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Laser hair removal provides a
permanent solution to removing most unwanted hair .
The number of treatments will vary from individual to individual based
upon your skin type and hair color.
Hair grows in cyclic patterns; while some follicles are actively growing hair others are resting. Each laser hair removal treatment affects only those hair follicles which are in the active growth phase of their cycle. For this reason it is necessary to have several laser hair removal treatments in order to achieve permanent hair removal. Even with the most thorough laser hair removal specialist some hairs may be missed.
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Photos Supplied by
Candela Corporation
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How Does Laser Hair Removal Work? |
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Laser hair removal works by sending a beam of laser light to a group of hair follicles with enough power to disable or destroy the root, but not enough power to harm the surrounding skin. This process is called selective photothermolysis. It is selective because it targets only the hair not the skin. ("Photo" means light and "thermolysis" means destroying with heat.) The surrounding skin is also simultaneously cooled with a cooling tip.
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| What does the treatment involve? |
| The patient is asked to wear eye protection, and the area to be treated is shaved. A small hand-piece (also called a wand) is placed against the skin. As the laser is activated a burst of coolant is automatically applied. The hand-piece is repositioned, the laser is activated, and the process is repeated until treatment is finished. The size of the area treated will determine the number of laser activations (or "pulses”) required. |
| What are the advantages over
electrolysis? |
| With electrolysis, the operator inserts a needle into the hair with the intention of reaching the follicle, then sends a small electric charge designed to disable the follicle. The operator then removes the treated hair with a tweezer. Laser hair removal is much faster as each one-second pulse of laser light disables a large number of hair follicles. In addition, electrolysis operators can only treat those hairs that they can see and those where they can reach the follicle through the hair shaft. The laser treats any active follicle, even if the hair has not yet reached the surface of the skin or if the hair shaft is not straight. |
| How many sessions are needed? |
| The number of sessions will vary for each individual. During each treatment the laser disables those follicles in the active phase growth cycle. Follicles in the dormant phase will not be affected. Since follicles cycle through active and dormant phases, additional sessions may be desired once the dormant follicles become active. For this reason I recommend a series of treatments. Some individuals require as many as 5-6 treatments. |
| Does skin or hair color affect the laser hair removal treatments? |
| The laser targets pigment in the hair so people with light blonde, gray, white or light red hair may not be good candidates for this procedure. In general, the lighter your skin the more power that can be used on the laser, which is especially helpful if you have lighter hair. If you have a naturally dark complexion then it’s important to use a laser best suited for darker skin. I use the alexandrite laser for light skin and the 1064 Yag for dark skin types. |
| How long does it take? |
| Treatments vary in length depending upon the area being
treated. The Candela laser has 4 laser sizes up to 18mm for larger treatment areas. For example, an upper chin or lip may take just 2 minutes and the lower legs could be about 30 to 40 minutes. The built-in cryogen spray handpiece also speeds up the process because there's no need to stop and spray the skin with a cooling agent. |
| How safe is it?
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| I have had extensive training in the use of laser systems and am licensed in the state of Florida. I also regularly update my training in laser hair removal. I carefully follow all state protocols. Under the care of a skilled laser technician, laser treatments are generally safe for all skin types. |
| How effective is it? |
| A good laser will permanently remove hair. A percentage of hair will not grow back at all. The hair that does grow back will be thinner and lighter in color. Because the laser penetrates the skin to reach hair follicles, hair does not need to be visible to be treated. You will also experience a long-lasting delay in hair re-growth.
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| Is the laser treatment painful? |
| Many compare the sensation of laser hair removal with
the snapping of a rubber band against the skin. The areas on your body that are padded with muscles or fat are less likely to experience pain from the laser than more sensitive regions of the body. While some areas of the body are obviously more sensitive than others most patients report little or no discomfort. For more sensitive patients anesthetic creams can be applied prior to the treatment
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| Are there any side effects? |
| Immediately after the treatment the skin may look pink and slightly swollen; this usually disappears within 72 hours and the affected skin returns to normal. As with electrolysis, cases of scarring have been reported but these are extremely rare. A test spot is the best way to determine how each individual's skin will react. |
| How should I prepare for treatment? |
| If you are having your back or shoulders treated, it is advisable to have someone shave your back the day of or the day before treatment to save time and allow a topical anesthetic (when applicable) to work. Please make sure to shave closely. Patients with especially coarse hair or those who are having large areas treated may want to consider using a topical anesthetic, or numbing cream, to make treatment more comfortable. The best way to use topical anesthetic cream (may be called EMLA cream or tetracaine) is to apply it liberally to the treatment area 45 minutes to 1 hour prior to treatment. Following this cover the area with plastic wrap and allow the cream to remain in place until the time of your treatment. When you arrive at the office you may wipe off the cream from the treatment area just prior to treatment; or just leave it in place and your laser treatment specialist will remove it for you. |
| What is “upfront pricing”? |
| Rather than charging my patients for each individual session I offer an upfront price for all laser hair removal treatments. This enables me to offer you the best value, whether it takes you five treatments or ten to completely remove the hair. You can pay for either individual sessions or receive a discount for a package of multiple treatments. The more treatments that you purchase, the greater the discount that I can offer you. Call for a free consultation so that I can go into greater detail, as well as give you honest feed-back and a great price. |
| How do I know this is right for me? |
| Just contact my office
for a free no-pressure consultation. I will be happy to discuss the
procedure with you and answer any other questions you may have. |
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Important notice: avoiding exposure to the sun 3 weeks prior to treatment is required!
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Laser Hair Removal
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