Permanent Laser Hair Removal — Candela GentleLASE

Permanent hair reduction using the Candela GentleLASE Alexandrite laser, which targets melanin in the hair follicle to disable growth capacity while the patented DCD (Dynamic Cooling Device) system sprays a cryogen burst onto the skin at each laser pulse to protect the epidermis and minimise discomfort. The GentleLASE is a clinically established platform for light-to-medium skin tones. At Estetické centrum Praha the treatment is available for all facial and body areas, with a specific price list covering small face areas (from 500 Kč) through to full legs (14,000 Kč). Three to six sessions spaced to match the hair growth cycle achieve permanent reduction in most patients.

Laser hair removal operates on the principle of selective photothermolysis: the laser emits a wavelength that is preferentially absorbed by melanin — the pigment in the hair shaft and bulb — converting light energy to heat and raising the temperature of the follicle to the threshold that damages or destroys its regenerative capacity. The surrounding skin absorbs far less energy because it contains little melanin, leaving it substantially uninjured. The Candela GentleLASE uses the Alexandrite wavelength (755 nm), which has high affinity for eumelanin (the dominant pigment in dark hair), making it particularly effective for patients with dark hair and light-to-medium skin tones (Fitzpatrick I–IV). The defining feature of the Candela GentleLASE system is the patented DCD (Dynamic Cooling Device): immediately before each laser pulse, a millisecond burst of cryogen (a refrigerant spray) is delivered to the skin surface. This pre-cools the epidermis by several degrees at the moment the laser fires, protecting the skin from thermal damage while allowing the energy to reach and heat the deeper follicle. The result is a more comfortable session compared to laser systems without epidermal cooling, and a lower risk of surface side effects such as blistering or pigmentation changes, particularly in patients with tanned skin or slightly deeper phototypes. At Estetické centrum Praha MUDr. Renata Handlová treats the full range of facial and body areas with the GentleLASE. The treatment principle is the same across areas but the practical variables — spot size, fluence (energy density), pulse duration and the number of passes — are adjusted for the area's hair density, skin type and the patient's response. A consultation at 500 Kč (deductible from the first treatment) allows assessment of hair colour, skin type and expected outcomes before beginning a course. Laser hair removal can only target follicles in the active anagen (growth) phase, when the melanin-rich shaft is continuous from the papilla to the surface. At any point in time, only a proportion of the hairs in a given area are in anagen — the remainder are in telogen (resting) or catagen (transition). This is why multiple sessions are needed: each session destroys the currently active cohort, and subsequent sessions address the follicles that were in resting phase and have since entered growth. Three to six sessions, spaced four to eight weeks apart depending on the body area and its hair cycle, achieve 70–90% permanent reduction in most patients. Lighter, finer, grey or red hair contains less eumelanin and responds less effectively; this is discussed at consultation. Preparation requires shaving the area one to two days before each session — waxing, threading, plucking and depilatory creams must be avoided for three to four weeks before, as these remove the shaft that carries the laser energy to the follicle. The skin must be clean, dry and free of cosmetics at treatment time. After the session, a warm sensation and follicular swelling are normal for a few hours; temporary redness may persist for twenty-four hours. Sun avoidance and SPF 30+ are essential during the treatment course to prevent post-inflammatory pigmentation.