Bella Medspa Laser Hair Removal Blog

Laser Hair Removal Customer Testimonial Recording for BEN FM

Listen To Jen’s Bella Medspa Laser Hair Removal Testimonial >>

The past three years have brought me into contact with thousands of people from all over the Philadelphia area. I have enjoyed them to a one. And their stories and their results never ever get old. We wanted our first radio ad to reflect this. Jen is an actual customer who came into the radio studio on her lunch break, put on headphones and talked about her experience: the embarrassment that lead her to the procedure, her search for a solution, and the results themselves. My sincere thanks go out to her for taking time out of her day to give something so wonderful to us. Her laser hair removal testimonial brought us full circle. Hearing our client say she received exactly what we strive to provide every day was both fun and moving.

When I heard our very first radio ad for the very first time I was stunned. When I started Bella Medspa 3 years ago, I was looking to bring non-invasive cosmetic services to the market in a very different way. I wanted to offer them in a way that was accessible, affordable, even enjoyable, for the consumer, without compromising safety or efficacy. I wanted the customer to understand the procedures and to feel like she was receiving real value in exchange for the money she was handing over to us. Oh, and I was looking to create a real connection between Bella Medspa and each and every customer. Corny, I know. But true.

We had to start somewhere so we started with Laser Hair Removal. These procedures are based solidly in science, physics and biology however my experience as a consumer had been that they were made to sound confusing–almost like voodoo. Not to mention that the price tag for so many of them made me feel like I was getting raked.

A big thanks to Jen for her testimonial and all of the laser hair removal customers we have created relationships with. You are what keep me going into work each day.

New Bella Medspa Location Under Construction

We are happy to announce our new Chester Springs location [See on map] to open in September 2008. The new location, currently under renovation, is in a historic site in a 150 year old building that once served as a hotel. The entire building is being restored using materials from other old buildings in an effort to revive its 1800’s beauty. Flooring, doors and stair rails have been salvaged from other local historic sites to be used in the restorations. We are excited to be able to offer this unique and inviting setting for our clients. [See pics]

Plans for the new site include expansion of Bella Medspa menu of services. To date we have offered only laser hair removal. Future services may include botox, microderm abrasion, Zoom teeth whitening and photo facial treatments. See future newsletters for updates.

The new site will also serve as the Bella Medspa central office for all twelve of our laser hair removal locations. The Victorian building will offer a comfortable work environment for our employees and they are all very excited to move in.

A grand opening day will be planned for the end of September. We will feature free service giveaways and sample treatments of some of our newly added services. We will let our clients know as soon as we set a date for the grand opening.

Laser Hair Removal Treatment and Sun Exposure: Proceed with Caution

Now is the time of year when most of us are showing a lot more skin. You can be slim and toned, with rock hard abs and sculpted arms, but a hairy back or a bumpy, red ingrown bikini area can really kill your look.

If you do your research, you will quickly see that active sun-tanning is generally a “no-no” when doing a course of laser hair removal treatments. This is good advice. Active sun-tanning should be avoided within two weeks of a laser hair removal treatment. This includes using a tanning booth, or active sun worship by the beach or by the pool.

There are a two reasons for this. First, your skin is more sensitive to the sun (and therefore, a sunburn) for two weeks after a laser hair removal treatment. While any sunburn is bad, a sunburn on skin that has recently been treated with a laser can be more damaging to that skin.

Second, the lighter your skin is, the more effective each laser treatment will be. This is because the laser is absorbed by the pigment it fires upon. Laser hair removal harnesses the pigment in the hair to kill the follicle. The more pigment you have in your skin (whether from genetics or from a suntan) the more gently your skin will have to be treated.

The good news is that most of us are taking more precautions than ever in the sun. Dark dark tans are out, and sunscreen and good skin care are in. If the stubble on your legs is driving you crazy, and you can limit your sun exposure, it will most likely be fine for you to begin or continue your laser hair removal treatments. And next year shaving can be a thing of the past.

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

We field many questions about the side effects of laser hair removal. Because we specialize specifically in laser hair removal, doing many treatments daily, we have the opportunity to encounter issues as they arise. Laser Hair Removal performed by a trained and experienced technician with physician oversight, using an FDA approved laser is extremely safe and has a low risk of side effects.

That said, we do see some reactions that we would like to share with you. And we can also address some concerns about potential side effects that we are aware of but have not yet witnessed.

