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Not all medical laser hair removal machines are the same. The mechanism of hair removal differs depending on the length of the laser wavelength and the irradiation method, and there are differences in the thickness and skin quality of the hair that can be removed, and the pain during the procedure.
Medical hair removal has a deep-rooted image of pain, but "soprano titanium" is a heat storage type medical laser hair removal machine that is said to be less painful . Since it can be used on sunburned skin regardless of skin color and on the whole body regardless of the part, the number of medical institutions adopting it has been increasing since it was launched in 2019.
In addition to the characteristics of soprano titanium, you can choose the medical hair removal machine that suits you by knowing the advantages and disadvantages compared to other hair removal machines .
Also, in order to receive the treatment with peace of mind, please check the correct information about the treatment method of soprano titanium, possible side effects, and risks.
Table of contents
Soprano Titanium is the latest model of the "Soprano Series" released in 2019 developed by Alma Lasers of Israel, which researches lasers, high frequencies and ultrasonics and provides medical beauty products (as of 2020). ).
There are four types of machines in the soprano series, and the latest model, soprano titanium, has been significantly improved for shorter treatment times and more effective hair removal .
The light energy used in a laser has the property of a waveform that repeats peaks and valleys, and the length of the waveform from peak to peak (or valley to valley) is called the wavelength. Wavelengths are expressed in units of nanometers (nm), which is one billionth of a meter. The shorter the wavelength, the closer to the skin surface, and the longer the wavelength, the deeper the skin .
Light is a collection of multiple wavelengths, while a laser is a ray of light that is artificially extracted and amplified by a specific wavelength. It travels in a straight line sharper than light, and is absorbed by a specific substance to act to generate heat energy and shock waves. The types (names) of lasers are classified according to the wavelength that can be irradiated.
For medical hair removal laser
There are four types of laser wavelength lengths, each with different depth and characteristics of energy reach.
The wavelength of the laser installed differs depending on the hair removal machine, and when performing medical hair removal, it is common to select a hair removal machine according to the skin type and hair thickness of the part to be treated.
However, since sopranotitanium can simultaneously irradiate three types of wavelengths, "Alexandrite laser", "Diode laser", and "YAG laser", hair from thin hair to thick armpit hair and pubic hair, and fingers with shallow roots, etc. It can be used for whole body hair removal because it can be expected to have a high hair removal effect on pubic hair and hair on legs with deep hair roots .
Up to now, hair removal machines use at most two types of lasers to remove hair, and few can irradiate three types of lasers at the same time, which is expected to have a much higher hair removal effect than conventional medical hair removal machines.
There are two types of irradiation methods for medical hair removal machines: "heat storage type (SHR)" and "heat wave breaking type (shot type)", and soprano titanium is classified as a heat storage type. The difference between the heat storage type and the heat destruction type is as follows.
The heat storage type stores heat in the entire hair follicle (the tissue that wraps the hair such as the hair root), and continuously irradiates a low-power laser to the bulge area that issues a command to grow hair next to the hair follicle, causing damage. This is a way to bring about a hair removal effect.
Although the hair removal effect per laser is low, it is possible to promote hair removal while reducing pain by irradiating multiple weak (low power) lasers. In addition, since the laser reacts to the hair follicles and irradiates them , it is possible to perform treatment even on dark skin or sunburned skin .
The heat wave breaking method (shot type) is a method that brings about a hair removal effect by destroying the cells (hair papilla / hair matrix cells) that make up the hair under the hair root with a high-power laser. The hair removal effect per laser is high, but the pain becomes stronger because it irradiates a strong (high power) laser . Since it reacts with black pigments such as melanin and irradiates it, it cannot be applied to sunburned skin or skin with spots .
Soprano Titanium fires a uniform, low-power laser over the entire irradiated surface at high speed (10 shots per second). Since it irradiates at high speed and the laser mouth slides on the skin without separating it from the skin, it can be expected to have the effect of evenly and beautifully removing hair over a wide area.
The medical laser hair removal machine is equipped with a cooling device to soften the heat generated by laser irradiation. The cooling system installed in many medical laser hair removal machines has a different laser port and cooling port, so it was designed so that you can easily feel the pain caused by the laser in a short time until cooling.
