IPL Hair Removal ★ Rockhampton

PTF Laser Hair Removal at Man Thing Rockhampton

Hi and welcome, My name is Andrew Thompson. I've been working on bodies for three decades.

The trusted name in hair removal since 2001, Man Thing Rockhampton provides premium grade PTF Hair Removal, an advanced form of IPL, without the pain and after-care of conventional laser.

PTF Hair Removal testimonial Yeppoon

Below you'll find Man Thing's prices for PTF Hair Removal, and further down the page, the largest Question & Answers section in the country.

I believe strongly in client education as there's a great deal of conflicting information on the web, and I encourage you to browse the Q&A so you can see what other people commonly ask about our treatments.

Call me on 4926 7778 or 0422 276 202 if you have any questions or to make a booking. You can also book online.

Have a brilliant day,
Andrew Thompson.

Andrew Thompson, Man Thing Rockhampton

Prices ~ Rockhampton IPL Hair Removal

* VIRTUALLY PAINLESS - No numbing cream required.
* TGA LISTED EQUIPMENT with very high energy output.
* PRICES ARE WHAT YOU ACTUALLY PAY - not "starting from".
* CREDIT CARDS WELCOME - Visa, Master Card, EFTPOS, Union Pay.
* NO BULK BUY SCHEMES - I achieve results. I don't need to trap you with a contract.
* HIGHLY QUALIFIED THERAPIST - owner operated with 20+ years hair removal experience.

Face ~ PTF Hair Removal ~ per treatmentPrice

Lip$20

Chin$25

Lip & Chin special price lip and chin IPL hair removal Rockhampton$45

Men's Cheeks special deal Rockhampton men's cheeks IPL hair removal$59

Neck$55

Full Face special deal full face multi-pack$105

Full Face & Neck four pack price full face and neck IPL laser hair removal Rockhampton$160

Upper Body ~ PTF Hair Removal ~ per treatmentPrice

Under Arms four pack price under arms PTF laser hair removal$59

Hands & Fingers special price hands and fingers hair removal$45

Forearms$110

Snail Rockhampton four pack super deal Snail Trail hair removal$45

Stomach (includes snail) book now 4 treatment deal Stomach IPL Laser hair removal$105

Nipples (Areola) nipples four pack price$45

Chest (includes nipples) special deal men's chest IPL laser hair removal$125

Lumbar (lower back) lower back limited time price$134

Top of Shoulders$65

Upper Back special 4 buy price IPL Hair Removal upper back$165

Full Back$195

Full Back, Shoulders, Delts, Nape super special 4 pack price full back, shoulders and delts IPL Hair Removal$315

Obliques$65

Lower Body ~ PTF Hair Removal ~ per treatmentPrice

Feet & Toes$59

Ladies' Lower Legs$179

Ladies Full Legs$349

Men's Full Legs$399

Bum Crease (male) Rockhampton special bum crease bulk buy price - book now$89

Bum Cheeks special price - book now$135

Bikini (male or female)$45

Bikini & Under Arms (male or female)$65

Ladies Bikini & Snail$65

G String Bikini (incl anus) special price G-String bikini laser hair removal Rockhampton$89

G String Bikini & Under Arms special deal g-string and under arm IPL$134

Female Brazilian special deal Ladie's Brazilian laser$119

Female Brazilian & Anus special limited time offer Brazilian and bum crease Rockhampton$129

Male Brazilian Rockhampton Men's Brazilian IPL Laser super deal$145

Male Brazilian & Bum Crease limited time offer$194

Questions & Answers ~ Rockhampton Laser Hair Removal

IPL Hair Removal chest and stomach testimony Allenstown

95% of people won't read this FAQ section. It's huge and life is short. In this modern busy age, people want an answer in seven seconds. They visit a website, look for the flashing specials and sign up to whatever magic promises are made.

Then six months later, they start complaining because they were too lazy to read the fine print. But thankfully not to me.

Those people have already left my website. I didn't catch their attention fast enough, and that's perfectly fine.

But you are still here and I tip my hat to you. You are part of the 5%. You are trying to find a solution to a problem; in this case, unwanted body hair. You are not impressed by flashing lights and gizmos, and you want to do your research.

You are the person for whom I wrote this F.A.Q. section. It is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. It is 100% original content drawn from experience, not rehashed material from someone else's website.

