A randomised, split-face comparison of facial hair removal with the alexandrite laser and intense pulsed light system

/Home/Laser Hair Removal Treatment

A randomised, split-face comparison of facial hair removal with the alexandrite laser and intense pulsed light system
Accepted: 22 October 2007
Published Online: 14 Dec 2007
D.J. McGill, MRCS(Ed) *, C. Hutchison, MA, E. McKenzie, BSc, E. McSherry, RGN, I.R. Mackay, FRCS(Plast)
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
Wiley InterScience

Copyright © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company



Laser Suite, Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Jubilee Building, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, 84 Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0SF, UK

email: D.J. McGill (djmcgill@canniesburn.org)

*Correspondence to D.J. McGill, Department of Plastic Surgery, Selly Oak Hospital, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6JD, UK.

The Lumina Intense Pulsed Light system used in this study was initially on loan from Lynton Lasers Ltd. (Lynton Laser Ltd., Chapelcross, Cheshire, UK). The Laser suite at Glasgow Royal Infirmary has since purchased this IPL system.
D.J.M. has disclosed a potential financial conflict of interest with this study.

Keywords
polycystic ovary syndrome Ô hair counts Ô hair-free intervals Ô patient satisfaction questionnaire


Abstract

Introduction
Despite the high incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women attending for facial hair removal there are few studies looking specifically at this patient group. We carried out a split-face study directly comparing the efficacy of a 3 milliseconds pulse duration alexandrite laser with the Lumina IPL system in 38 women with PCOS.

Materials and Methods
Each patient underwent six treatments using both systems, with 1, 3 and 6 months follow-up. Hair counts, hair-free intervals and patient satisfaction were recorded for all patients.

Results
After six treatments, alexandrite laser treatment resulted in longer median hair-free intervals when compared to IPL (7 weeks vs. 2 weeks; P < 0.001). Decrease in hair counts was significantly larger on the Alexandrite side compared to the IPL side at 1, 3 and 6 months (52%, 43% and 46% vs. 21%, 21% and 27%; P < 0.001). Patient satisfaction scores, using linear analogue scales (LAS), at 1, 3 and 6 months were significantly higher for the alexandrite laser than the IPL (8.7, 7.8 and 7.7 vs. 5.7, 5.1 and 5.1; P 0.002).

Conclusions
The alexandrite laser resulted in significantly longer hair-free intervals, a larger reduction in hair counts and greater patient satisfaction than the IPL and appeared to be more effective in this patient group. It is clear from the results in this study that the GentleLase alexandrite laser is more effective at reducing facial hirsutism in women with PCOS than the Lumina IPL. It is probable that this is due to the specific wavelength, short pulse duration and single pulse delivery of the GentleLase alexandrite laser, resulting in more follicular destruction than the IPL. Lasers Surg. Med. 39:767-772, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/lsm.20584

This article may be viewed in its entirety by purchase at the website.