SIPL or Super Intense Pulsed Light is the latest
generation, and a significant breakthrough in pulsed light hair removal technology.
With its widespread popularity, SIPL has hit the mainstream, making hair removal more affordable than ever
before.
The latest advance in SIPL is 60 Joule Output Technology, which is leaps and bounds ahead of
older units and traditional laser - it's faster, more accurate, and safer.
Pulsed Light technology is just like computer technology - 2 years old and it's way out of date. And just as computers increase in power with each new release, so do Pulsed Light machines.
Don't be fooled by the marketing hype you
hear on the radio, or the flashing lights and gismos at the fancy shopping centre salon. Joule output is everything, crucial to the result. Most machines in use, including those in use by many major chains, are as low as 15 Joule output.
Ever
had a friend say, "Oh it didn't work on me." ? Chances are that's why.
Our SIPL Technicians are fully trained in the use of our specialised equipment, and take safety and client care to the extreme. Our units have special sapphire heads and built in filters to minimise
any discomfort and light scatter, making your treatment as enjoyable and effective as possible.
Please look through the FAQ section below to see why Body Sync is your logical and affordable choice for permanent hair reduction.
If you have any other queries about SIPL, please don't hesitate to call us
on 07 3342 4424 or email info@bodysync.com.au.
I'm confused by all the jargon. SIPL,
SPL, VPL, IPL? What's the difference?
Partly marketing, partly technology.
The terms "IPL" and "VPL" are registered trademarks and can't be used unless you own certain brand machines, whereas SPL
or square pulsed light is a generic term that can be
used by anyone.
This has caused confusion in the past, but it's now been largely overcome with the advent of new generation SIPL, or Super Intense Pulsed Light.
In terms
of safety, accuracy and results, SIPL machines are leaps and bounds ahead of older Intense Pulsed Light units and their painful predecessor, laser.
Is Intense Pulsed Light a permanent solution?
In real terms, you can expect as a minimum result, a vast reduction in visible dark hairs.
The end result depends on how many treatments you opt to have.
A side benefit of SIPL is that the technology uses specific wavelengths of light that stimulates cell renewal, increasing the
elasticity of your skin.
How effective is Intense Pulsed Light on blonde, grey or red hairs?
We're independent and unaffiliated with any manufacturer so we don't mind telling it how it is.
Whether its pulsed light, laser, or RF, and despite all the manufacturers' promises, low melanin equals low result.
Many companies make grandiose claims, but when we push them for the science to explain how they're amazing new technology works, they come up blank.
If you have pale hair, we recommend
Active Enzyme Hair Removal, a protein denaturing treatment used in conjunction with waxing.
Why is the number of Joules important?
Joules equal the number of watts per square centimetre per second, and the higher the number of joules, the more energy gets down to the target cells, and the better result you'll achieve.
When a hair is
successfully eliminated, that's the end of it, but when a hair is targeted and the treatment fails due to insufficient power, a natural defence process kicks in.
The body realises that its cooling system is under attack, and strengthens the hair against later attacks, i.e. further treatments. The hair grows
thicker, the root grows in size, and the surrounding tissue tightens its grip on the hair.
The same result applies to treating fair hairs. Our waxing rooms see the results of low-melanin and low-joule light treatments every day.
What is the difference between liquid cooled and air
cooled machines?
Again, we're independent and unaffiliated, so we're free to use whatever machines we choose. When it comes to air or liquid (some call it crystal), we choose air cooled machines any day, simply because they're more efficient.
Liquid cooled machines are popular in the industry,
and it's usually implied that they are safer.
An operator needs very little training to use them and the boss doesn't have to worry about staff forgetting to cool the head.
The downside of liquid cooled machines is their reduced efficiency. It's simple science.
If the head is pre-cooled to 4 degrees
Celsius as is the norm of liquid cooled machines, and you're trying to get 73 degrees Celsius to the hair bulb to disable it, you're actually making that job a lot harder. Sure, it's technically safer if you want to use untrained Therapists, but what's the point if you're reducing the likelihood of results?
We've had both types of machine in the past, but now we're air-cooled converts.
Instead of using an internal cooling system, we take the air-cooled approach, manually cooling the head between shots with special gel packs to keep the temperature between 15 and 30 degrees.
When the pulsed light flashes, it only has to produce say 43 degrees variance instead of 77 degrees to achieve the desired
result, making the shot almost twice as effective as that of a water
cooled machine.
Combine that with 60 Joule output as our machines are, and that flash can be up to eight times more effective than a flash from the common 15 Joule water cooled machine used by many hair removal studios today.
It's all about having thoroughly trained staff and the best equipment, with the goal of achieving the best possible result for clients.
Why doesn't Intense Pulsed Light remove all the hair at once?
Intense Pulsed Light targets a chemical compound in the hair called melanin, which gives hair its dark pigmentation.
