Medically reviewed by Dr Tapan Patel
Last reviewed: 1st September 2026
Three wavelengths, delivered together
Most laser platforms emit one wavelength at a time. Soprano Titanium emits three at once, through a single applicator:
- 755nm alexandrite, strongly absorbed by melanin and efficient on finer, lighter hair.
- 810nm diode, which reaches the mid depth where most hair follicles sit.
- 1064nm Nd:YAG, the deepest reaching and least absorbed by surface melanin, which is what makes treatment appropriate for deeper skin tones.
Hair does not sit at one uniform depth, and hair follicles vary in thickness across the same area. Covering three depths in a single pass means fewer follicles are missed, which is the practical reason we favour this platform on larger treatment areas: legs, backs, chests and full body laser hair removal courses.
Why the delivery method matters
Soprano Titanium uses a technique called SHR, where the applicator moves continuously across the skin while delivering laser energy in rapid, low fluence pulses, rather than firing single high energy shots at fixed points.
The hair follicle is heated gradually to the temperature needed to disable it, instead of being hit hard in one go, and a sapphire tip cools the skin continuously throughout. For most patients this is a noticeably more comfortable experience than a single pulse laser, and it is the main reason we recommend it to people who abandoned a course elsewhere because they could not tolerate it. The applicator head is also larger than most, which cuts treatment times substantially on the body.
Comfort is individual, and we will not tell you the treatment cannot be felt. Most patients describe a building warmth rather than a snap.
Soprano Titanium or GentleMax Pro?
We run both, and the choice is made at consultation rather than in advance. In broad terms:
- Soprano Titanium suits large treatment areas and full body courses, deeper skin tones, patients with a low tolerance for discomfort, and treatment through the summer months when some sun exposure is unavoidable.
- GentleMax Pro is often preferred for coarse, dense hair and for precision on smaller areas, where a targeted single pulse does more.
Many patients are treated on one platform throughout. Some are treated on both, in different areas.
Treating all skin tones, and treating year round
Because the laser energy is spread across rapid low fluence pulses and the skin is cooled continuously, Soprano Titanium is suitable for all skin types and tones, and can be used on skin that has had recent sun exposure where a more aggressive protocol would not be advisable.
That matters practically. Laser hair removal is often described as a winter treatment, which means starting a course in October and losing the summer. This platform lets most patients continue through the year. We will still assess your skin at every visit, and we will still postpone if you arrive with a fresh, deep tan.
Who it suits, and who it does not
The laser targets pigment in the hair, so pigment is the limitation. It works on brown and black hair across every skin tone. It does not work on white, grey, red or very fine blonde hair, because there is not enough melanin in the hair follicle for the laser to find. No device available changes that, and any clinic telling you otherwise is overselling.
We will postpone treatment if you have an active skin infection or inflammatory condition in the area, if you are pregnant, or if you are taking photosensitising medication, including recent isotretinoin, which we will review first.
How many sessions you will need
Only hair follicles in the active growth phase respond to laser, and at any moment only a proportion of the hair in an area is in that phase. That is why a course is needed, and why the spacing between sessions matters as much as the number of them.
On average, six to nine sessions spaced four to six weeks apart are needed to see significant hair reduction. The exact number depends on the area, your hair type and colour, and the result you are after, and we will give you a realistic figure at consultation rather than a package.
It is worth being precise about what a course achieves. Results are long lasting, but we cannot promise they are permanent. Because hair grows in different cycles, we cannot treat every follicle, and hormonal changes including pregnancy, menopause and HRT, as well as some medications, can cause regrowth later. Most patients move to occasional maintenance once a course is complete, and we would rather set that expectation now than at session nine.
Before your treatment
A few things matter in the weeks and days beforehand, and they make a real difference to how well the treatment works:
- Four weeks before. Avoid sun exposure to the area. Tanned skin raises the risk of burning during treatment.
- Two to four weeks before. Stop waxing, plucking and bleaching. The hair follicle needs to be present for the laser to find it.
- Two weeks before. No fake tan on the treatment area.
- Three days before. Stop retinol and exfoliating products, to avoid excessive irritation.
- Two days before. Shave the area, but leave a small patch unshaven so your clinician can assess the hair.
Tell us about any medication you are taking. Some medications increase sensitivity to light and may mean treatment is not suitable, and anticoagulants can make bruising more likely.
Aftercare
There is no downtime and most patients return to normal activities straight away. The skin stays pink and warm to the touch for up to an hour, and can remain slightly red with minor swelling for 24 to 72 hours. Avoid perfumed skincare on the area for 48 hours, leave it free of makeup for 24 hours, and use a minimum SPF 30 throughout your course, reapplied regularly. Aloe vera or Vaseline helps if the area feels irritated. If you ever blister or burn, contact us straight away.
