Abstract: A photo-thermal epilation apparatus enables the efficient delivery of a high energy light pulse of a sufficiently short duration to a selected follicle to effect permanent hair removal. The apparatus includes a flash lamp powered by a power supply module having an energy storage module interposed between the power supply module and the flash lamp. The energy storage. module, which has an output or network impedance matched to the flash lamp, produces a flattened and extended current pulse that is coupled from the energy storage module to the flash lamp in order to the energize the flash lamp to produce the desired high energy light pulse. An optical system, which includes a tapered needle-less probe, is included to receive the light pulse produced by the flash lamp and efficiently deliver the light pulse to a selected hair follicle to effect the photo-thermal epilation of the associated growth support tissue.