Melanin is most prevalent in hair during the anagen phase of hair growth, and hairs in this early stage of growth are most susceptible to treatment.
Hair grows in different cycles, usually between 6 and 12 months, and ongoing treatments are needed to catch each hair as it passes through this early-anagen stage of development.
Will I have to come back for top-up treatments?
Some hair can lay dormant for long periods or emerge for the first time as you arrive at a certain stage of life. For that reason, you may
find that top up treatments from time to time are beneficial.
How painful is Intense Pulsed Light hair removal?
Despite the hype you may have read, there is no such thing as painless hair removal. That said though, it's not painful either, and certainly
gentler than waxing. Clients often say that it's like being flicked with a rubber band.
Does Pulsed Light hair removal work on everyone?
No. Around 1 in 50 people treated will see no effect.
Scientists generally concede that they only know about 2% of how the body functions, and
at this stage, the reasons behind this small percentage of ineffective treatments remain a mystery.
This is also why no reputable business will guarantee results.
Some may say they do, claiming that their magical technology is better than everyone else's, but read the terms and conditions and then read the
super fine print.
Two of the big name companies do this a lot, and you will find somewhere in the contract a clause such as "Bear in mind you will require top up treatments once or twice a year to maintain the results of your treatments." In other words, they won't guarantee results.
It simply cannot be done, and anyone who guarantees results, has no idea of the technology they are using.
Why do I need a preliminary consultation?
Most people don't. Unless your skin type is Type
5 or 6 (Dark Indian/African), and assuming that there are no other contraindications to treatment, we can perform the treatment
on your first visit.
Our equipment utilises the latest filtering systems which also enables us to treat most Asian skin types. If your skin is extremely dark - Aboriginal or African, we may recommend that you try a course of AE Hair Removal treatments instead.
What other contraindications could prevent a treatment?
Factors that could prevent us performing a treatment include epilepsy, polycystic ovarian syndrome, excessive tan (fake or natural) in the area to be treated, and the use of products containing Retinol,
mitomycin, doxycycline, tetracycline, and
Accutane.
This is not an exhaustive list, however we will discuss possible contraindications with you before the first treatment.
Please call us if you have any doubts or concerns you would like to discuss.
What are the side effects?
Intense Pulsed Light converts light energy into heat, and it's the heat that destroys the hair at its root.
There are generally no side effects, but we will give you a detailed information sheet before your consultation.
After your treatment, you can expect pinkness or a mild "sunburn like" effect in the area, but it usually passes quickly. It isn't real sunburn, only heat permeating back out through the skin.
You can go about your normal activities after a treatment, but be sun smart with treated areas and cover up or use a sunscreen.
How long do treatments take?
Your Intense Pulsed Light
session takes around the same amount of time as a wax treatment for the same area. The price list above includes the approximate times needed for each treatment.
Allow an extra 20 minutes for your first treatment, as we need to assess your skin type and suitability for treatment, and discuss the procedure with you.
How many treatments will I need?
This varies, dependent
on your genetic makeup and other factors.
We usually recommend 4 treatments to start with, followed by a free fifth treatment, as many people are happy with the result at that point.
That said however, everyone is different. Pubic
and facial hair is more resilient than body hair, and may require 10 or more treatments.
How long should I leave between treatments?
For most body parts, four to five weeks is optimum.
For the
face and bikini, we recommend two weeks initially, then spacing out to four weeks as the hair begins to thin.
Do I need to shave before my treatment?
Ideally yes, as you will find it more comfortable to shave in the shower than for us to dry shave you in the treatment room. It also lessens the amount of time you'll spend
on the table, and allows us to keep our prices affordable.
Something to be wary of when shopping around for pulsed light treatments are machines that require you to shave 2 to 7 days before the treatment.
Without naming brands, such machines are low powered and rely on hair above the skin to channel the light to the
root, which tends to "sizzle" the hair above the skin. Ouch.
This is another difference between old and new pulsed light units.
Won't shaving make my hair grow back thicker?
No, this is a myth invented by mothers long ago to stop their teenage daughters shaving their legs.
Hair growth is driven by hormones and nutrients at a cellular level, not by cutting off hair above the skin that is already dead.
Will my Therapist be male or female?
We have eight Intense Pulsed Light Therapists, six female, two male, all of whom have undergone thorough training.
If you specifically want a same-sex Therapist, please tell us when you book.
I'm male. Will a Brazilian Intense Pulsed Light treatment
affect my sperm?
No thorough research has yet been conducted to establish conclusive results.
Intense Pulsed Light is essentially heat energy, and general
industry consensus suggests that the effects of Intense Pulsed Light on sperm is no different to sitting in a hot bath, which decreases your sperm count for the short term.