Below, you will find an index of common questions to click on. Once done, you will see a 'return to index' link to bring you back again. I've tried to keep it light and interesting and not go off on too many tangents.

I hope that you find the information you are looking for. If you still have questions, feel free to call me on 07 4926 7778.

Note: To save longwinded explanations and duplication of info, questions about IPL also apply to PTF unless it specifically states otherwise.

INDEX

How regularly should I come for a treatment?

Bikini Laser Hair Removal review Rockyview client The optimal space between treatments is 28-35 days for all body areas. Facial and pubic hair grows faster than general body hair, and can be treated at shorter intervals if a client wishes to do so.

While shorter intervals do help ensure that no growth cycles are missed, they won't achieve the end result any sooner.

Your body's biology travels at its own pace and you can't fast-track that process.

It is important that you keep to this schedule as closely as possible for two reasons:

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What result can I anticipate from a series of hair removal treatments?

You need to have a minimum of six treatments in six months to remove the bulk of your hair. In real terms, you could expect a vast reduction in visible dark hairs.

This may even present or appear to present as absolute hair removal from the treated area, but it is illegal for any hair removal business to promise that or suggest that it is the likely outcome.

The end result depends on your suitability for treatment, how many treatments you opt to have, and how regularly you space your treatments.

Come in for a free consult and I will be able to give you a more accurate prediction.

An extra point I want to make here is this: You should notice a response from your very first treatment, and every single treatment that follows. If someone tells you that you need x amount of treatments before you see a response, they are lying. There are only two reasons this could happen:

  • The therapist is incompetent and keeps using the wrong settings by mistake, only by some miracle figuring out how to use the machine right at the very end of your prepaid sessions, or
  • Because they've used a ridiculously low setting until the last few prepaid treatments, when suddenly, you start to see a response.

In both of these scenarios, your therapist will suggest that you buy another multi-pack and keep going. It would be a shame to give up now, right? Wrong. You're being scammed.

How I operate: I've been doing this for two decades. The moment I first lay eyes on you, even before you fill out the consult form, I will be 90% sure of your skin type and the filter I'll use to protect it. The consultation process takes care of the final 10%.

I will focus all of that confidence and experience on achieving a noticeable result from your very first treatment. If you don't get a response from that single session, we will discontinue treatments. That's it. I only give it one try.

It is extremely rare, maybe 1 in 500 new clients, where I would suggest a second treatment in order to try a different setting. For whatever reason, light-based treatments don't work on your hair and I will tell you this.

You can of course try somewhere else, but I won't be the one to keep taking money from you when a result is extremely unlikely. I don't do false promises, and nor should you listen to them.

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My teenage daughter has facial hair. Can you help?

Yes, but there is a right way and wrong way to deal with the problem.

On tweens and teenage girls, unexpected facial and body hair is quite common, but please read this article which explains the situation in depth before making a decision:

Pubescent Hirsutism

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Is Man Thing licensed by Queensland Health for pulsed light treatments?

This is one of those weird social media myths floating about. No business is licensed by Queensland Health for pulsed light treatments, simply because there is no such thing. Queensland Health only issues licenses for laser, not IPL.

I don't like the inconsistency, client pain, or safety risks associated with laser and I don't use it. IPL only. Here is the information direct from Queensland Health:

"Currently there are no Australia-wide requirements on who may deliver a light-based cosmetic service using laser or IPL devices. In Queensland the only people required to undergo training and acquire a licence are those who use ‘class 4' laser devices."

Citation: Queensland Health: Understand the risks of light-based cosmetic services ~ extracted 18 Jan 2023

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I've had a pilonidal sinus excised. Will PTF Hair Removal stop it coming back?

IPL Laser Hair Removal - pilonidal cyst Case Study

Pilonidal sinus, also called a pilonidal cyst, is most prevalent in men and usually takes the form of massive localised swelling around the upper sacrum. It is an extremely painful condition requiring surgery, and unfortunately, it often recurs.

After excision, the surgeon will usually recommend that hair from the area be removed to reduce the risk of another pilonidal sinus forming.

IPL will progressively reduce hair growth in the area and is generally regarded as the best method for achieving the desired result.

I do not recommend depilatory creams, waxing, plucking, sugaring, or electrolysis for combating pilonidal sinus.

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I heard that I should only get 'permanent hair removal', not 'reduction'.