For the full guidance, download our Soprano Titanium aftercare guide. Your therapist will also go through it with you at your appointment, and you are welcome to call the clinic at any point between sessions if something does not seem right.
Safety, regulation and who treats you
PHI Clinic is a Care Quality Commission registered medical clinic at 102 Harley Street, London. As with all aesthetic treatments here, Soprano Titanium is carried out by clinicians formally trained on the platform and working to written treatment protocols, in our case aesthetic therapists and nurses, with medical oversight from our Medical Director, Dr Tapan Patel, MBBS, GMC 4368285. You can read more about the team on our practitioners page.
Patient safety rests on two steps that are not optional here. Every patient's skin type is assessed before treatment, and a patch test is carried out at a separate appointment before a first session. If you have not had laser treatment with us in the previous six months, a new patch test is required before a course can begin. These two steps are where most laser complications are prevented.
Safe and effective treatment
Your safety is our top priority and making our patients feel welcomed and reassured when entering PHI Clinic. To ensure maximum standard of patient care, all of our treatments are only ever carried out by our experienced and highly qualified team, who receive regular in-house and external training from industry experts.
At PHI Clinic we do not offer same day treatment as initial consultation to ensure patients have time to reflect on their bespoke treatment plan before choosing to proceed.
Soprano treatment frequently asked questions
Yes. A patch test is carried out at a separate appointment before your first session, so we can check how your skin responds at the intended settings. If you have not had laser treatment with us in the previous six months, a new patch test is required before a course can begin.
On average, six to nine sessions are needed to see a significant reduction, spaced four to six weeks apart. Soprano Titanium treatments are patient specific, so the number varies with hair type, hair colour, the area being treated and the result you are after. Every patient has a consultation first, at which point you will be given a treatment plan setting out what to expect. Most patients move to occasional maintenance once a course is complete.
No. You may notice mild warmth and slight redness around the follicles for an hour or so afterwards. We advise avoiding hot showers, saunas, steam rooms and strenuous exercise for 24 hours, and you can return to your day straight away.
Most patients find it comfortable. The applicator moves continuously while a sapphire tip cools the skin, so the sensation builds as gradual warmth rather than arriving as a snap. Comfort is individual and we will not promise you will feel nothing, but this is the platform we recommend to patients who found laser difficult to tolerate elsewhere.
A few things matter in the weeks and days beforehand:
- Four weeks before. Avoid sun exposure to the area. Tanned skin raises the risk of burning during treatment.
- Two to four weeks before. Stop waxing, plucking and bleaching. The follicle needs to be present for the laser to find it.
- Two weeks before. No fake tan on the treatment area.
- Three days before. Stop retinol and exfoliating products, to avoid excessive irritation.
- Two days before. Shave the area, but leave a small patch unshaven so your clinician can assess the hair.
Tell us about any medication you are taking. Some medications increase sensitivity to light and may mean treatment is not suitable, and anticoagulants can make bruising more likely.
Yes. We advise avoiding sun exposure throughout your course, because laser treatment increases photosensitivity and tanned skin raises the risk of burning at your next session. If you are going out in the sun, apply a minimum of SPF 30 and reapply it regularly.
Soprano Titanium treats all skin types and tones, and is suitable for men and women. Everyone has a consultation first so we can assess your skin, your hair and your medical history, and confirm the treatment is right for you. Some people need more sessions than others.
No. The laser targets the pigment in the hair, so grey and white hair cannot be treated, and very fine blonde or red hair responds poorly. No device currently available changes this. We will tell you honestly at consultation if your hair is unlikely to respond.
Yes. The 1064nm Nd:YAG wavelength travels deeper and is far less absorbed by the melanin in the surface layers of the skin, which is what makes treatment appropriate for deeper skin tones. Skin assessment and patch testing still apply, as they do for every patient.
Usually, yes. Soprano Titanium can be used year round and on skin that has had some sun exposure, which is why we often recommend it to patients who do not want to lose the summer months. We will still assess your skin at each visit and will postpone if you arrive with a fresh, deep tan.
Both treat all skin types and the choice is made at consultation. Soprano Titanium emits three wavelengths at once through a larger, continuously cooled applicator, which suits large areas, deeper skin tones and patients who want the most comfortable option. GentleMax Pro delivers targeted single pulses and is often preferred for coarse, dense hair and precision on smaller areas.
Soprano Titanium is carried out by our aesthetic therapists and nurses, each formally trained on the platform and working to written treatment protocols, with medical oversight from our Medical Director, Dr Tapan Patel. You can read more about them on our practitioners page.
Location
PHI Clinic
102 Harley Street,
London,
W1G 7JB,
United Kingdom
Tel: 02070345999
Opening Hours
Monday & Tuesday - 9:30am to 6:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday - 9:30am to 8:00pm
Friday - 9:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday - 11:30am to 12:30pm
Sunday - Closed
Opening times can change, if your appointment is outside of these times please contact the clinic for confirmation.