That said however, this is merely an educated guess, not a stated fact. The choice is yours alone, and we make no guarantee as to the
long term effects of Intense Pulsed Light on sperm.
I'm pregnant and my top lip is sprouting thick dark hair. Can you help?
Unfortunately no - You'd be throwing your money away.
Hair growth during pregnancy is hormonal, and no amount of treatments, whether through us or someone else, will make the least difference. In the case of pregnant clients, we recommend waxing until the end of term.
Our policy in general is not to treat pregnant clients with pulsed light. While there is no scientific evidence
to suggest that pulsed light can harm an unborn child, we prefer not to take the risk, especially in view of the fact that a treatment would serve little purpose.
I've had a pilonidal sinus excised. Will SIPL stop it coming back?
Pilonidal sinus is most prevalent in men and usually takes the form of massive localised swelling above the sacrum. It is an
extremely painful condition requiring surgery, and unfortunately, it often recurs.
After excision, doctors usually recommend that hair from the area be removed to reduce the risk of another pilonidal sinus forming.
SIPL will progressively reduce hair growth in the area and is generally
regarded as the best method for achieving the desired result. We do not recommend depilatory creams, waxing, plucking, sugaring, or electrolysis for combating pilonidal sinus.
Can you wax my chest and SIPL my stomach at the same appointment?
Yes, if you tell us when you book. For various reasons, people often combine waxing with SIPL and we've set up special rooms and procedures to accommodate this type of treatment.
Is Body Sync accredited by Queensland
Health?
While some businesses are claiming Queensland Health accreditation for pulsed light treatments, there's actually no such thing. Queensland Health's Laser Licence division can be contacted on 07 3406 8000 to verify this.
Queensland Health only issue accreditation for laser treatments, not
pulsed light, due to
concerns over the radiation risks of laser.
Pulsed Light is not laser, and doesn't have the same safety concerns, hence it's unregulated.
In the absence of industry regulation, Body Sync has developed its own accreditation system based on several factors including a Therapists' accumulated experience,
client feedback, adherence to safety protocols, and efficacy of treatments.
Our training and accreditation system is highly regarded by our competitors, and some have even sent there staff to us for training.
If your product is so good, why are your prices so low?
Maybe the right question is "Why is everywhere else so expensive?"
OK, it's fair to say that pulsed light equipment costs a lot of money.
A decent machine starts at around $50,000, and up to $250,000 with all
the bells and whistles.
Businesses have to cover that cost in the prices they charge.
Wages are also expensive in this industry, with qualified technicians entitled to Level 5 of the Beauty Award. (If you're not earning that, come work for us :) )
But saying all that, every reputable IPL business is in the same boat. The real reasons that
our prices are lower, are many:
- We don't have to prop up our price to cover losses from nails, pedicures etc,
- We don't lease shops in expensive shopping districts or malls,
- We don't have to pay franchise setup costs or monthly franchise fees,
- We're non-affiliated so we don't have to pay kickbacks to
suppliers,
- We have no debt to banks. If we can't afford something, we don't buy it,
- We're busy. Our machines don't sit around gathering dust,
- We don't take part in price wars. It only hurts quality,
- We own the marketing firm, Keppel Net, to handle our promotion in-house,
- We don't use
radio or TV advertising which costs a large fortune.
Basically, we're well managed and we keep expenses trim. You're not paying for our business management blunders.
I went to another place that said they were Body Sync. Isn't that illegal?
It's an unfortunate reflection on the industry that we need to list this in the FAQ section, but it happens too often, so here it is.
In short, the answer is yes. "Body Sync" is a well known brand and well regarded. As a result it's prone to being stolen, despite the fact that the term "Body Sync" and the "blue and yellow 50's logo" are both Australian Registered Trademarks (#1040088).
A recent search of the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission website revealed around ten other businesses nationwide illegally using our name.
They are not affiliated with Body Sync in any way.
Of greater concern locally, are hair removal studios who choose to mislead new Body Sync clients by pretending to be us.
This occurs in areas where there is a density of hair removal centres, and clients who have made an appointment with us walk into the wrong store.
Despite the client saying they have an appointment and even naming the therapist, they are told something to the effect of "sorry, that therapist is on lunch but
I can treat you."
Only after signing up to a binding contract and handing over credit card details, do they realise their error, and by then it's too late.
This isn't rare. It happens a lot, and we're left to sort out complaints for something we didn't do.
For your protection, when you attend your Body Sync appointment, look for our distinctive blue and yellow signage.
If visiting one of our agent locations, you should see an "agent" sticker displayed on their window.
Additionally, all Body Sync branches and agents are listed in the right hand column of every page on this website.
If you feel that you've been the victim of fraud, please contact our CEO, Andrew Thompson on 3342 4424 who will pursue the matter personally.
You should also report any concerns to Police and Qld Office of Fair Trading.
