal to rid the skin of minor imperfections.

Before the peel, the doctor will thoroughly cleanse the skin using specific products.

He will then apply the appropriate peel to your face.

A warming, tingling sensation will be felt for a few minutes.

Once the exposure time is over, the doctor will remove the product and cleanse the skin before applying a soothing cream.

On average, a peeling session lasts between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the type of peel and the area treated.

For optimum results, we recommend 2 peels, 1 month apart, for Cosmo Peel and Spot Peel (treatment of spots and wrinkles).

We recommend 4 peels at 15-day intervals for Lightening Peel (dull skin), Beta Complex (acne-prone skin and folliculitis) and Milk Peel (wrinkles and sagging skin).

The doctor will adjust these protocols according to your indications and the skin reactions you experience.

For best long-term results, you can also consider 1 or 2 maintenance sessions per year.

Mesolift is an aesthetic medicine treatment designed to plump, rehydrate and firm the skin. It is applied to the face, neck, décolleté and hands through a series of injections of a blend of products based on minerals, vitamins and hyaluronic acid.

Mesolift is ideal for fine, dry, lifeless skin, skin damaged by the sun or cold, and smokers’ asphyxiated skin. In this indication, the result is maximum: the skin recolors, the complexion becomes more radiant and fine lines are reduced.

Treatment is generally not recommended for people taking anticoagulants, due to the risk of bleeding. Before a session, the skin must be free of infection. There is a slight risk of bleeding, bruising or papules one or two days after treatment. There is also a risk of allergy to one of the products injected. Mesolift is not recommended for pregnant women.

The doctor performs a series of small injections into the skin (very close to the surface) of a mixture of vitamins, trace elements and often fluid hyaluronic acid. The aim is to stimulate local oxygenation and collagen production.

A mesolift session lasts 30 to 40 minutes.

Injections are performed using micro-needles only a few millimeters in size and very superficially, making the treatment virtually painless. The pain experienced varies according to the area injected and the individual’s personal tolerance. For some people who are very sensitive to pain, we can prescribe a Lidocaine-based anaesthetic cream to be applied thickly 45 minutes before the treatment for a comfortable session.

SkinBooster is the most effective treatment for improving skin quality. It improves skin hydration, stimulates collagen synthesis and combats skin aging.

Halfway between pure dermal fillers and the virtues of mesolift with cross-linked hyaluronic acid, SkinBoosters have a lasting effect on skin tone.

SkinBooster treats exposed, photosensitive areas such as the face, lips, neck, décolleté and hands.

In young people:

• It prevents skin aging,
• Gives skin a healthy glow,
• Delays the appearance of the first wrinkles,

For mature people:

• It stimulates weakened skin and makes it more toned
• Repairs the ravages of time by smoothing wrinkles and creases.

Although SkinBoosters are safe, there are several types of contraindications:

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Product allergy
• Taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant drugs just before treatment
• Interferons

A SkinBooster session generally lasts between 15 and 30 minutes.

This succession of micro-injections over the entire surface to be treated is more unpleasant than truly painful, and leaves only a slight reddening at the end of the session. Slight bruising may sometimes appear in the days that follow, but is often very discreet and perfectly make-up-free.

The protocol recommends 2 to 3 sessions at one-month intervals, followed by a maintenance session every 6 months. The effect varies according to each individual’s skin type and lifestyle.

The acronym HIFU stands for “High Intense Focus Ultrasound”. This technology, used by the Dual HI device, provides a medical facelift by re-tensioning skin tissue and reducing localized fat deposits.

HIFU sessions are performed at our Paris center, 7 rue Tronchet 75008 Paris.

It is possible to treat all areas subject to sagging skin or fatty deposits, such as the face, double chin, stomach, underarms, knees, bra folds, etc.

You will have a free initial consultation with one of our Epilium & Skin Paris specialists to determine together the objectives and results you can expect from your HIFU treatment. If no contraindications to HIFU have been identified during this interview, a treatment appointment will be scheduled. During the session, an ultrasound gel is applied to the treatment area. This gel enables ultrasound to be transmitted through skin tissue. The practitioner makes 2 to 3 passes over the target area. The session lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes.

HIFU is generally painless. During the session, you’ll feel a slight tingling, sometimes a warming sensation. If this is unbearable, you can apply an anaesthetic cream 30 minutes before the session to limit these sensations.

HIFU does not entail any social exclusion. You can resume your professional, personal or sporting activities immediately after the session.

There are few contraindications to HIFU treatment:

• skin diseases (eczema, herpes, vitiligo, etc.)
• open skin lesion or infected wound,
• pacemaker
• certain medications (anti-inflammatories, anti-coagulants, cortisone, etc.)

The results of an ultrasound session are generally visible after a month, the time required for collagen reconstruction. They are considered optimal after three months. The destruction of fatty deposits (lipolysis) by HIFU is definitive. The non-surgical HIFU facelift lasts approximately 18 months.

The price of a HIFU session is calculated according to the average number of shots performed on the treated area. For smaller areas, the cost of a HIFU session starts at €300. An estimate is drawn up by your Epilium & Skin specialist during the first free consultation.

The cost of a CoolSculpting® treatment varies according to the area targeted, the number of sessions required and the goals you wish to achieve. An Epilium & Skin doctor can draw up a personalized protocol tailored to your needs and budget.

For more details on the areas to be treated, consult the CoolSculpting® prices at Epilium & Skin Paris.

During the session, a gel cover and a vented applicator are placed on the area to be treated. The applicator sucks the skin into its suction cup, creating a progressive vacuum. For the first few minutes, you’ll feel a pulling sensation and a slight pinch due to the suction effect.

Patients generally feel an intense cold due to the machine’s “controlled cooling” setting. This unpleasant sensation lasts only 10 minutes and then gradually fades.

Most patients spend most of the session occupied: reading, working remotely or even napping.

It’s a natural process. Once the adipocytes have been frozen by the cold, the body transforms the fat and eliminates it naturally. Once the fat cells have been destroyed, they never reappear.

Coolsculpting is a gentle, non-surgical slimming method. Unlike liposuction, results are not immediate, but appear gradually from the third week to the fourth month. Thanks to its non-invasive action, Coolsculpting does not disturb skin elasticity. It is an excellent alternative for patients with an indication of localized excess fat.

Many patients begin to pay attention to their weight after their CoolSculpting® session, and it is rare to see an increase in weight in the months following treatment. However, in the opposite case, weight gain will be uniform over the whole body and not specific to the treated area.

Coolsculpting is not recommended in cases of :

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Antibiotic treatment with aminoglycosides (Amiklin, Gentalline, Streptomycin)
• Recent anticoagulant treatment
• Recent anti-inflammatory treatment
• Known hypersensitivity to Botox A
• Myasthenia gravis
• Lambert-Eaton syndrome

Patients taking medication should report it, and the concomitant use of certain drugs should be avoided (aminoglycosides).

After a coolsculpting session, the treated area should not be massaged. It is advisable to avoid wearing hats or caps, saunas and steam rooms, and air travel for 24 hours after treatment.

CoolSculpting® is non-invasive, so there’s no disocialization. After your session, you can get dressed and resume your activities. Only a slight tingling or pulling sensation may last for a few hours. The treated area may also be swollen in the days following treatment, particularly after cryolipolysis of the double chin. The swelling usually subsides within 72 hours.

CoolSculpting® is not a painful treatment, and some patients even fall asleep during their session. On the other hand, the first 10 minutes of treatment can be unpleasant or even slightly painful, as the applicator sucks on the skin and causes a progressive suction effect.

This sensation of suction is made completely bearable by an analgesic gas available in our centers.