Laser Hair Removal - Elite IQ

Cynosure Elite iQ is a medical‑grade dual‑wavelength laser for hair removal, combining 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm Nd:YAG to safely target hair follicles across a wide range of skin types while protecting the surrounding skin. The system uses the Skintel Melanin Reader™ to objectively measure your skin’s pigment and personalise settings, improving efficacy and reducing the risk of burns or pigmentation changes, including in darker skin tones.

  • Elite iQ delivers short pulses of laser light that are selectively absorbed by melanin in the hair shaft and follicle bulb, converting light energy into heat and damaging the structures responsible for hair growth. The 755 nm Alexandrite wavelength is highly absorbed by melanin and is used mainly for lighter skin tones (I–III) with dark hair, while the 1064 nm Nd:YAG penetrates more deeply with less epidermal melanin absorption, making it safer for darker skin types (IV–VI). The Skintel device measures melanin levels in the treatment area, guiding fluence and pulse duration so energy is high enough to injure hair follicles but low enough to minimise epidermal injury and post‑inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

  • Elite iQ can treat most body areas, including face, underarms, bikini, legs, chest and back, for both men and women seeking long‑term reduction of unwanted hair and ingrown hairs. Because lasers only affect follicles in the active growth (anagen) phase, multiple sessions are required; typical hair‑removal protocols involve a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart, with long‑term reduction in hair density, thickness and regrowth speed over the course.

  • During treatment, patients usually feel brief stinging or “elastic band snap” sensations; integrated cooling and contact gels are used to improve comfort. Afterward, the skin may appear slightly red or swollen around follicles (“perifollicular oedema”) for a few hours, but there is generally minimal to no downtime and normal activities can be resumed the same day, with strict sun protection recommended to reduce the risk of pigment change.

  • Over a full course, most suitable candidates experience a substantial and lasting reduction in terminal hair in treated areas, although hormonal factors, hair colour (very fair/red/grey hairs respond poorly) and medical history influence outcomes. Thanks to its dual wavelengths and Skintel‑guided settings, Elite iQ is designed to treat a broad spectrum of skin tones more safely than older “one‑wavelength” systems, provided treatments are performed by appropriately trained practitioners following medical and laser safety guidelines.