This is another myth.

Except for electrolysis which is a one-hair-at-a-time treatment and not suitable for large areas, it is actually illegal to advertise 'permanent hair removal'. That phrase implies absolute removal of every hair in the treated area for the rest of your life. No one can promise that.

Laser, IPL - whatever technology you choose, is referred to by all professional operators in the hair removal industry as permanent hair reduction. This is also why no reputable business that offers laser or IPL will guarantee results or use the term 'permanent hair removal'. In fact, a Perth salon was sued for doing just that.

I've written a related article on this topic that you might find of interest:

Types of Hair Removal

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Why do you favour IPL over laser?

IPL Laser Hair Removal Gladstone testimonial

I have used laser, both YAG and Alexandrite. I don't like it. It hurts far more than PTF and the results are highly variable.

On top of that, the pre-care and after-care are crazy.

I have people come in regularly complaining that they've had 20 or more laser treatments with negligible results, and my answer is always the same:

"Laser is cheap for a reason. It's like anything else - you get what you pay for."

Discount laser clinics will tell you that laser is best, which begs the question, "Since laser is the older technology, and if it works so well, then why did they invent IPL?"

The obvious answer is, "They needed something better."

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I possess male genitalia but identify as female, therefore will you charge me female pricing?

No. If you are a biologically complete male, regardless of whether you identify as gender-fluid, non-binary, or pre-operative transgender male-to-female, you will be charged male pricing.

If you are post-operative transgender and have physically transitioned to female anatomy, I will honour female pricing for small body areas, i.e. under arms, snail, nipples, hands, and feet.

For larger body areas, I will consider female pricing on a case by case basis.

Again, this will depend on your physique, e.g. the physical size and coverage density of the legs of a 180cm male will take an hour longer to treat than those of a 160cm female, so naturally there will be a price difference.

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A beauty therapist told me that you trained her/him. How can I check?

Body Sync Toowong billboard 2006

Before the name change to Man Thing in 2010 and my subsequent relocation to Rockhampton, my shops in Brisbane and Gold Coast were branded Body Sync.

I also had a wholesale division called Angel Beach which I put on the back burner around 2011.

Even today, the company name remains Body Sync Group Pty Ltd trading as Man Thing, and I still provide occasional training for interstate clients.

Several salons, predominantly in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, and Adelaide have sent their staff to me for training in various specialised procedures.

Therapists received a certificate from either Body Sync or Angel Beach upon completion listing details of their particular level of skill.

Additionally, I trained around 50 beauty therapists who I employed at my various branches in Toowong, Mt Gravatt, Brisbane City, Clayfield, Tarragindi, Moorooka, Springfield Lakes, New Farm, Southport, as well as the old South Rockhampton agency in East Street.

Any therapist making the claim that they trained with me will be happy to present their credentials.

Please don't contact me to find out details of a particular therapist who has undergone training with me, as this is confidential information. I will however happily provide references for past employees.

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What is PTF Hair Removal?

PTF is an advanced medical-grade variation of IPL technology. PTF differs from beauty salon IPL in several ways.

Sapphire lamps instead of glass direct light with greater accuracy and effect. Because the light is more pure and controlled, there is less light-scatter, and that means much better results and far less discomfort.

Another big difference is that Man Thing's machines are manually cooled instead of water cooled. This allows far greater control over the intensity of light and heat delivered to the hair bulb, and used effectively, can be up to 7 times more powerful than a beauty salon machine.

Yet despite all this power, clients invariably comment that they can barely feel the treatment. It isn't painful at all, and if you've ever tried laser you'll immediately notice the difference.

You're probably wondering if PTF is so good, why isn't everyone using it? That's easy. PTF takes months to learn properly and years to become truly skilled, whereas beauty-grade IPL is a weekend course.

I take Hair Removal seriously. It isn't just one of many services I offer - It's the bulk of what I do, and to ensure that continues I want my clients to go away knowing they've had the very best treatment money can buy.

I've tried everything over the last few decades - E-Light, SPL, Laser, both Yag and Alexandrite. Always, I keep coming back to medical-grade PTF.

Man Thing's systems combined with years of experience allow us to be versatile in our thinking, to treat each client's skin and hair as individual and distinct from everyone else, and to think on the run. We don't try to be experts at everything, but we are experts at Hair Removal.

