At Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal we have the largest selection of lasers of any hair removal practice — 12 lasers. Let’s introduce you to one of those lasers, the Lumenis Splendor X. If you are interested in learning about the benefits of the Splendor X Laser or wish to determine whether you are a candidate for treatment, call 212-750-2000 today to schedule a consultation with our experienced and trusted estheticians!
What is the Splendor X Laser?
When Lumenis created the Splendor X, they sought to improve the performance of available lasers for hair removal. To do so, they combined two laser wavelengths into a single platform. This allows the Splendor X to deliver optimal hair removal regardless of the patient’s skin type and hair color. It features numerous improvements, such as large spot sizes, fast repetition, and a square spot shape, giving our technicians ultimate flexibility when using Splendor X for removing hair permanently on our patients from across the New York area.
What are the benefits of the Splendor X laser?
At Romeo & Juliette, we love the Splendor X laser for a variety of reasons:
- Blend X — The Splendor X synchs two laser wavelengths, Nd:YAG (1064nm) and Alexandrite (755nm) into one delivery option. This enables us to adjust the treatment to the patient’s skin type, hair color, and hair thickness.
- Square shape spot sizes — The Splendor X delivers its laser energy in a square spot shape. This is an improvement over the usual circular spot shapes. This allows our technicians to cover the treatment areas in a uniform pattern. This eliminates overlap and the need for later touch-ups of missed spots.
- Fast treatments — The Splendor X has a large spot size, 27 mm x 27 mm, and a rapid repetition rate. This makes for much faster treatment times.
- Cooling — Splendor X features a dual cooling system designed to deliver contact cooling and cold air exactly over the treated area. This keeps our patients comfortable during their laser hair removal sessions.
How does Splendor X work?
Splendor X delivers laser energy in fast repetitions onto the unwanted hair. The large spot sizes and square shape ensure we completely cover the entire area without any missed portions or unnecessary overlap. The two laser wavelengths allow us the ultimate flexibility to adjust the energy delivered for any skin type and hair color.
Once we’ve matched the laser wavelength to the color of the melanin in your unwanted hair, the Splendor X delivers short, fast bursts of laser energy down onto the unwanted hairs. At the same time, the system’s dual cooling system delivers contact cooling directly onto the skin and cold air over the wider treated area. This keeps patients completely comfortable.
As the laser energy hits the unwanted hairs, the melanin in the hair shafts absorbs the light energy, which instantly converts to heat. This heat then travels down the hair shaft into the hair follicle where it is anchored. There the heat destroys or thoroughly damages the hair follicle, precluding it from producing hair in the future.
Is the Splendor X laser effective for all skin and hair types?
At Romeo & Juliette, we’ve been thrilled with the versatility of the Splendor X system. Lumenis has powered Splendor X with what it calls “Blend X” technology. This is the combination of nd:YAG and Alexandrite laser wavelengths. The two wavelengths can be synchronized to be fired with varying proportions, and this allows us to tailor our treatments according to the patient’s skin type, hair color, and hair thickness. This allows us to use the Splendor X for darker skin tones and lighter hair colors than could be treated by most lasers.
Typically, when addressing darker skin tones or lighter hair colors, the laser energy needs to be dramatically lowered because the laser has trouble differentiating between the hair color and skin color. That can lead to skin damage by the laser energy, hence the need to drop the power. The problem is: once you drop the power you don’t damage the skin, but you also don’t damage the hair follicle to the necessary degree.
We can avoid these issues with the Splendor X, thanks to the system’s versatility.
How do I prepare for a laser hair removal session?
There are certain things we tell our laser hair removal clients to do so that we are able to remove the most hair permanently. These are the things to pay attention to before your session with the Splendor X Laser in NYC:
- Stay out of the sun — Lasers target the melanin in your hair shafts. Melanin gives your hair its color. It also gives your skin its color, and it causes the skin to darken when it receives UV radiation. For the Splendor X laser to most efficiently target your unwanted hair, the wavelength we set should differ dramatically from your skin color. So, stay out of the sun for 2-3 weeks prior to your session, and allow there to be a contrast between the color of your hair and the color of your skin.
- No bronzers — Don’t use any sunless skin bronzers.
- Don’t pluck or wax — The hair follicle needs to be happy and unsuspecting it is about to be damaged with laser energy. So, don’t do your normal hair removal stuff: no plucking, waxing, or electrolysis for at least one month prior to your session. Shaving is fine, as it doesn’t affect the hair follicles, only the hair shafts.
- Don’t take blood thinners — Avoid any medications that can thin your blood. These are anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, and certain supplements.
- Shave the day before — Shaving only removes the hair shaft above the skin; it doesn’t bother the hair follicle. Removing the hair above the skin removes the hair that can potentially lightly burn the skin when the laser energy converts to heat energy in the hair shaft. We want the energy down into the hair follicle.
Is the procedure Safe?