However, in the case of soprano titanium, in addition to being less painful than a high-power laser because it is a heat storage type that applies a low-power laser, the laser port and cooling port are mounted in the same part, so it is designed to be less painful. It has become.
In addition, the irradiation output can be checked on the screen and can be adjusted at any time during the procedure, so fine adjustments such as lowering the irradiation output only in areas where there is strong pain are possible. For this reason, many medical institutions use it for pain-prone faces and men's beard hair removal.
Some medical institutions perform treatments for elementary and junior high school students because they are less painful and can be used on delicate skin . The laser rarely destroys the sebaceous glands, and there are no reports so far that the skin will become dry in the future even if the child undergoes treatment, so you can safely remove hair.
Since the irradiation (spot) size is twice the size of the conventional area, the treatment time has been significantly shortened . It takes about 5 minutes for a wide area such as the back, and about 30 minutes for whole body hair removal, which was supposed to take time.
Soprano titanium can simultaneously irradiate three types of lasers with different wavelength lengths (Alexandrite laser, diode laser, YAG laser) by 3D technology, so you can aim at hair follicles of different depths at the same time. The depth of the hair follicle varies depending on the part, but it is possible to approach the hair that grows in various parts by simultaneously irradiating three different depths with three types of lasers .
Each soprano titanium has two connectors (irradiating part) with the same output, so two people can perform the treatment . This can be expected to shorten the treatment time.
By firing a low-power laser in rapid succession, soprano titanium heats the cells that give commands to grow hair and gradually destroys them. Hair does not come off by applying a laser, and because it is a treatment that prevents hair from growing, it is unlikely that you will feel the hair removal effect immediately after the treatment, and it will gradually begin to come off about 2 to 3 weeks after the treatment. It becomes thinner and will not grow as the treatment is repeated .
Since the "Alexandrite Laser" that irradiates with soprano titanium can destroy the melanin pigment, it is also used to treat spots, darkening, and acne scars caused by the melanin pigment. Therefore, you can expect a beautiful skin effect while removing hair .
When hair grows, dirt such as sebum accumulates on the hairline and clogs the pores, and germs propagate in the clogged pores, causing acne. It is said that by removing hair and losing hair, dirt such as sebum is less likely to accumulate, and by suppressing clogging of pores, it is less likely to cause acne .
In addition, it is said that when hair disappears, the purpose of the pores (to grow hair) disappears, so the pores gradually become smaller and the pores become less noticeable .
The skin is roughly divided into three layers from the outside: the epidermis layer, the dermis layer, and the subcutaneous tissue, and it is the dermis layer that is related to wrinkles and sagging. In the dermis layer, there are fibrous "collagen" and "elastin", and jelly-like "hyaluronic acid" exists between them to maintain the elasticity of the skin. However, wrinkles and sagging occur due to the decrease and alteration of the production of "collagen", "elastin" and "hyaluronic acid" due to aging and ultraviolet rays.
Since the "YAG laser" that irradiates with soprano titanium is a laser with a long wavelength, the laser reaches the dermis layer where collagen exists. By applying a laser heat stimulus to the dermis layer, it promotes collagen production, improves wrinkles and sagging, and aims for firm skin .
Soprano Titanium is a hair removal method that prevents hair from growing by applying heat damage to the bulge area, which is the cell that commands hair growth. Hair has a growth cycle (hair cycle), and hair matrix cells are actively working in the hair cycle called the growth phase.
The growth period is the period when hair matrix cells actively repeat cell division, and at this time, heat damage can be applied to suppress hair growth.
The hair cycle differs depending on the part, and the thicker and longer the hair, such as the side, VIO line, and male beard, the longer the hair cycle. Although there are individual differences, it is recommended to perform the face at intervals of 4 to 6 weeks and the torso at intervals of 6 to 8 weeks .
It is said that about 15% to 20% of the hair is growing, so it is necessary to repeat the number of times to apply the laser to the growing hair. Since the hair cycle of thin hair such as the face and arms is short, it is said that the effect is felt after about 5 times , but the hair cycle is long for thick hair such as the side, VIO line, and male beard. Therefore, about 10 treatments are required. It is recommended to perform 6 to 8 times to remove hair from other areas .
