Bios Square Epil – laser hair removal machine of the future?

Being half Iranian, and therefore considerably hairy for most of my life, I was always perplexed about what the best hair removal method was. I remember first becoming troubled with my newly emerging body hair as a 10 year old school girl. Iranian culture deems it shameful to shave body hair at a young age, with some women even waiting until their wedding nights before being mauled with sticky sugar syrup as every tiny hair is ripped from their bodies.

Luckily, my mother did not share such extreme views, yet she still felt I was too young to remove my arm and leg hair before my teens – much to my dismay. I was a dark, skinny little girl mincing about PE classes with hairy legs, glaring enviously at the smooth-skinned blond girls who frolicked about in a smugly care-free manner. Enough was enough I decided, and so one day, when I was all alone at home I went crazy with the razor and shaved my legs and arms (yes they were hairy too) in one frenzied shaving session.

Sadly, I forgot to rinse the bathtub and had to deal with the shame of being told by my mother that my male cousin (staying with us from Iran at the time) had walked into the bathroom and discovered the horrifically hairy scenario. This incident scarred me for life, and I’ve since devoted most of it to finding the best hair removal techniques available – the ones that can truly change your life.

Imagine a world where shaving your legs and bikini line every time you showered was a thing of the past. Imagine a life void of pesky razor bumps, angry irritation and the dreaded two day stubble.

I tried waxing, but found the pain excruciating, resulting in cowardly screams that would fill the salon and disturb the polite clientele. Plus, the hair would always return, so what was the point of enduring all that suffering?

The time came for me to look into laser hair removal. Maybe I was late to the boat, but at least I made it, and was luckily treated with one of the best machines in the industry.

The lobby at Bodyvie, Richmond

I had read numerous positive reviews of Bios Square Epil, which allows the treatment of all skin types and tones, from I to VI, and at any time of the year – perfect as I am usually permanently tanned due to my constant travels. I learnt that the unique BEM (Blended Emission Mode) technology allows clinicians to selectively use one laser source or even combine laser beams, depending on the skin tone/pain threshold of each patient.

I booked myself in for a course of seven sessions to treat my bikini line at Bodyvie in Richmond – a high end clinic known for its exceptional non-invasive aesthetic treatments, founded by the renowned Dr Andrew Weber.

Dr Andrew Weber

Qualified in general medicine in 1981, Dr Weber was a founding member of the British Association of Cosmetic Doctors (now the British College of Aesthetic Medicine), and one of the UK’s first accredited physicians offering advanced laser treatments, dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxing injectables. Bodyvie was established in the late 90’s, and at the time, was one of the first cosmetic clinics in the UK – so I knew I was in good hands.

I was treated by the warm-natured laser technician, Bhumika Patel, who always made me feel at ease during every treatment, explaining that she would increase or decrease the strength of the laser to suit my level of pain tolerance.

Swanky yet minimalist treatment rooms

I was surprised at how quick each session took – approximately 3 – 5 minutes, and at how the cooling air function helped minimise the pain felt by each tiny zap.

As I had to wait four to six weeks between treatments, the entire course took 8 – 9 months to complete, with initial results seen after the second session. Now, after four months, apart from a few pesky strands that can be quickly banished with a razor, I am proudly smooth and unwanted hair-free.

Let the skimpy bikini shopping commence…

 Bodyvie, 133-135 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2PN

Mitra Msaad

Editor in Chief