[Treatment] Will IPL Cause Cancer? - Review: Musee Platinum Tokyo Underarm Hair Removal

Thanks to advances in technology, many treatments are increasingly available to common folks like us. As of now, there are many salons offering permanent hair removal services at a new low. HAHAA It is quite exciting to see the competition in price, its just like watching the stock market. And as consumers, we are favoured.

Yes, they are cheap, but are they all safe? There is no point in saving some money to have (negative) long-lasting biological effects.

Not all light is equal y'know. Thanks to more marketing efforts by sunscreen brands, we know that ultraviolet (UV) light can cause photoageing by degrading the collagen. So stick to your sunscreens. 
Like you, I hate charts, but this is just to tell you that lights have different wavelengths. And that in some new studies supporting new treatments like phototherapy (light therapy) and photo rejuvenation (light-based anti-aging), they are basically saying that light can fight light, the latter that is UV damage. Whut. 

IPL technology uses a band, or range, of wavelengths, such as 555 through 950 nm

While that is not related to hair removal, we can understand how light can change our biology. In this case, the desired effect is to reduce the activity of the hair follicle.

What is IPL

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is light that is focused with different wavelengths or in a chim medical term, Broad Band Light (BBL). This is a mixture of yellow, green and blue light. Read that again. There is no ultraviolet light in IPL, only the visible light. DNA within cells are not damaged, which is the opposite case in cancer.
So a short answer, no. It will not cause cancer.
I'm not saying that there are no risks, just that it is unlikely to cause cancer.

IPL has been around for nearly 2 decades, but there hasn't been any cancer-associated cases involved. But keep in mind, that most patients receives limited treatments. Don't hold me to blame if you have one of those self-treatment IPL devices at home and use it chronically.
The light heats up the hair follicle to reduce hair growth.

Risks of IPL

I know that are a lot of skeptics around, its good to be curious. I repeat that IPL is unlikely to cause cancer, it does not mean that it has no risks. So I'll find some more information to feed your mind. Most side effects of IPL just involves redness or pigment changes and will usually subside with time. Some serious ones includes overheating of the skin which causes scarring or blistering.
Feel free to do your own research, but remember that IPL is NOT laser. And their consequences should not be confused with one another.
More reviews on RealSelf.


Just a disclaimer! I paid for this service with my own money! And as usual, I'm not paid or sponsored by Musee Platinum Tokyo in any way.



Do I really have to answer explicitly why I went for this? Humans are weird things. We must have looked really ugly and odd to other animals on Earth. We have hair only concentrated on our heads, and are obsessed with removing all other body hair. Why is this standard of beauty. Unfortunately, yours truly lack the courage to embrace nature and has succumbed to society.

Musee has been aggressively marketing their hair removal services in recent years, and is the market leader for such services. As exposed to marketing I am, the price was $38 for unlimited underarm, then $38 including both underarm and bikini line, then $38 including both underarm and bikini line plus a shaver, *catches breath* then $30 for both underarm and bikini line during GSS, $38 for both underarm and bikini line but including a $50 voucher,  and now the all time low - $28 for both underarm and bikini line, unlimited sessions. We always see financial advisors telling us to utilise our student card, right?  HEHEH

Cost Saving in the Long-term

While I'm not someone who goes for brazilian waxes or heck, buys disposable shavers and creams. I value my time. And all of us should. Routine shaving and tweezing takes up a lot of time, plus it can damage the skin. IPL offers long term and permanent results, such that self-treatments can be obsolete.
For others, self-treatments can also cause problems in the long-term such as darkening or ingrowth. I tweeze my underarm, and ingrowths are fking painful.

Procedure

Though Musee does win on the price factor for the underarms, treatments are limited to once every 2 months for the first 2 years, and once every 3 months thereafter. I'm not sure how the frequency of treatments can result in optimal results, but if you want instant fast results then other salons are also not a bad option if they can perform the treatment with shorter time intervals.

Does it hurt
I'm not sure about the intensity but the process is akin to a rubber band snap, or ant bite. It is really tolerable especially with the super-cold gel. A cooling pad is also applied on the treated area after light exposure to dissipate heat; topped up with their moisturizer.  Moisturization is important as most procedures that involves heat is drying.

This post will be too lengthy if I elaborate too much on the process, read it up on their website instead? HEH http://www.musee-sg.com/treatment/#block_process 


Service

The consultation was detailed without any hard-selling. She merely informed me of the other available treatments they have in store for other body parts. your current skin condition and if you're suitable for their treatment, things to avoid before and after treatment was also informed thoroughly.

Calling to book an appointment is also fast, the call is picked up in less than 30 seconds and the receptionist already have the customer information on hand. I have read reviews before 2013 and most reflected poorly on their calling system. Its good that they had made improvements, and even better that I didn't have to experience the bad. HEHEH

The entire area is kept hygienic and clean - clean blankets, robe, sanitation of the treated area with alcohol etc.

This policy of theirs might be lesser known, ie. Musee Platinum Tokyo is a women-only salon. No men, no children. Who would be comfortable with guys lurking around when they are gonna get a IPL on their vaginal areas. HAHA Or children running around. Okay.. I'm actually fine with that.



At the Westgate branch, most staff are chinese-speaking. They will ask beforehand for your ability to converse in mandarin. But as you girls know, I'm super fluent in mandarin.

The first treatment date is not on the same day as the consultation date. There is a short waiting time, say a week apart. Some might have qualms on this. I had vaccinated less than 10 days ago on the consultation day and wouldn't have been able to proceed immediately with the treatment anyway. You'll have to be patient anyway, HAHA since results aren't overnight.

I've only had the first treatment and have found them to be professional. I'm looking forward to the next. :)
Have you tried Musee? How was your experience with them?