Since it is a medical hair removal machine that was just released in 2019, there are very few medical institutions that handle it, and there are only a few in Japan. Therefore, it may be difficult to make a reservation at some medical institutions, and it may not be possible to perform the treatment at the desired date and time .
Since it is a heat storage type hair removal and is equipped with a cooling device that can cool efficiently, there is less pain due to laser irradiation, but since it always irradiates three types of lasers at the same time, you may rarely feel heat. In addition, since soprano titanium irradiates 10 shots continuously at high speed per second, if the handpiece to be irradiated is partially stopped and fixed irradiation is performed, the heat of the laser will be concentrated and there is a risk of burns .
There is basically no downtime or side effects. However, very rarely, painless erythema (redness) or edema (swelling) may appear within 24 hours of the post-hair loss treatment and the symptoms may last for several weeks. Inflammation, itching, and mild tingling may also occur within 48 hours of the post-treatment treatment . Both are laser-induced temporary skin inflammations that tend to subside after a few hours to a few days .
Some medical hair removal machines are approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, but soprano titanium is an unapproved medical device in Japan. However, because it is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), which is the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan, it can be said to be a safe medical hair removal machine with high functions and performance .
In the first place, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare issued approval for medical hair removal machines in 2017, which is relatively recent, so there are very few approved medical hair removal machines. In addition, medical hair removal is different from esthetic hair removal and is a medical practice (Article 17 of the Medical Practitioners Act) that is performed under the responsibility of a doctor. You don't have to worry too much about safety as it is determined by your doctor.
Some dyes used in tattoos contain metal components such as iron oxide and titanium dioxide as pigment components. The metal components contained in the tattoo dye absorb the light energy of the laser during the procedure and have heat, which can cause burns.
Therefore, when performing a hair removal treatment on a part with a tattoo, the laser is irradiated after covering it with a protective tape to prevent burns .
The following people are more likely to have skin irritation and other problems, so soprano titanium cannot be used.
In addition, if the irradiated area is undergoing cosmetic injection (injection treatment such as collagen injection or aquafilling), pigmentation may become hypersensitive because the injection agent has the property of causing a chemical reaction by light (photosensitivity). there is. Please consult with the doctor of the medical institution where you will be performing the procedure before receiving the procedure.
Laser-irradiated skin is sensitive to UV rays such as sunlight, so avoid UV rays as much as possible by applying a sunburn of SPF30 or higher for about 1 week after the treatment . Wearing a parasol or a thin cardigan is also effective in protecting your skin.
The shower on the day of hair removal is OK. However, please avoid taking a bath . The laser heats the hair roots, which can cause skin irritation if further heat is applied.
Also, avoid rubbing hard as the skin is damaged. Especially when washing your body, do not use synthetic nylon towels, but wash gently with plenty of foam and hands.
VIO (general term for bikini line, genital side line, and under hair line around the anus) is a very delicate area with thin skin. It is recommended to wear natural fiber cotton shorts that are soft to the touch rather than synthetic polyester so that they will not be irritating after being damaged by the laser.
The advantages and disadvantages of heat storage type hair removal and heat wave breaking type (shot type) hair removal, which are soprano titanium irradiation methods, and the difference in the period during which the effect appears are as follows.
Since the heat storage type is a weak laser irradiation, it will come out 2 to 3 weeks after the irradiation, so there is no immediate effect . On the other hand, the heat wave breaking type (shot type) is a strong laser irradiation, so some hair may fall off immediately after irradiation, and you can feel the immediate effect.
The fee for each treatment varies depending on the medical institution, but the heat storage type tends to be slightly higher .
