Unwanted hair - the Cristianos solution

Cristianos have the pleasure in announcing the opening of our new Clinic in Liverpool (see news item for more details)

If unwanted hair is the problem, the Cristianos Laser Clinic Ltd will get straight to its root. The Cheshire, Manchester, Leeds, Lancashire, Liverpool Maghull and London based clinics specialise in all aspects of safe effective laser hair removal with a focus on the latest state of the art laser techniques.

Cristianos emerged in 1997 provioding laser hair removal, with the experience of one woman, Chris Hart. She was determined that all treatments, in which she was involved, had an ethical approach; the needs of clients would be the first consideration. She established the first Cristianos Laser Clinic in Altrincham, near Manchester, to provide that service. The reputation of the Clinic became such that demand increased and, in response to that need and to reduce the traveling times of clients, other Clinics have since been established around the U.K.

Chris has a wide background in Beauty Therapy, particularly laser hair removal. She was the first therapist in the U.K. to successfully treat clients using the laser for hair removal and the first therapist to establish a private clinic using the revolutionary and effective Chromos 694 Ruby Laser and now the state of the art system the Ultra VPL™

Cristianos have shown their commitment to existing and prospective clients by purchasing a new system that can treat Asian and darker skin tones for laser hair removal. 

The Energist ULTRA™ System is the most advanced hair removal & skin rejuvenation product available. Utilising state-of-the-art Variable Pulsed Light (VPL™) technology, the ULTRA™ System can be adapted to ensure the optimal parameters to provide a safe, fast and effective treatment for every individual.

Treatments with the ULTRA™ include Hair Removal and Skin Rejuvenation. These include: redness, rosacea, age spots, freckles, pigment changes, skin texture and fine lines.

While the removal of unwanted hair is no more than a routine grooming procedure for many women, a large number, particularly during pregnancy or in middle age, experience a coarser, darker growth, which may require a more concentrated, long term treatment than straightforward waxing or shaving. Cristianos is the only private clinic in the U.K.  to use the revolutionary Chromos 694 Ruby laser, clinically proven to offer a highly effective means of achieving long term hair removal quickly. It is considered by many clients to less painful than electrolysis.

From a modest beginning, the Cristianos name has become internationally synonymous for safe, effective and ethically driven treatments. Under her tutelage and guidance, Cristianos clinics are highly regarded by Beauty Therapy Professionals, Healthcare Professionals and client groups. Cristianos is encouraged by the enthusiastic response from eminent Healthcare Professionals and renowned Academic institutions that have joined the initiative established by Cristianos Laser Clinics Limited in clinical research into the field of hair removal for client groups and the treatment of hirsutism caused by medical conditions, especially Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Chris's hard work and that of the entire team enabled us to gain the acclaimed IIP Award in 2003 and re-certification in 2007.

Cristianos is registered to provide treatment for clients aged 16 and over

All users of laser and intense pulsed light equipment must register and be inspected by the Care Quality Commission. This registration usually covers the treatment of adults over the age of 18 years. In order to provide treatment for clients aged below this age Cristianos was required to apply for specific registration to treat clients aged 16 and above. The Commission are duty bound to protect the safety of children and young people and look closely at the policies and processes Cristianos have in place to ensure that young people are provided with treatment in a supportive and protective environment. Where a young person is considering treatment at Cristianos they must be referred by their GP and be accompanied by an adult.

Consultation

Cristianos has been developed and will continue to develop on the principles of providing an honest, caring, individual service to each and every one of our clients. Bringing the amazing innovative technology of the Chromos 694 Ruby Laser and the ULTRA™ to the trans community in an atmosphere of trust, encouragement and understanding is fundamental to our principles. You are welcome to come for an informal chat about your needs over a coffee and receive the very best professional advice without the fear of prejudice or exploitation and what's best of all is that all consultations and test patches are completely free of charge and without obligation.

We understand the need for privacy and confidentiality and you can always be assured of a warm welcome. You are more than welcome to bring a friend or partner with you. 

For assessment or treatment your hair need only be visible on the surface of your skin. We will gladly remove your make-up and we also have the facilities for you to reapply it in privacy before leaving.

If your hair or skin is not suitable for laser treatment we will tell you. If you are simply unsure or not ready to try laser or VPL treatment we can offer you electrolysis or waxing.

Funding

The availability of funding for laser hair removal on the NHS varies from one Trust to another and is generally regarded as a cosmetic treatment. Some Trusts will have electrolysis clinics attached to their dermatology departments but generally speaking the waiting lists are extensive and the amount of treatment is restricted regardless of the severity of the patients condition. The availability of light based technology i.e. laser or intense pulsed light IPL within this framework is even more rear. Nevertheless where individual cases are presented certain Trusts are willing to out-source such treatment. Cristianos is a clinic known not only for the high standards of treatment and care but also the support offered to it’s clients. That same quality of client centered treatment and care has resulted in Cristianos being assessed by several Primary Care Trusts as being a suitable for providing contracted services for hair removal.

The NHS have a duty to ensure that treatment patients receive are safe, effective and performed by suitably qualified practitioners. Healthcare organisation's are required to monitor the quality of treatment they provide and produce audited data which demonstrates the safety and effectiveness of treatment. Healthcare Professionals are obliged by their professional Codes of Conduct to abide by Clinical Guidelines and can be struck off the register if they fail to do so. Hair removal either electrolysis or light based has traditionally fallen within the field of beauty therapy where although professionally qualified there are no mechanisms in place to withdraw qualifications for bad practice and no requirements to prove the safety or effectiveness of treatment. Therefore the NHS has in the past been reluctant to out-source treatments of this nature.

However the Care Standards Act 2000 (as amended) made it a criminal offence to operate a laser or intense pulse light system without prior registration with the Care Quality Commission. Registration requires the provider to demonstrate their compliance with a quality assurance framework known as the National Minimum Standards, NMS. Registration can be suspended or withdrawn where breaches in the NMS are found. The legal requirement to register and comply therefore gives the NHS a tool with which they can gauge the safety and effectiveness of any clinic and a mechanism by which they can report bad practice and as such many more Trusts are willing to contract such services.

If your unwanted hair is the result of a medical problem or is affecting your quality of life your PCT may pay for you to have treatment at Cristianos. If you think you would benefit you can contact Cristianos on freephone 0800-0850661 or in confidence to info@cristianos.co.uk

Ever thought IIP was an easy standard to meet?

This just shows the sort of commitment Cristianos is adopting towards the whole area of laser therapy. Chris Hart says, "As far as I am aware we are the only private laser hair removal clinic in the country to have this prestigious IIP award. We do not intend to stop there. It is our ambition to be set the standards nationally and everything we have done over the past 10 years highlights this".

Care Quality Commission

The clinics are registered with The Care Quality Commission. (CQC) and set the highest professional and ethical standards. The Cristianos treatment begins with a free and impartial consultation to determine the most appropriate course of treatment, based on hair and skin type and individual needs. The clinic’s team of highly skilled and experienced consultants offer a friendly, discreet service in comfortable surroundings. For those who are not ready to try the laser or are unsuited to this type of treatment, a full range of more conventional treatments, such as electrolysis and waxing, is also available. Not all clients are female and a perhaps surprising number of men include hair removal in their grooming programme.

Please follow this link to view how to assess laser and IPL reports from the Care Quality Commission