Approved Ellipse Clinics
A decade of proven results, thousands of satisfied users and millions of satisfied clients’ have placed Ellipse among the world’s very best systems for Hair Removal and Vascular treatments.
Ellipse IPL offers a wide choice of treatments to meet ALL clients’ needs effectively.
An Authorised Ellipse Clinic will provide you with a treatment experience that ensures both your safety and your satisfaction.
Ellipse IPL systems are CE marked in accordance with the European Union’s Medical Device Directive and have obtained American FDA approval.
All Authorised Ellipse Clinics have to complete a comprehensive training course on the Ellipse equipment, provided by our Clinical Specialists. Trainees will be fully certified on completion of this training.
Rest assure that your Authorised Ellipse Clinic can provide you with fast, effective and comfortable treatments, with superior, proven results!
What is Ellipse Light?
The Ellipse Light is a second generation Intense Pulsed Light system used for Permanent Hair Reduction, Skin Rejuvenation & Acne, Facial Thread Veins and Wrinkle Reduction. Ellipse Light is manufactured by a company called Ellipse A/S in Denmark. The background of Ellipse is that they are the company responsible for the manufacture and development of the Gamma camera used for cancer diagnostic treatment.
The first system developed was the Ellipse Flex system used for hair removal, vascular lesion removal, photo rejuvenation and pigmented lesion removal. 2001 saw the launch of the Ellipse Light system which was developed for the beauty industry utilizing the same advanced patented technology.
How does it work?
The visible light source used in this procedure is attracted to melanin, which is found in hair. Because there is more melanin found in darker hair the darker the hair is, the more effective the treatment. During the treatment an Optical Coupling gel is applied to the skin to aid the treatment. The applicator is then pressed onto the skin and the light energy is absorbed into the hair causing a heat reaction to destroy the follicle.
Hair Removal
How would you explain the Ellipse Hair Removal treatment to a future client?
Ellipse uses Intense Pulsed Light to safely and effectively reduce unwanted hair. We would advise the client to have a course of treatments with 4-8 week intervals in between for the best results. ONLY RE-TREAT ONCE THE HAIRS HAVE REGROWN! When you come in for a treatment hair is needed on the treatment area so therefore other methods of hair removal should be avoided prior to treatment. Sun exposure, sunbed exposure and fake tan should also be avoided 30 days before and after treatment. As the treatment progresses, the amount of hair present on the area will become reduced and finer in texture so you will not be as aware of it. A consultation and patch test will be needed prior to treatment.
Which type of clients can be treated?
Clients with black hair will find the treatment most effective due to the large concentration of melanin found in the hair, which will give an optimal absorption of light energy and convert it into heat. Clients with fair hair will find the treatment less effective as there is little melanin found in the hair, therefore less heat is produced giving us less certainty of destruction of the hair in the follicle. This means blond, white, red and grey hair cannot be effectively treated. The upper layer of the skin also contains melanin and the concentration increases when the skin is exposed to UV light. It is therefore necessary to treat darker skinned and tanned individuals with less energy to avoid generation of heat on the skin. The ideal client to treat is fair skinned with dark hairs but the Ellipse system has pre-programmed treatment suggestions for different hair and pigment types.
Why is gel used during the treatment?
It is necessary to apply an even coverage of gel to the skin prior to treatment to protect it from the heat of the light and to assure optimal transmission of light from the applicator to the skin. You need to make sure that there are no air bubbles in the gel. You can apply the gel with a spatula, which will help to prevent air bubbles.
Does it hurt?
The treatment sensation varies from area to area and from client to client. As the light energy is absorbed by melanin, the sensation that is felt depends upon the amount of melanin found in the epidermis and the hairs. Therefore it hurts more in darker skinned/tanned individuals and those with dense black hair. Most clients describe the sensation as quite moderate almost like the snapping of a rubber band, which only lasts for a short moment.
Why does the client need to shave prior to treatment?
To assess the area and hair before treatment, hairs need to be roughly 2 mm long so it is then possible to program hair type into the system and to mark the area to be treated. It is advised to shave the area prior to treatment as this achieves the best results. The hair should not be longer than 1mm in length.
Three Reasons for shaving: If the hairs are too long...
1. They can absorb the energy and prevent all of it reaching the base of the hair follicle, this means the energy is wasted on the surface.
2. They can also curl up during the treatment and become attached to the applicator. This can cause small burns on the skin and can also break the flash lamp.
3. This will also make the treatment more painful for the client.
Why do we mark the treatment area?