Related article:

Types of Hair Removal

IPL Laser Hair Removal - Chest and Stomach Case Study

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I can buy a cute little IPL machine online. Why come to you?

Commercial machines are large and bulky for a reason. They contain a massive power compressor to generate enough energy (joules) to actually kill the hair root. By comparison, a 12V transformer or a couple of AAA batteries doesn't quite cut it. The most powerful cutesy I've reviewed has a whopping 2.5J of energy.

My PTF machines pump out 25 times more power. Cheap machines most likely won't achieve much, but they are capable of stripping melanin from your hair and once it's gone, you can't get it back. This may render you unable to receive a real pulsed light treatment.

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Why is the number of joules important for IPL Hair Removal?

Brazilian Bikini laser Mackay

Joules equal the number of watts per square centimetre per second, and the higher the number of joules, the more energy (in conjunction with your skin type) we're able to get down to the target cells.

When a hair is successfully eliminated, that's the end of it, but when a hair is targeted and the treatment fails due to insufficient power, a natural defence process kicks in.

The body realises that its cooling system is under attack, and strengthens the hair against later attacks, i.e. further treatments.

The hair grows thicker, the root grows in size, and the surrounding tissue tightens its grip on the hair. My waxing room sees the result of low-joule light treatments every day.

Not surprisingly, this is why no other hair removal businesses discuss the power (or lack thereof) of their machines in their marketing.

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I can get a cheap deal from a discount laser chain? Will you price match?

Nope. Not remotely interested.

Hair removal is the same as any other product or service. You get what you pay for. I'd rather sleep well at night than sell a low quality service.

If I were you, I'd be asking a few better questions, not of me, but of them:

The fact that there are two national laser franchises in Rockhampton, yet my hair removal market share continues to grow despite being more expensive, speaks volumes.

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What are the side effects of a hair removal treatment?

For the sake of complete openness, first I'll plagiarise the list directly (again) from Queensland Health. It's OK, they appear to have raided this site for plenty of content over the years so we'll call it even 😃

Then I'll outline the usual responses to treatment.

Incorrectly performed services using laser and intense light devices can result in serious injury and adverse outcomes, including:

  • permanent scarring
  • burns
  • eye damage
  • pigmentation changes (darkening or lightening of the skin)
  • infection
  • blistering
  • increased hair growth

These adverse outcomes can be caused by:

  • use of a laser or IPL by an untrained technician
  • inappropriate use of a device
  • patient medications that may make skin more sensitive to light not taken into consideration or disclosed during initial consultation before the service
  • equipment malfunction
  • safety procedures not being followed, for example protective eyewear

Moranbah referral PTF Hair Removal Rockhampton

If you are honest regarding the medical information you provide, both during your initial consultation and throughout your course of treatments, there are generally no significant negative side effects.

Intense Pulsed Light converts light energy into heat. It targets melanin, but ultimately it is heat that destroys the hair at its root. Due to this energy transference through your skin, you might experience pinkness or a mild "sunburn like" effect in the area.

This usually passes quickly but may last up to 48 hours. It isn't real sunburn, only heat permeating back out through the skin. You can go about your normal activities after a treatment, but be sun smart with treated areas and cover up or use a sunscreen.

In the extremely unlikely event that the after-effect is more than mild, i.e. painful or blistering, you need to contact us immediately. It is worth noting at this point that Man Thing hasn't had a single extreme after-effect in close to 15 years, and never at our Rockhampton clinic.

A pleasant side effect of IPL is that the technology uses specific wavelengths of light that stimulate cell renewal, increasing collagen production and smoothing the appearance of your skin.

If you are thinking of coming in for hair removal treatments and collagen or pigment treatments in the same area, get the hair removal out of the way first and you may find that you don't need the other treatments. This proves to be the case a lot especially with faces and arms.

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Do I need to pay for all my treatments upfront?

No. I do run '4 pack specials' from time to time but that's optional. I'm happy to do one treatment at a time.

I don't have contracts and I won't get you to sign a form committing to further treatments. if you have a hair removal treatment with me, you are under no obligation to return.

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Can under arm deodorant effect my hair removal treatment?

Yes. if you are using a deodorant in the area that is being treated, make sure it does not contain aluminium oxide as this chemical builds up in your skin, and being metallic, it can block the light significantly. As a general guide, if you can see a slightly green or brown tinge in your underarm skin, then you have a build up of metallic substances in your skin which may affect the treatment results.

