FAQs

Questions relating to specific services are covered on their individual pages.

Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about IPL Laser

How does it feel when treatment is taking place – is it painful?

The treatment is not particularly uncomfortable but rather like an elastic band flicking against the skin. Since the machine head is frozen between -4 and 0 degrees centigrade there is a freezing effect upon the skin. We may also use chill packs on the skin after a treatment for your comfort and to reduce any swelling that might occur.

For very sensitive people we offer a freezing, painkilling cream (extra fee applies) which is applied to the skin arrive 15 minutes before the treatment is due to commence. For most people the treatment if perfectly tolerable and you do get better results without any anesthetic cream.

What are the side effects?

Some people may experience a slight reddening of the skin and slight swelling which clears within a few hours but you will still be able to go about your daily business. For skin conditions the skin may stay reddish for up to three days but then the results begin to emerge. Because we use an IPL laser those side effects are minimised.

How can I maximise the results of my treatment?

In order to maximise your results you need to follow the prescribed program of treatments. That will include following the aftercare instructions and ensuring that you use your 30+ factor sun block in all exposed areas every day and with some treaments, twice a day. For each treatment there can be different time periods between treatments and you will get maximum results if you adhere to those intervals. If you follow the clinician’s instructions, you can get excellent results.

Are there any instances when I won’t be able to have IPL laser treatment?

• We cannot treat areas of the skin where there is active or has been active melanomas. If the clinician is unsure about their presence, your skin will be checked with a Wood lamp, free of charge, to check for any obvious cancerous growths.

• We also cannot treat people who have been taking Roaccutane, photo-allergenic or photo-tropic medication until at least one year after that medication has been ceased.

• We cannot treat people taking Saint John’s Wort because it induces hypersensitivity to sunlight.

• Some skin types may be too dark for treatment and the IPL beams are attracted to the melanin in the skin causing hypo-pigmentation. If this would be the case, the clinician will inform you of this during the consultation.

• If you have been tanning in the sun, that may also be a problem because the skin is carrying extra pigment. We advise clients that they need to not have their skins over-exposed to the sun six weeks before or after the treatment. This includes tanning in solariums. Spray-on tan is also a form of pigment so your skin needs to be clean of the spray-on tan before treatment.

• If you are having photorejuvention to any part of your body you will need to wear 30+ sun block on the area and/or cover the area with a jacket or cotton glove when outside during the following three months.

• We cannot accept a person for treatment on or near the abdomen area, if they are pregnant.

• The treatment is not suitable for persons with epilepsy.

• We cannot treat you if have a fever or are ill and suffering from influenza.

• If you have a skin infection you need to wait until the infection has cleared up before you come in for treatment.

• You may not undergo treatment if you are suffering from sunburn.

• You will be asked to bring along with you full information about any medications you are taking at the moment so we can check to see if there are any contraindication to our treatments.

Remember – We love sun block 30+ and big hats every day and so does your skin!

For those unable to have IPL, electrolysis is another option.

About the IPL laser operator

Tracie O’Keefe A.P.A.A qualified as an aesthetician in 1973, has been part of many health projects over the years and is currently a member of the Australian Professional Aestheticians Association (Gold Award).

She has studied biology and natural medicines at university, is a registered naturopath, clinical hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and counsellor, and is currently the director of the Australian Health and Education Centre (AHEC) in Sydney.

Before coming to Australia Tracie worked out of the London Medical Centre in the UK for many years.

On arriving in Australia in 2001 she operated her clinical hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and counselling practice from Randwick and at the same time opened the Natural Hair and Beauty Shop in Edgecliff, which operated for three years and was Australia’s only cruelty-free and eco-friendly hair and beauty salon.
In 2004 she became the director of AHEC, which also houses her skincare clinic.

Tracie is dedicated to working holistically with people to overcome skin conditions, using various modalities of treatments to consider the person as whole.

She included the IPL laser clinic at the centre because it fits in perfectly with an integrated approach to helping people improve their appearance and recover from skin conditions in a natural way.

Tracie trained on the centre’s IPL machine under Patrick Holly, Beauty R.M.T., who holds an IPL Technician I to VII, Theory, Practical Applications and Teaching certificate taken under Professor David Wei Huang at the University of Guangzhou in China.

Tracie considers IPL laser light emitted from our machine, in a controlled way for skin conditions, can be considered a naturopathic treatment because it is non-invasive and does not include the use of harsh chemicals.