• Redness and Swelling – Laser hair removal uses the heat of the laser to literally burn the hair follicles. Our technicians identify the best settings possible in order to get the best results while minimizing redness and swelling. We also apply ice to the treated area to cool the skin. Done right, it will probably feel like you got some sun on the treated area. Redness (more likely, pinkness) may last one to three days, but usually dissipates within 20 minutes to one hour.
• Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation) - This is a temporary condition which we have seen when clients have actively suntanned within two weeks of laser treatment. Once out of the sun the pigmentation changes dissipate within a few weeks.
• Lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation) - This is of special concern with people who have darker skin. Laser hair treatment is more successful on fair skin, but darker skin also can be treated. Our laser is FDA approved to treat all skin types and, in the thousands of treatments we have performed, we have not seen this side effect.
• Burns or Blistering - Because the laser generates enough heat in the follicles to permanently disable them, there is the risk of a burn, as that heat energy can be transferred to the surrounding tissue. Because the technology is quite effective this risk is minimal, as long as it is performed by a trained technician. Less than one percent of our clients have had issues with burns, and these have resolved completely.
• Changes in the skin texture - These rarely occur and, again, we have not had any clients with this side effect.
• Crusting or scabbing - Can occur (especially when the area that is treated is inflamed with chronic ingrown hairs) but is quite temporary and actually a good sign of an effective treatment. This skin condition can be minimized and shortened with the application of hydrocortisone cream and/or antibiotic ointment.

We always take the time to discuss these issues with clients before treatment. It’s important to understand that laser hair removal is defined as a medical treatment. Laser hair removal side effects should be understood by clients before treatment occurs.

Brazilian Wax vs Laser Hair Removal Brazilian

YouTube Bikini Wax Video Ouch!

I ran across this video on you tube when I searched bikini wax. I couldn’t help but think about how a brazilian wax differs from a laser hair removal brazilian.

With the increasing popularity of smooth, hair free pubic area many woman (and men) are seeking brazilian bikini waxing and laser hair removal. And when it comes to the brazilian, waxing is more painful than laser hair removal. Not to mention that laser hair removal is permanent and achieves smoother results.

Some of the comments for the video lament about what women will do to please our men. But I can attest that the brazilian also improves sensation for the woman as well. Not only does it look cleaner and sexier but it feels cleaner and sexier.

With a laser hair removal brazilian or bikini you may endure some pain but at least each time you receive a treatment you move one step closer to never having to do it again. And the waxing still doesn’t leave your skin as smooth as laser hair removal does, nor does it get rid of ingrown hairs. (For many, it makes them so much worse!) So the results for a brazilian wax are not as good nor permanent. That’s why so many people are choosing the laser hair removal brazilian over the brazilian wax.

Laser Hair Removal Prices in New Jersey

Bella Medspa has two locations just over the bridge from New Jersey. (Center City and Newtown, PA) We consequently treat many New Jersey residents from the Trenton, Princeton and Cherry Hill areas. Many of our New Jersey clients remark on the substantial differences between our laser hair removal prices and the prices offered by New Jersey clinics. The reason for the price difference has to do with New Jersey regulations on who may perform the treatment.

The state of New Jersey appears to have a strong Medical Doctor’s lobby. Somehow, regulations were passed that require a doctor to pull the trigger for laser hair removal.
While regulations vary form state to state, nearly all other states allow for either a nurse or esthetician to perform the treatment under the direction of a doctor.

In Pennsylvania the regulations don’t require that the person firing the laser have any particular certification or background. (This is a good question to ask any laser hair removal provider you may be considering) To assure that Bella Medspa technicians meet high standards we require that they be an esthetician. Some of our technicians are also registered nurses. But all of our technicians, regardless of qualifications, must go through an extensive training program and be certified by our Medical director, Dr. Chris Porter.

So you can see why laser hair removal is more expensive in New Jersey. To pay a doctor to perform the treatment will cost top dollar. And this is why many New Jersey laser hair removal customers make that trip over the bridge to Philadelphia or Bucks County.

Thumbs Up From the State For Our Laser Hair Removal

It is nerve racking to get a call from the Pennsylvania Department of State informing you that your medspa is under investigation. That’s the call I got almost one year ago.

The investigation was initiated when a complaint was filed by one of our competitors. No doubt in an effort to slow us down. This is a very competitive business.

After a year of interviews and research which covered everything from laser hair removal technician training and certification to the safety of the Bella Medspa Day Spa Partner facilities, the State has given us its approval. This will allow us to continue to grow the relationship we have built with our Day Spa Partners and laser hair removal customers we have established over the past several years.

The State’s stamp of approval means a lot to us. We have always felt that our practices were sound, but the state’s examination has really given us confirmation. The investigation covered our laser hair removal technician training program and safety procedures. I don’t know how many other Medspas in PA can make the claim that the state has studied them as thoroughly as we have been studied. We feel that Bella Medspa has established a benchmark for all mobile medspa providers in the state.

What was originally perceived as a threat has now become an opportunity. Now we feel even more confident that we are providing a quality laser hair removal service in a safe manner. After many visits from the investigator and a thorough review by the Pennsylvania Department of State attorneys confirms for us our procedures.