Frequently Asked Questions

Phillips Lumea Hair Removal System With IPL Technology

Clinic Hair Removal with a qualified practitioner

Conclusion

Quality of the machine

3cm2 application window for an effective treatment of large areas.

Integrated UV filter protects your skin from UV light.

Rechargeable device with quick charge functionality (full charge in 1 ½ hours, 80% charge in 1 hour). The battery life lasts about 15 minutes.

DepiCool machines for administering Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment:

Use the latest technology to ensure safe and effective IPL sessions.

Regular checks and maintenance on the machines, to ensure they are working to their best ability.

Integrated thermo-electric coolers for the light guide. This means that the temperature of the skin can be kept cool to reduce the sensation and discomfort of heat during the pulses.

High energy output (maximum energy 48J/cm2) and a large spot size (8×34mm), which ranks them among the strongest and fastest available in the market.

Certified to the strict quality standards of ISO 9001 and CE 0197 certified

You would be carrying out your own checks on a Lumea machine, and machine upkeep and maintenance is critical for safe and effective IPL treatment. If this is not performed properly – it could cause adverse reactions.

To depilate the legs we recommend a 45 minute session which would cover half of the legs. (For example the lower legs) A further 45 minute session would be needed to treat the upper legs. We appreciate this is both tedious and time consuming: so we would recommend splitting these sessions. With the Lumea you would have to, as each charge reportedly lasts 15 minutes as an average – so that's 6 recharges for a full leg depilation, with 1.5 hours needed between each for a full recharge)

The DepiCool Machines have a high energy output making repeat sessions only necessary a third of that compared to the Lumea.

Quality of the results

Phillips claim:

“You can enjoy smooth skin even between treatments”

“Silky Smooth Skin everyday”

DepiCool offer:

Permanent hair reduction of between 80-90% on all areas treated.  The IPL device is for hair removal and permanent hair reduction as approved by the FDA.  (Food and Drug Administration)

Phillips are not advertising “hair free skin” between treatments or even hair free skin everyday. Yet this device is not for smooth skin: it is marketed for “hair removal” – For more information about laser vs. IPL and why IPL is suitable for hair removal and permanent hair reduction click here.  But remember the reason you would opt for either service is for hair removal – not for an exfoliation!

Cost of the Machine V Cost of the service at a clinic

£399 is the cost for the Phillips Lumea Machine.

£49 flat rate per area is the cost for IPL depilation at any DepiCool centre; this is a saving of up to 60% compared to local competitor salons!

DepiCool – £49 x 8 = £392 for one area of depilation

Lumea – £399 one off fee

How many sessions will I need?

The Phillips team recommends using the Lumea every 2 weeks for the armpits and bikini area and every four weeks for legs.

As an average IPL administered in a beauty centre such as DepiCool would need 6-8 sessions for all body areas. (More information is offered on an individual basis to clients at the initial consultation and Patch Test)

For the Lumea using the recommendations you will over the course of a year is an average of 26 times for the armpits/bikini and 13 times for the legs, compared to 6-8 sessions on average for a DepiCool client. The device is not suitable for other body zones (such as the face) Whereas IPL depilation in a DepiCool or registered salon can treat any manner of area; from inside buttocks, upper lip, chin, chest, back etc.

Safety in both instances

Developed in conjunction with Dermatologists

Fulfils safety regulations for home-use appliances

NB: Home use appliances should conform to The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994

In order to offer safe and effective IPL treatment DepiCool offer the following:

All of our centres are approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) the same governing body as many of the famous Harley Street clinics

We offer all new clients a “Patch Test” which is free and is a mandatory Health & Safety requirement in the UK

Our practitioners are all experts in the beauty industry with an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in Beauty Therapy as well as Core of Knowledge training in administering IPL treatment

All clients are issued with pre and post treatment guidance prior to undergoing IPL in the form of a brochure

All clients have access to the DepiCool helpline for any questions during or after treatment

DepiCool work in conjunction with a qualified team of Doctors to provide individual feedback for specific client needs. (IE Medication feedback and relation to effectiveness of the IPL and safety)

Goggles are provided to protect the user from the UV rays emitted by the machine

The DepiCool IPL machine is certified to commercial standards, ISO 9001 and compared to safety regulations for a “home use appliance” such as you toaster the standards are much more strict and regulated.

