ELOS The link is here. But when going to this link and seeing their ‘explanatory’ website graphics, keep in mind the fact that they are marketing here and this company has never proven all their claims. THEIR scientific reasoning isn’t necessarily THE scientific reasoning.
ELOS is a term that the Syneron company uses to describe their method of combining Radio Frequency generated heat (aka RF) with optical energy, such as laser light or Intense Pulse Flashlamp light (IPL). They claim that combining this radio frequency heat synergistically, applied at the same time, boosts the killing power of the light source that is being concurrently applied. So, when you get an ELOS treatment, there are two settings involved: Joules, which is the fluence of the optical light, and the ‘RF’ setting which is how much boost heat is being applied. Booth can hurt when turned up, the laser or flashlamp can actually be effective if the RF isn’t even turned on at all, and the RF by itself, alone won’t do anything. If somebody has lighter skin, it allows them to turn up the light and leave the RF as a moderate boost. If somebody has dark/really tan skin, they crank up the RF and use as much light-based power as possible sparingly without burning the client.
To date, I’m of the mind, that ELOS treatments are something that have had their day. The idea was more exciting in theory about three or four years ago, but the treatments just didn’t produce the hair loss that the more ‘meat and potatos’ Candela GentleLase produced, a laser older in technology, but with a better track record and more widespread use. The ELOS marketers claimed blond and grey hair removal, but honstly, this has never been seen. Further, I personally know two african americans that outright said the treatments were a complete waste of money and later opted for electrolysis.
I personally had five elos treatments with the Syneron Comet. It resulted in no hair loss in some areas, and about 10%-20% hair loss in other areas. The best hair loss area was the inside of the upper thigh. I had my stomach treated five times as well. It resulted in little, if any at all, hair loss. My chief concern was the vascular disruption I began to witness under the dermis in this area. It appears as half inch or so bruising spots(which it exactly pretty much is) and it can remain for years. Technically it is called Eurythrothrombosis, it was researched by a dermatological group in Isreal, and it is most common with Diode lasers. This is what my elos treatment in particular consisted of, a Diode laser mixed with RF. And I seriously think the RF only adds to the thrombolytic properties of the diode laser’s wavelength spectra, and how it interacts with capillary vasculature.
On the whole? Go look on ebay, look how many elos systems are being let go, look at how many YAG and diode systems are being let go. Clinics are shedding these outdated and ineffective tools. I would go with a more traditional and proven laser like the GentleLase. If laser is going to work for you, that could be your best bet. If you want a more surefire diehard method, go with electrolysis, it never fails.
Sure $40 dollars is nothing compared to what some of us have paid, but why take risks with something that can turn around and cause an increase in hair growth, or offer a false hope. Then, it’s going to get really expensive. I say leave the elos system alone. Look around more.
Mantaray
Electrolysis, since 1875