Prior to shaving the skin the treatment area is determined so that all areas with hair are treated. Also on large areas like the back or legs, we mark out panels in order to take smaller areas at a time and ensure no area is missed. When marking the treatment area it is important to use a
Why do hairs appear to grow after the treatment?
After the treatment the client leaves with hair. The heat from the Ellipse system kills the hair in the anagen stage but the hairs remain in the follicle and often become attached to the epidermis. These hairs will start to shed/fall out in a 1-3 week period after the treatment as the epidermis is renewed. During this period it will seem that the hairs are growing as the epidermis is pushing them out. The clients MUST be made aware of this otherwise they may be unsatisfied for a few weeks.
How can you tell if the treatment has worked when the hairs have not been removed immediately?
There are two good indications that the treatment has been successful. After the treatment the hairs are often loose in the follicle and can be pulled out easily with tweezers. Also a red ring is sometimes seen around each follicle. These post treatment signs are not always seen and many clients have successful treatment without them.
What can the client do to encourage the hairs to shed?
If the hair bothers the client while it is shedding from the skin the client can shave the area 4 days after the treatment and for the next few weeks while it is shedding. Exfoliation with a body brush or a mild scrub is also recommended to encourage the shedding process.
What are the side effects?
The most common skin reaction is a mild erythema/redness of the skin that normally subsides a few hours to a few days after the treatment. In rare cases transient pigmentation changes of the skin can occur and small blisters as from excessive sun can occur. A 1% hydrocortisone cream can be used if the client experiences adverse skin reaction. (See section on treatment related problems page 25).
Is any post treatment necessary?
We would advise that the clients avoid sun exposure and sun beds for 30 days after the treatment. It is also advised to avoid all perfumed products and heat treatments for 24-48 hours. Clients with sensitive skin may also benefit from an application of 100% aloe vera gel as and when necessary. (See post treatment advice page 10)
How many treatments are needed for permanent hair reduction?
To answer this question we need to discuss the hair growth cycle. There are 3 different stages of hair growth.
- Anagen - growing stage
- Catagen - transition stage
- Telogen - resting stage
When we treat an area all hair growth stages are targeted however only hair in the anagen (growth) stage can be treated successfully as this is where the hair is attached to the dermal papilla and blood supply and is most likely to be destroyed. The hairs can be in any of these three stages at any one time. The number of hairs in the anagen phase at any one time varies from 10-70% depending on the body site. We would therefore recommend 3-6 treatments with 4-8 week intervals for the best results.
What precautions are needed?
Eye protection glasses will be provided for both the technician and the client to wear when receiving and performing treatment. Clients should avoid tanning 1 month ahead of and during the entire treatment scenario to avoid increased pain or burns from excessive light absorption in the epidermis. Immediately after the treatment the skin is particularly sensitive to UV light. A sunscreen of at least 30+ must be used for 30 days after the treatment. (See pre-treatment precautions page 10)
Is permanent hair removal possible?
Nobody knows for sure. Hair management is an increasingly used terminology. After the first treatment the client gets significant reduction in hair density. Also re-grown hairs tend to become much finer and slightly less dark. It is important to know and inform the clients that the first treatment is believed to synchronise the anagen growth of non-anagen hairs. This may cause what seems to be re-growth, but what is happening is that all the remaining ‘sleeping hairs’ start growing at the same time. This in turn makes the following treatments more effective.
Is the Ellipse Light treatment safe?
Yes. It is completely safe. Ellipse is a 2nd generation Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) system utilising a patented ‘dual mode filtering’ system, which removes all unnecessary and potentially harmful wavelengths. The Ellipse has pre-programmed treatment suggestions for different skin and hair types.
What can the client expect as far as results?
With the Ellipse the results are as follows:
- The number of hairs will become reduced in the treatment area.
- Hair will become finer in the treatment area.
- Hair will become less pigmented in the treatment area.
How much does the Ellipse treatment cost?
It all depends on the area being treated and how many treatments are required. A course of treatments is recommended for the best results.
How does the Ellipse Light compare to other laser and IPL systems?
Clients tell us they prefer the Ellipse because of its long lasting results, safety and convenience. Safety and results sets the Ellipse apart from all other laser and IPL systems due to it’s patented ‘dual mode filtering’ system. All clinical data has been published in the ‘Journal of Cutaneous Laser Therapy’ demonstrating the full potential of the system.
Is the Ellipse like waxing or electrolysis?
No. Ellipse is very different from electrolysis and waxing. In comparison to electrolysis – Electrolysis is a much slower process as the needle has to be inserted into the hair follicle one at a time. Electrolysis can also be painful and can cause scarring.