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How many laser or IPL treatments will I need?

Biloela Facial Hair Removal

This depends on many things, including your age, hormonal activity in your body, ancestry, medications or medical conditions.

Generally speaking - for the purpose of this topic - there are two types of hair that grow on the body (not counting the scalp). These are body hair which is generally thinner and softer, and pubic hair which is more coarse and hormonally driven. Body hair usually responds faster to treatment than pubic hair.

Lower legs, arms, lower backs, and bums are generally body hair. Genitalia, faces, chests and stomachs, and inner thighs are generally pubic hair. Underarms, upper backs and shoulders, upper legs, and bum creases can be a mix of the two. I always tell new clients that they will need a minimum of six treatment spaced one month apart, and basically to accept that they will need 6-8 treatments for body hair, and 6-10 for pubic hair.

At that point, around 80-90% of people walk away happy with the result, while others elect to have more treatments. Facial hair on men is the most resilient, and can take upwards of 20 treatments.

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I'm female and have facial and excessive body hair. Other females in my family have it to. Will IPL or laser hair removal help?

Yes, it definitely can help. What you have is a genetic condition called hereditary hirsutism, which basically means that some females in your family (not necessarily all) have inherited a gene that produces male hair growth patterns. It isn't anything to worry about, and it is quite common, particularly in people with equatorial ancestry, e.g. the Middle East, Mediterranean, North Africa, Central America, and Indian subcontinent.

However, the one thing you need to keep in mind during your course of treatments is that we will be fighting genetics. This means that you will end up needing more treatments than someone who does not have the condition.

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I'm a cyclist and get itchy rashes down below. Should I get hair removal?

I've written a special article about this. You can read it here:

Hair Removal of Intimate Areas for Male Cyclists

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Help! I jumped a treatment and all my hair is growing back!

Yep, well there's no surprises there. I cannot state this more clearly: Don't think you will be the exception - Everyone needs a MINIMUM of six treatments.

Emerald IPL Hair Removal review

It's common for people to notice after say four treatments that no hair is growing when it's time for their next treatment. Subsequently, people who don't take advice well, decide to ring and postpone their appointment.

This is a HUGE mistake, because next month they ring back claiming that their hair has grown back with a vengeance.

It hasn't grown back - This is the month's hair that we didn't treat because the client jumped a treatment, and now you'll have to wait six months for that bit of the cycle to happen again.

Remember that we are treating hair bulbs that you can't even see, not the hair above your skin that is already dead. No matter who you are, you need at least six treatments spaced consistently, so we can cover the whole six month growth cycle.

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I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Does this rule me out as a candidate for treatment?

Possibly, but not necessarily. Read this related article then give me a call to discuss your situation further.

PCOS versus Laser and Pulsed Light Hair Removal

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What is the difference between liquid cooled and air cooled machines?

When it comes to air-cooled or liquid-cooled (some call it crystal), I favour air cooled machines, simply because they're more efficient. Why? It's simple maths.

The target temperature for permanently disabling a hair bulb is 73 degrees celsius. On a water-cooled machine, the head is pre-cooled to around 4 degrees. Therefore it has to generate 69 degrees to achieve the target result. Meanwhile, on a manual air-cooled machine such as one of my PTF units, I can allow that head to reach whatever temperature I want.

With PTF, I cool the head manually with gel packs to keep it between 15 and 40 degrees - close to or slightly higher than room temperature. When the pulse of light flashes, it only has to produce say 40 degrees variance instead of 69 degrees to achieve the desired result, making a shot from an PTF machine up to 70% more effective.

Speed-wise, water-cooled IPL is a quicker treatment due to having weaker energy output, usually between 30 and 50 Joules compared to an air cooled medical grade machine at 65 Joules. Naturally, water-cooled IPL machines are designed for beauty salons, as they are safer in the hands of inexperienced therapists, and the faster flash allow them to pump out clients more quickly. On the flip-side, air-cooled PTF takes longer but can provide a vastly superior quality treatment.

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Do I need to shave before my IPL or Laser hair removal treatment?

Chest PTF Laser hair removal review, client from Noosa

Except for chests and backs, ideally yes, as you will find it more comfortable to shave in the shower than to be dry shaved in the treatment room.

