Patient satisfaction study of unwanted facial and body hair: 5 years experience with intense pulsed light.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed in order to evaluate patient satisfaction with epilation using an intense pulsed light source.


METHODS
Between 1995 and 2000, 416 patients consulted the authors' practice because of unwanted facial and body hair. A total of 309 patients received treatment with a non-coherent, filtered flashlamp intense pulsed light source. In February 2000, a questionnaire was mailed to each patient and 207 replies were obtained.


RESULTS
Overall, 45 (22%) of patients were very satisfied, 93 (45%) were satisfied and 69 (33%) remained unsatisfied with the outcome of light-assisted hair removal. The non-coherent, filtered flashlamp intense pulsed light source satisfactorily removed unwanted dark hair. Hair-free periods from weeks to years could be observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Hair removal by a non-coherent, filtered flashlamp intense pulsed light source is an effective and safe method for long-term epilation of unwanted hair. This technique offers a more reliable and practical solution than any other hair removal method, especially for patients with skin irritation and ingrown hair.
Lor
P
P
Causadermis, Zürich, Switzerland.
Lennartz
B
B
Ruedlinger
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000379:methods*; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires