Consultation & patch test

Find out about your free laser hair removal consultation with myLaser, and why our comprehensive skin patch test goes even further to ensure your safety and happiness.

What happens in a consultation?

During the consultation process, the therapist will discuss the following with you:

• Treatment goals and expectations
• Current method of hair removal
• The hair cycle and skin
• How laser hair removal treatment works
• Different types of laser technology
• The treatment process and factors that wil determine your results
• Details about your medical history (including any current medications)
• Pre-treatment requirements
• Aftercare requirements
• Cost and frequency of treatments
• Predicated results of the treatment

Once this is completed and you are happy to proceed the therapist will seek your informed consent to undertake a patch test, or tests if you would like treatment on different areas.

The consultation process typically takes an hour.

What is a patch test?

A patch test is carried out after conducting a consultation with the laser practitioner. There are a couple of reasons for carrying out a patch test, the first is for the practitioner to determine what the most effective settings for the laser parameters are in relation to your hair and skin type. A professional laser practitioner will effectively carry out a patch test for each and every area of treatment. This is because your hair and skin are not the same everywhere on your body.

Secondly, a patch test will indicate to you and your practitioner any adverse side effects or problems prior to a full session. Since it is carried out on a small patch of skin, if there are any problems they will be minimal. The test is done at least 48 hours before your first treatment, so that any reactions have time to appear and your treatment plan can be adjusted if necessary to ensure effective results with minimal side effects.

When do I get the patch test?

A patch test will be carried out at your initial consultation, after your details have been taken, including your medical history and any current medications. When your laser practitioner has gone through everything with you and answered all your questions, a patch test will then be performed on the areas which you are considering having a treatment on. This is a minimum of 48 hours prior to the commencement of your first session.

Do I need to do anything to prepare for my patch test?

You should make sure that the area to be treated is clean and shaved. It is vital that you do not remove any hair from the root in the run-up to your treatment, so no plucking, epilating or waxing. This is because the root is needed for the laser to do its job.

Do I need to ask the laser practitioner anything?

This is really up to you, but we would highly recommend having a good conversation with your practitioner and getting any questions or concerns you have addressed prior to the patch test.

Things that are usually nice to know include if the person doing your consultation will be your permanent laser practitioner. What level of experience and training has she/he undertaken? Why is Nd:YAG 1064nm considered a more effective laser? Here are a list of essential safety questions you should be asking during your consultation.

Is there a cost for a patch test?

Our consultation and patch test are free of any charges.

Here at myLaser, we believe in providing our clients with a professional and personal service. Other laser/IPL hair removal clinics will simply undertake a patch test on one point of your body; generally be somewhere on your arm. We are relentless in our pursuit of best practice, and will conduct a patch test on all the different areas of your body where you are considering undertaking a treatment. As you'll have noticed, the skin and hair on each part of your body can be very different.

What happens following the patch test?

The practitioner will contact you 48 hours after the patch test to get some feedback and ascertain if there were any adverse reactions to the patch test. If you are satisfied the practitioner will book you in for your first session towards your goal of permanent hair reduction.