It also lessens the amount of time you'll spend on the table, and helps me keep Man Thing's prices affordable.

Something to be wary of when shopping around for pulsed light treatments are machines that require you to shave 2 to 7 days before the treatment.

Without naming brands, such machines are low powered and rely on visible hair to channel the light to the root, which tends to "sizzle" the hair above the skin. Ouch. This is another difference between beauty-grade and medical-grade IPL machines.

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Won't shaving before IPL make my hair grow back thicker?

No, this is a myth invented by mothers long ago to stop their teenage daughters shaving their legs. The reason that hair SEEMS to grow back thicker after shaving is because you don't really start shaving until you get hair. Each time you shave afterward, the hair comes back thicker.

Why? Because your body is producing it, hence your need to shave. It would produce exactly the same hair whether you shave or not. Hair growth is driven by hormones and nutrients at a cellular level, not by cutting off hair above the surface of the skin that is no longer connected to your blood supply.

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Can I use hair removal creams or sprays instead of shaving?

No. Hair removal creams kill keratin cells. Keratin is the substance in hair that makes it solid. By dissolving the keratin, the hair becomes goo and wipes off. Unfortunately, keratin is also the substance that makes skin solid.

Hair removal creams destroy keratin indiscriminately, which means your skin is left extremely vulnerable. Skin in this state means that an IPL or laser treatment can have an anomalous result. It could cause pigment marks, skin burns, blisters etc, and for that reason we won't perform a treatment.

If you've used hair removal creams or sprays, you need to wait at least a fortnight before treatment.

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Will my therapist be male or female?

Your therapist will be me, Andrew Thompson, a male with 20+ years experience in the beauty industry, and close to 30 years working with naked human bodies, as an artist, sports practitioner, remedial massage therapist, and acupuncturist.

If you have issues with my gender, regardless of my experience and unblemished reputation over three decades, please go somewhere else.

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I want to have my arms done so I can get a full sleeve tattoo in 6 months. That will be fine, right?

Hair removal testimonial Wandal

No. if you are planning to tattoo an area after hair removal, PLEASE wait at least 12 months - Better still, 18 months. Assuming that all of your hair will be gone after the minimum amount of treatments is crazy.

Your body doesn't respond to any kind of medical or paramedical treatment with that degree of certainty, otherwise we'd have a cure for cancer.

After six treatments, assuming that all is looking well, I will begin to space things out. Depending on the body part, usually I'll suggest a followup treatment at 6 weeks then another at 8 weeks after that. Then we sit back and see what happens. if another topup is needed, we can do it, or if nothing comes through after 3 to 4 months, we can say with reasonable certainty that the bulk of the hair is gone. At this point, you can start thinking about tattoos.

If you decide to ink up before reaching this plateau of next-to-zero growth, you will definitely regret it. As further food for thought, tattoo removal is currently trending as the most popular male cosmetic treatment in Australia.

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Does Pulsed Light hair removal work on everyone?

No. Around 1 in 500 people treated will see little or no effect. Scientists generally concede that they only know about 5% of how the body functions, and at this stage, the reasons behind this small percentage of ineffective treatments remain a mystery.

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How painful is Intense Pulsed Light hair removal?

If we're talking about professional IPL systems and not the little hand-held things you buy online, it isn't painful at all. The body's pain receptors are in the skin, not the hair root. The treatment should actually be quite boring and if you've ever been waxed, it's nothing by comparison. Clients often say that it's like a warm flick, and it passes in less than a second.

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I've been burnt from IPL by a mobile service. They said it's normal. is that true?

Brazilian Laser Hair Removal

This might sound a bit like some of the other questions here, but it's a specific problem. A public health warning if you will. Plus I made a really cool graphic for it that grosses people out :)

Apparently there is a mobile IPL therapist claiming to work for a company (I won't name it here) with 30 branches in Brisbane (this is definitely a lie), who is performing treatments once a month in country Central Queensland.

I became aware of the problem through clients of mine whose friends were left with third degree burns. To date there have been five cases in Biloela, three in Gladstone, one in Blackwater, one in Clermont, and two in Emerald, and these are just the ones I've heard about.

It definitely is not normal to be left with third degree burns after a Hair Removal treatment. To put that statement in perspective, I'll air Man Thing's dirty laundry. Back in 2009, one of my staff with three year's experience gave a lady a blister burn the size of a pea at our Mt Gravatt store in Brisbane. It was superficial and healed in three days. That's it. That's all our dirty laundry.