The Splendor X system combines high power with extensive variability, enabling us to treat a wide range of skin tones and hair colors with ultimate safety. The square spot size ensures we completely cover the treatment areas, without overlap. And the system’s dual cooling capabilities keep our patients ultimately comfortable.
Overall, laser hair removal has proven to be reliable, effective, and safe. Lasers have been used for laser hair removal for almost 30 years, and the process was extensively tested prior to becoming commercially available. The most common side effects after treatment include skin irritation, such as redness and slight swelling on the treatment sites. This usually passes within a few hours.
Is laser hair removal painful with the Splendor X laser?
Prior to their first appointment with the Splendor X Laser in NYC, some patients incorrectly assume that laser hair removal involves vaporizing the hairs with the laser energy, but that’s not how the process works. The laser energy delivered is much lower and it simply travels down the hair shaft and damages the hair follicle. When the laser pulses are delivered, patients feel a very brief prickling sensation. Most patients equate the feeling to that of a small rubber band being plucked on the skin. The Splendor X’s dual cooling mechanisms ensure your skin does not get too hot, so you stay comfortable during the treatment. Some areas are more sensitive than others, but these brief treatments are still more comfortable than shaving or waxing every couple of weeks forever.
What is recovery and aftercare after my Splendor X laser hair removal treatments?
There isn’t any recovery per se. The Dual Cooling System employed by the Splendor X, a combination of Cryo-Touch and Cryo-Air delivery, quickly removes heat from the tissue after the laser energy has been delivered onto the unwanted hair. This creates much less discomfort afterwards compared to many other lasers used for laser hair removal. But if you have any discomfort, wet a soft washcloth with cold water and place it across the treated area for several minutes at a time. You can also use an ice pack wrapped in a towel if you prefer. We are available 24/7 to answer any questions that you may have.
It’s important to protect your skin from the sun after laser hair removal. You’ll want to avoid sun on your treated areas for a few days before and after each of your laser sessions. Use plenty of Sunscreen.
You’ll want to avoid putting anything on your treated skin that can cause irritation. This includes self-tanning lotions, other lotions with fragrances or perfumes, and body scrubs. When your skin is sensitive, these will all cause rashes or other irritation. If you’ve had your underarms treated, you’ll need to be careful with your deodorant, as it can cause irritation.
How long will my laser hair removal results with the Splendor X Laser last?
At Romeo & Juliette Laser Hair Removal, the dual wavelength of our Splendor X Laser makes it a perfect hair removal tool for many of our patients. Of course, with any laser used, the timing of the unwanted hair is important for successful permanent hair removal.
Hair only responds to laser energy when it is in the growth (anagen) phase of the hair growth cycle. But hairs can also be in the catagen (transitional phase between growth and rest) or the telogen phase (rest). In the catagen and telogen phases the body is preparing to shed the hairs, halting nourishment, and releasing the hair bulb from the hair follicle. That’s why lasers don’t affect hair in these phases; they’re already on their way out. Because the hair is no longer anchored in the follicle, the laser energy can’t travel down the hair and damage or destroy the follicle. Since each of our millions of hairs can be in a different phase, it’s obvious you can’t catch them all in the growth phase, no matter how many laser hair removal sessions you have.
Second, damaged follicles can rebuild with hormonal changes. Plus, if a follicle is only partially damaged, it may heal and begin to regrow hair.
Bottom line, numerous studies show the degree of permanent hair reduction to be from 85 to 90 percent. Those are consistent with what our patients experience at Romeo & Juliette.
How many sessions with the Splendor X Laser will I require?
That depends on the area treated and desired outcomes. As discussed above, for laser hair removal to be effective with any laser you need to catch as many hairs as possible in the growth phase. But every one of our five million or so hairs operate independently of one another, making it a challenge to catch them in the growth phase.
The dual approach delivered by the Splendor X makes for shorter treatments on a wide range of hair and skin tones, but multiple sessions are necessary. In our experience between six and 10 treatments achieves the degree of hair reduction that satisfies most patients. Each session needs to be spaced from 4-6 weeks apart. Annual maintenance sessions can catch any follicles that were only partially damaged and returned to growing hair.
How often can I have Splendor X laser hair removal done?
Sessions cannot be any more frequent than every 4 to 6 weeks.
What areas of the body can the Splendor X Laser be used on?
The technology and comfort delivered with the Splendor X Laser makes it ultimately versatile in the areas where we can remove unwanted hair. You can have this laser remove hair across your body, with a few exceptions.
At Romeo & Juliette, the most popular areas are the underarms, bikini line, upper lip, sideburns, chin, legs, and back. Some men opt to reduce hair on their arms. Others remove all of their chest hair. Some women opt for full pubic removal, the Brazilian treatment.
The only areas where you cannot have laser hair removal are inside the ears and inside the nostrils.
Book Your Splendor X laser Hair Removal consultation in NYC!
To learn more about laser hair removal with the Splendor X laser in NYC, please contact our office today to schedule an appointment Dial 212-750-2000 today or fill out the form on this page or our contact page.