Part | Shot type (1 time / tax excluded) | Heat storage type (1 time / tax excluded) |
---|---|---|
Whole face | 10,000 yen to 30,000 yen | 16,000 yen to 35,000 yen |
Aside | 3,500 yen to 6,500 yen | 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen |
Upper arm (both arms) | 15,000-20,000 yen | 15,000-30,000 yen |
Fingers and insteps | 3,500 yen to 10,000 yen | 4,000 to 20,000 yen |
Thighs | 18,000-30,000 yen | 27,000-45,000 yen |
Below the knee (lower leg) | 13,000 yen to 30,000 yen | 17,000 yen to 38,000 yen |
Chest | 12,000 yen to 20,000 yen | 20,000 yen to 35,000 yen |
abdomen | 12,000 yen to 20,000 yen | 17,000 to 30,000 yen |
buttocks | 12,000 yen to 20,000 yen | 13,000 yen to 30,000 yen |
Whole back | 25,000-40,000 yen | 36,000 to 56,000 yen |
V | 6,000 yen to 15,000 yen | 8,000 to 20,000 yen |
I | 6,000 yen to 15,000 yen | 8,000 to 20,000 yen |
O | 5,000 yen to 15,000 yen | 6,400 yen to 20,000 yen |
Male beard | 9,000 yen to 15,000 yen | 15,000-30,000 yen |
Hair removal machines that can irradiate multiple lasers have recently appeared, and the current situation is that very few medical institutions have introduced them. Soprano Titanium can irradiate three types of lasers at the same time, but Splendor X, which can irradiate two types of lasers, is also the latest medical hair removal machine.
The differences between Soprano Titanium and Splendor X are as follows.
Since the "diode laser" that can irradiate with sopranotitanium can remove hair regardless of skin color and is the least painful laser among medical lasers, hair removal machines that can irradiate with a diode laser are used in many medical institutions. Currently, there are three types of hair removal machines that can irradiate diode lasers in Japan, including soprano titanium.
The differences in each feature are as follows.
Since soprano titanium and Mediostar NeXT are heat storage type, it is said that the irradiation method is less painful. Among them, soprano titanium has a cooling device in the same place as the laser port, so it can reduce the pain caused by heat.
Since the Light Share Duet is a heat-destroying type (shot type), it is easier to feel pain than the other two, but it has a track record of being certified by the US FDA as the world's first permanent hair removal.
The Light Share Duet and Mediostar NeXT output only diode lasers, but soprano titanium also outputs lasers other than diode lasers, so even hair of different thickness can be damaged by heat.
1) Hair treatment
It is a prerequisite to shave the hair in the treatment area in advance, but check and process the unshaved part.
2) Apply gel
Apply a depilatory gel to the treatment area to protect the skin and make the equipment slippery, and wear special goggles and sunglasses to protect the eyes from the laser.
3) Setting of soprano titanium
Set the laser output amount according to the treatment site and area.
4) Irradiation
A certain amount of laser is applied while drawing a circle. If you have thick hair or pain, you can damage the cells that grow hair firmly by lowering the output laser and applying it for a longer time.
5) Moisturizing
Since the skin after laser irradiation is in a state where it is easy to dry, apply moisturizing water etc. after the treatment to complete one hair removal.
* Market price based on an independent survey that calculated the charges listed on the website of the medical institution that has introduced soprano titanium.
Medical hair removal for the purpose of beauty is a free medical treatment, so insurance does not work and you will be treated at your own expense, but you may be able to use a medical expense deduction .
The medical expense deduction is a system in which a part of the annual medical expenses is returned as a refund, and the refund amount varies depending on the income.
Hair loss that can be deducted from medical expenses is when the doctor judges that "hair loss is effective as a treatment" . For example, if hair loss is required for hair root disease, hyperhidrosis, or armpit treatment, or if hair removal therapy is judged to be effective due to an infectious disease, there is a high possibility that a medical expense deduction can be used.
Please consult your doctor about whether or not you can actually use the medical expense deduction, or check the description about applying the medical expense deduction on the National Tax Agency website.
Since soprano titanium is irradiated at high speed 10 times per second, fixed irradiation may lead to skin problems such as burns and skin diseases.
In addition, soprano titanium is a medical hair removal machine, so a doctor's diagnosis is required before using it. It cannot be used in beauty salons, so if you are going to have a soprano titanium hair removal treatment , please choose a medical institution where a doctor or nurse will perform the treatment .