“Does size matter?” Depending on the scenario, there are many answers to this age-old question. However, in the laser hair removal world, the answer is definitely yes. Various lasers and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technologies used to permanently reduce hair growth use various factors including wavelengths, fluence, and spot sizes to perform treatment.
While it’s obvious that fluence, wavelengths, and general protocols used during a treatment will greatly affect a patient’s results, there is some speculation whether or not the spot size used will make any difference.
In this article, we explain why spot size matters for permanent hair reduction procedures.
What is Spot Size?
The spot size of any light-based system is the width or radiance of the beam of light being emitted. Basically, spot size affects how deep a laser can penetrate wavelengths of light into the skin’s dermis.
Lasers and IPL systems alike are designed with varying spot sizes, some smaller than others. For example, the Astanza MeDioStar hair removal system supports various interchangeable handpieces with varying spot sizes ranging from 1 cm2 to 10 cm2, the industry’s leading spot size.
Benefits of a Large Spot Size
Larger spot size appears to be more effective for laser and IPL hair removal treatments because they are able to penetrate more deeply into the skin and target more pigmentation and melanin in hair follicles.
Multiple studies and articles have examined the role of spot size in hair removal treatments and results showed that the use of a larger spot size almost always improved the delay of hair growth. Furthermore, results after using a larger spot size showed longer-lasting hair reduction results many months after a patient’s final treatment session.
Additionally, most laser hair removal treatments are performed on larger body parts (i.e. lower legs, upper legs, back, etc.). Having a larger spot size can make a significant difference in treatment times. A 10 cm2 spot size in comparison to a 12mm spot size will allow you to treat patients more quickly, reduce downtime between treatments, and schedule more patients in a day.
When researching different types of hair removal lasers and IPL systems to add to your practice, never factor out the spot size(s) it provides. A larger spot size will not only improve the efficacy of patient results, but can also save both you and your patient time.
If you wish to speak with an Astanza representative about starting a hair removal business or adding hair removal to your existing practice, reach out by calling (800) 364-9010 or contacting us by clicking here.