In comparison to waxing;, waxing can also be painful. The hair growth needs to be a certain length before waxing can be repeated. In some cases the after effects can be a disadvantage to the client i.e. ingrown hairs and skin reactions.
Ellipse treats larger areas of hair growth in shorter periods of time. It is less painful, much faster, more convenient and has been shown to reduce in-growing hairs and skin reactions.
Skin Rejuvination
How does the Ellipse Light work for Skin Rejuvenation?
Age spots and hyper pigmentation contains melanin and diffuse redness contains haemoglobin.
The light is absorbed by the melanin in the pigmented area & the heat reaction caused breaks down the melanin in the keratinocytes. A photo toxic reaction occurs in the melanin vesicles and the excess melanin turns darker before it comes away from the skin. The light is also absorbed by the superficial blood vessels in the skin. The heat reaction caused coagulates blood vessels, destroys protein in the wall of the vessel and stimulates collagen production.
What skin conditions can be treated?
Skin Rejuvenation is the treatment of sun damaged skins. The treatment can be used for diffuse redness (high colour) and pigmented lesions such as hyper pigmentation, solar lentigines (sun spots) and freckles.
Which type of client can be treated?
The best results are seen with clients of skin types 1-3 and skin type 4 can be treated with care. It is important that the client avoids sun exposure 30-60 days prior to treatment. Sun exposure can increase the risk of pains or burns from excessive light absorption in the epidermis. If the client has a sun tan it may be better to wait until the colour reduces to achieve the best results. The Ellipse has pre programmed treatment suggestions for different skin types.
Does it hurt?
The sensation will vary from client to client but it is the second strongest of all the treatments. The sensation that is felt depends upon the amount of melanin found in the skin. The sensation is described as a heat sensation and a few clients compare it to mild sunburn after the treatment.
What can I expect as far as results?
The pigmentation will become darker in colour immediately after the treatment. A few days after the treatment the pigmented areas will develop a light crust (this is a good sign that the treatment has worked). After that the skin will look smoother and fresher. A few more treatment sessions may be required to keep a smooth and youthful appearance.
How many treatments are needed for the best results?
On average 1-3 treatments at 4 week intervals are needed for the best results. Top up treatments may be needed in the future to maintain these results. For the optimum collagen stimulation effect with Skin Rejuvenation 6 treatments would be recommended.
Facial Thread Veins
How does the Ellipse treatment work when treating Facial Thread Veins?
The light is attracted to the target chromophore oxy-haemoglobin in the blood. As the light is absorbed by the blood in the vessels, a heat reaction is caused which coagulates the blood and destroys protein in the wall of the vessel. The vessel then breaks down and the debris is removed by the body’s natural waste disposal system.
Which type of client can be treated?
We can only treat clients of skin types 1-3. It is important that the client avoids sun exposure 30-60 days prior to treatment. Sun exposure can increase the risk of pain or burns from excessive light absorption in the epidermis. If the client has a sun tan it may be better to wait until the colour reduces to achieve the best results. The Ellipse has pre programmed treatment suggestions for different skin types.
How should you hold the applicator when treating Facial Thread Veins?
When treating Facial Thread Veins the applicator needs to be placed on the skin’s surface with no pressure. If you apply pressure to the skin you will drain the blood from the capillaries and the light will lose its target chromophore.
What post treatment reactions can be seen after treatment for Facial Thread Veins?
As you shoot the vein it should flash or pulse blue within one second. If there is no colour change the energy may need to be increased or the vessel size setting may need to be adjusted. Slight erythema is seen immediately after the treatment and this will disappear in 1-2 hours or in some cases a few days. A blurring of the vessel is often apparent after treatment, normally followed by a variable degree of oedema. The oedema may last up to 4 days and may appear puffy, particularly around the eyes. These are all signs of inflammation and are an indication of successful treatment.
What post treatment precautions may be needed?
Aloe Vera will be applied after the treatment but if there is excessive erythema a cool compress can also be applied. The client can use 100% Aloe Vera gel at home for the next few days to reduce any continuing redness. If reaction continues a 1% hydrocortisone ointment can also be applied. How many treatments are necessary to remove Facial Thread Veins? On average 2-4 treatments with 4 week intervals are needed for the best results. Top up treatments may be needed in the future to maintain these results.
Does it hurt?
The sensation will vary from area to area and from client to client. The sensation that is felt depends upon the amount and size of vessels in the area. It can be described as a hot, sharp sensation and would be considered the strongest discomfort of all the Ellipse treatments. Some clients liken it to mild sunburn after the treatment.