Home devices are also not monitored by a Governing body, and can indeed be applied by a non qualified individual: this can obviously increase the risks of burning and adverse reactions being created.

Both options provide clients with take home leaflets advice.

Potential Risks

Skin Phototype – Assessed by yourself or by a computer at the Lumea website

Pulse Application – The instructions on the Lumea request you to “Make sure that you overlap treated areas slightly”

Recently tanned skin – You can compare you skin to the above skin chart and read the instructions

Medications – You would need to consult your Doctor

Skin Phototype – In a registered centre this is assessed by a qualified practitioner with experience of IPL and beauty to make an accurate judgement possible in order to administer the correct IPL fluence/level

Pulse Application – Our therapists change direction at alternate treatments and do not overlap pulses as this can cause skin reactions

Recently tanned skin – we advise that 4 weeks prior to and 4 weeks following an IPL session you avoid UVA exposure to prevent skin hyper or hypo pigmentation. A thorough analysis is performed for each client

Medications – We have access to a specialist Doctor who can provide us with advice on IPL treatment in relation to any medication and continued safety of the treatment and any side effects or possible extra sessions that this may indicate

In all instances of administering a light source to the skin, the same way as when we expose our skin to sunlight or UVA/UVB rays – there is a burning or adverse event risk. In order to safely administer IPL treatment you should consider the following:

Accurate definition of your individual Skin Phototype

The Pulse Application on the area

Whether your skin has been recently tanned or if you have applied tinted moisturiser/fake tan lotions

If you are taking any Medications which could affect treatment process or longevity of results

Phillip´s Claim

Analysis

“enables you to be free from unwanted hair and enjoy smooth skin every day”

“You can enjoy smooth skin even between treatments”

“Silky Smooth Skin everyday”

The process of hair removal with IPL involves the light source being applied to the desired area.  The client should note that unlike Laser the hair is not “melted” instead it prevents hair growth from the root.  In order for the hair to be removed the hair will need to “fall” and this means it will technically need “grow out” and leave the body.  So between treatments you may experience some hair re-growth until you have completed your course of treatment. This is quite normal, and clients will experience thinner hair and hair becoming more prone to breaking away.

To guarantee “free from unwanted hair” it is more accurate to say hair removal would be an 80-90% permanent hair reduction.

The Lumea is not an exfoliation device – so it should have no effect on the smoothness of you skin on a day to day basis or even between treatments.

“Repeating this treatment every two weeks for the armpits and bikini area and every four weeks for legs will keep your skin smooth everyday.”

At a DepiCool centre, as mentioned previously we recommend an initial gap of 6 weeks between treatments of a body area which gradually increases the more you progress through the course of your treatment. Treatment would not need to be repeated as regularly as 2 weeks in the example of the Lumea.  The DepiCool machines have a high energy output (maximum energy 48J/cm2), which ranks them among the strongest and fastest available in the market, especially compared to a home portable device.

“specifically for safe, gentle and effective home use on underarms, bikini area and legs.”

The Phillips website states you cannot use this area for Facial Hair removal.  Whereas treatment in a salon would allow most body areas to be depilated, including facial zones.

“No replacement bulbs or contact gel required.”

DepiCool machines are serviced regularly and machine heads are changed to maintain optimum results. Treatment is also applied with a cooling gel to ensure that the client experiences minimum pain, and so that the practitioner can clearly see which areas have been depilated to prevent over lapping of pulses.

“Philips Lumea works effectively on (naturally) dark-blond, brown and black hair.”

IPL works best on lighter skin and darker hair.  This is because there is more melanin (the dark pigment) in a darker hair; this is why treatment on dark skin phototypes is not appropriate as there is too much melanin in the skin itself, which can lead to adverse reactions.

“It allows women to safely and effectively prevent hair re-growth in the comfort of their own home”

What about men? The Phillips website quotes “Phillips Lumea is not designed for men. It is specifically developed for women and doesn't take into account the specific biological differences such as hair density, which might require different technical specifications.” Unlike salon treatments which can effectively treat both men and women.