In the 250,000 treatments performed since, at nine Reef and Man Thing branches across Queensland, we have not caused so much as a minor blister, and in our entire history, have never caused a third degree burn. The notion that twelve major burns from one therapist in one month is 'normal' is absolutely ridiculous. The operator is dodgy, untrained, and dangerous - There is no other possible explanation.

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Other places charge a credit card fee, consult fee, or room-use fee. What are your hidden extras?

None. You pay the price as per the price list above. My consultations are free, I prefer plastic to cash, and I don't charge a room fee.

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Will you do a cheaper price if I pay for all my treatments upfront?

Rarely but maybe. Prepayment of future treatments serves no purpose. Man Thing's prices are sharp already because I don't get bogged down with pointless paperwork.

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What could prevent me having a PTF Hair Removal treatment?

This is an important subject - and a lengthy one - which I've covered in detail in a separate article. To save clutter here, the link below will take you to the page which lists the contraindications and reasons why you may not be suitable for treatment.

Contraindications for Pulsed Light Hair Removal

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Is your equipment listed on the Australian Therapeutic Goods Register?

Yes it is. I use several brands of machines and all are listed on the TGA register. They are also approved by FDA (US) and CE (Europe).

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I'm confused by all the jargon. SIPL, SHR, SPL, PTF, CPL, IPL, ELOS? What's the difference?

That's a good question given the huge influx of suspect "IPL" machines coming into Australia. But first some legal mumbo jumbo you should get your head around.

As well as being an abbreviation for 'Intense Pulsed Light' technology, the term "IPL" is also a registered trademark of Lumenis Israel (1994?), which is the issue at the core of so many terms being used for the same underlying science.

Lumenis email threatening legal action over the term IPLIn fact, back in 2005, we were actually threatened with legal action for using the term 'IPL' on our website.

Over the years, other manufacturers began using the term and for whatever reason, Lumenis didn't stop them, which in itself voided their claim to the trademark.

Regardless of that though, let me just make it clear that despite the fact that I do own a couple of Lumenis machines, Man Thing uses the term IPL as an abbreviation for Intense Pulsed Light technology, not to attach our marketing to that brand.

In Man Thing's stable of IPL machines we also have Palomar, Luminex, GSD, Hua Mei, and Chromolite products. Like everyone else in the world, we simply call them IPL machines. OK, now back to the stuff that matters.

All the various terms are similar in that they are based on Intense Pulsed Light technology, some with a few tweaks and twiddles. At the end of the day, it comes down to power output, filters, skin types, understanding of the science, and experience. Remember that a machine, no matter what brand, is only as good as the person using it.

As I mentioned in the intro, my preferred system is an advanced variation on IPL called PTF. These machines are very powerful and the latest technology from Global Skin Dermatologists. In terms of safety, accuracy and results, my machines are leaps and bounds ahead of older IPL units and their painful predecessor, laser.

Unlike most hair removal chains, Man Thing is independent. I own Man Thing. It answers to no one, so I have the freedom to pick from the best technologies in the world, and I do. It's that simple.

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Why do I need a preliminary patch test and waiting period?

Pubic Hair removal

Most people don't, unless your skin type is Type 5 or 6 - Dark indian, African, Maori, or Aboriginal.

At your first treatment, you will complete a consultation form which asks about your medical history, current medications, ancestry, and so forth to help determine your suitability for treatment. Assuming that there are no contraindications, we can usually perform the treatment on your first visit.

Man Thing's equipment utilises the latest filtering systems which also enables us to treat most Asian skin types.

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How long do treatments take?

Your Intense Pulsed Light session takes around the same amount of time as a wax treatment for the same area. Allow an extra 15 minutes for your first treatment, as I need to assess your skin type and suitability for treatment, and discuss the procedure with you.

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What will I notice between treatments?

IPL Hair Removal Frenchville testimonial

There are two common responses during the weeks that follow a treatment, and we hark back to the inability of science to explain many of the wonders of the human body.

I've thought about it a lot though, and both responses seem to be just as good as each other. Let's look at two hypothetical clients, Bob and Mary.

Bob has his treatment and over the weeks that follow, the hair in the treated area simply stops growing. Even when his next treatment comes around, there still isn't much there.

