Facial and body hair removal has become quite popular in the last two years. Hair removal was never a very complicated procedure. Options other than laser hair removal include shaving, waxing, plucking, electrolysis, and applied depilatory creams. These methods have to be repeated often. Now, both men and women can achieve permanent hair reduction through laser hair removal.
The key to effective laser hair removal is twofold. Your skin and hair type must be matched with the proper medical laser, and the person performing your hair removal must have adequate experience in its use. All our Laser Technicians have been physician-trained and are required to enhance their knowledge through continuing education.
With laser hair removal, most people can successfully get rid of 80% or more of unwanted hair and are very happy with their new, smoother look. You can expect that you will need several treatments to get the best results. The number of treatments will vary with the areas treated and the type of hair to be removed. Women most often treat the lip and chin, bikini line, legs, underarms, and around the navel. Men usually treat the back, shoulders, and upper arms.
About the Procedure: Laser hair removal can take anywhere from five minutes (to remove hair on the lip) to forty-five minutes (to remove hair on the back and shoulders) depending on the area treated. During the treatment, you may experience a slight tingling sensation that most patients tolerate well. We will also cool your skin during the treatments, which also helps to reduce any discomfort. Whether your hair removal takes a few minutes or the better part of an hour, you can plan to return to work or to your normal daily routine immediately. However, it is important that the treated areas are shielded from the sun. You may use a sun block for this protection.
The laser light achieves hair removal by destroying hair at its source, the base of the follicle under the skin. The laser will shoot a concentrated beam of light that passes through your surface skin and is preferentially absorbed at the base of the hair shaft. When the light is absorbed, it is converted to heat, a process that is similar to what happens inside a car that has been sitting in the sun. As the sun shines light into the car, the light is absorbed by the seats, wheel, and dashboard. It is then converted to heat, making them hot to the touch. The same happens to the hair shaft. Once the base of the hair follicle heats up, the ability to grow new hair is destroyed.
Only hair in the active phase of growth can be effectively and permanently removed. Only a fraction of your hair follicles are in the active phase at any time. Thus, most people need multiple (usually 3-8) treatments to get the desired permanent effect.
The risks involved with laser hair removal are minimal. Your eyes will be shielded to avoid injury. There is a small risk of pigment changes and we rarely see any blisters. Our aestheticians and physicians are trained to calibrate the laser to each individual’s skin type because everyone reacts differently to the beam. You will be provided with any further information you need during your consultation regarding lasers and any risks associated with laser hair removal.
FAQ
Is laser hair removal permanent? we only use lasers that are approved for permanent hair reduction by the United States Federal Drug Administration. This means most patients will achieve long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing in the treated areas. The amount of permanent reduction increases with the number of treatments. Occasionally, you may have a few hairs regrow over a period of time.
What does it feel like? Most patients feel a mild sting for a fraction of a second., we use a variety of skin cooling devices and, occasionally a topical anesthetic cream, to reduce or eliminate any discomfort.
How long do the treatments take? We can treat some areas in only a few minutes. Others, such as the back or legs, require 20-40 minutes. For example, the underarms or bikini lines take only fifteen minutes.
How many treatments are necessary? This is very important to understand. Hair goes through three stages of development. Only in the active stage will the laser affect hair removal. At any given time, only some of your hairs are in the active stage. For this reason, it is necessary to treat an area at least three times to see the best and longest lasting results. Most areas need to be treated 3-8 times.
Can you treat darker skin colors? We have the newest lasers that have been specifically designed to treat all skin colors. These lasers were developed at Harvard University School of Medicine specifically for the treatment of people of color. They are safe, affordable, and can achieve the same permanent hair reduction as seen in lighter skin types.
Is laser hair removal safe? Lasers have been in existence for more than thirty-five years and are used by a wide range of medical specialists. Since only light is used to remove hair, it is totally noninvasive. Your eyes will be shielded during the treatment. While there is a slight chance of skin irritation and pigment changes, these are rare due to the type of lasers used and the training of our staff.
What is the cost? The cost of laser hair removal varies based on time and area treated. We can offer very competitive and affordable laser treatments because we only use fast, state-of-the art lasers. Please call us for specific costs