Our theory on this response is that Bob's hair enjoys a particularly long anagen period, which keeps most of the hair shaft quite moist. Instead of just destroying the hair bulb during the treatment, we dissolved the shaft as well. Bob's body absorbs whatever proteins remain and the rest of the debris simply joins the lymphatic flow and passes out of the body unnoticed in his urine.

Mary on the other hand, finds that her hair keeps growing normally as though she didn't have a treatment at all, BUT at about the 3 week mark, something "miraculous" happens. She molts. She wakes up one morning with a bed full of hair or it sloughs off one day in the shower.

The reason for this 3 week delay is that every hair shaft has its own muscle, the arrector pili, which is the muscle that makes your hair stand on end when it's cold. The hair is also surrounded by other connective tissue that holds it firmly in place. At around 3 weeks, the dead hair, now disconnected from its nutrient supply and out of range of the muscle, simply falls out, leaving nice smooth skin.

To a nerd like me, it's all fascinating stuff. If you've heard of any scientific studies conducted on the subject, I'd love to hear about it.

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My daughter wants Brazilian laser treatment. How old does she have to be?

Eighteen. I'm not a fuddy duddy but I think the decision is up to her as an adult. I will do a standard bikini at 15 with the mother in attendance, but that's it.

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How effective is intense Pulsed Light on blonde, grey or red hairs?

Not very effective at all. Despite various manufacturers' promises, low melanin equals low results. Some manufacturers make grandiose claims but when I push them for the science to explain how their amazing technology works, they come up blank. See the next paragraph re Aboriginal clients.

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I'm of Aboriginal descent. is my skin too dark?

Full back laser review Middlemount

Chances are, yes you are, even if your skin is quite pale. The same applies to people of African, Caribbean, or Pacific Island descent.

Pulsed Light and laser target dark melanin in the base of the hair root, and unfortunately, melanin is also the compound responsible for giving you dark skin.

What this means is that if I fire a shot from the machine on your skin, more often than not, it will hurt and possibly burn you, and very likely, it will fade the skin in the area leaving you with a very white patch. While the treatment will no doubt eliminate your hair, the damage to your skin makes the risk too high to consider performing the treatment.

Electrolysis is an option for you, but I don't offer this treatment.

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Why doesn't Intense Pulsed Light remove all the hair at once?

Intense Pulsed Light targets a chemical compound in the hair called melanin, which gives hair its dark pigmentation. Melanin is most prevalent in hair during the early anagen phase of hair growth (when the hair root is still "juicy") and hairs in this stage of growth are most susceptible to eradication. Hair grows in different cycles, usually between 6 and 12 months, and ongoing treatments are needed to catch each hair as it passes through this early-anagen stage of development.

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Will I have to come back for top-up hair removal treatments?

Some hair can lay dormant for long periods or emerge for the first time as you arrive at a certain stage of life. We can only kill hair bulbs that are actively sprouting. For that reason, you will find that top up treatments from time to time are beneficial.

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I'm male. Will a Brazilian IPL or laser treatment affect my sperm?

Review from client who changed from waxing to laser Emu Park Zilzie

Intense Pulsed Light is essentially heat energy. Case studies suggest that the effects of intense Pulsed Light on sperm is no different to sitting in a hot bath, which decreases your sperm count for the very short term.

That said however, this is merely an educated guess, not a stated fact. The choice is yours alone, and we make no guarantee as to the long term effects of intense Pulsed Light on sperm.

I strongly encourage you read the case study I performed on myself pre-vasectomy is this related article:

The Effects of Hair Removal on Male Sperm

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I'm pregnant and my top lip is sprouting thick dark hair. Can you help?

Unfortunately no - You'd be throwing your money away. Hair growth during pregnancy is hormonal, and no amount of treatments, whether through Man Thing or someone else, will make the least difference. In the case of pregnant clients, I recommend waxing until the end of term. Man Thing's policy in general is not to treat pregnant clients with pulsed light. While there is no scientific evidence to suggest that pulsed light can harm an unborn child, I prefer not to take the risk, especially in view of the fact that a treatment will serve little purpose.

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Can you wax my chest and IPL my stomach at the same appointment?

Yes, if you tell me when you book. For various reasons, people often combine waxing with IPL but I do need to know in advance.

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