QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Why Get Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is a revolutionary approach to long-term epilation of unwanted hair. Laser epilation is now used extensively as a clinical alternative to electrolysis. It is a non-invasive procedure which safely and permanently removes facial and body hair by effectively eliminating the hair from the follicle. It does this without damaging the delicate pores and structures of the skin while at the same time enhancing it.

We use the Cryogen cooling system which is safe and effective, but it also offers a non-messy and uniform method of cooling.

• Tired of shaving, tweezing, plucking, waxing, bleaching, threading
• Embarrassed of unwanted hair growth in areas where it’s obvious and unusual to have…
• Want to have a hair-free body including areas such as:
  upper lip, chin, sideburns, unibrow, ears, neck, back of neck, underarms, arms, chest, stomach, buttocks, legs, bikini area, toes and fingers
• Tired of razor bumps, in-grown hairs, cuts, and five o’clock shadows on your face, neck, underarms.
• Want to better your Skin with our all in one Laser and Skin Rejuvenation treatment…
• It is NON-INVASIVE and it is TOTALLY SAFE!

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Laser hair removal works by directly targeting the follicle, where hair grows. A concentrated pulse of light is harmlessly beamed through the skin into the hair follicle. The pigment in the hair absorbs the heat and light from the laser and removes the hair follicle from its root without harming the skin surface. The laser beam first sources for the hair follicle by detecting its melanin. Melanin is the dark pigmentation in the hair. Then it directs the laser beam at its root to destroy it. Laser hair removal will not work at all on gray or blonde hairs. This is because gray and blonde hairs do not have melanin, so the light beams are ineffective.

Pre-treatment Laser Hair Removal Instructions

Five weeks before treatment and throughout the course of treatment patients are advised to:

• No tanning and sunless tanners
• No waxing, Plucking, Tweezing or Electrolysis
• The area to be treated should be shaved one day prior to treatment as closely as possible so the laser can target the energy towards the hair follicle. If you fail to shave beforehand we will likely shave the areas at the time of the appointment.
• On the day of treatment no lotion, makeup, perfume and deodorant should be used on the areas to be treated.
• If you are taking Accutane, or have taken it in the last 6 months please notify office ahead of time.
• If you are taking any antibiotics, please notify office ahead of time as some make your skin very sensitive to treatment.
• Avoid laser hair removal while pregnant.

Post Laser Hair Removal Treatment

After treatment, you may experience brief swelling and redness which subsides within a day. Avoid scratching the treated area and use sun screen. Within 1-3 weeks, you should experience shedding of hair in the treated area. At first, it will feel like the hair is growing back in, but these are the hairs coming through the skin to shed. After shedding finishes, you might experience little black hair dots stuck in the skin which will eventually shed, but may take a bit longer. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a cleanser or a loofah can help speed up the process of the hairs falling out.

Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?

Pain varies between individuals. Some parts of the body tend to be more sensitive than others depending on the thickness and density of the hair, skin type, and one’s ability to tolerate or feel pain. Most people experience no more than a slight stinging sensation as the laser pulses are applied. Generally, the hair in the area being treated becomes thinner and less dense after each treatment, therefore less discomfort is experienced.

Hair Growth Cycle and How Hair Growth Works

It is important to know the three main phases of the hair growth cycle in order to understand why several treatments are required.

• The Anagen phase, also known as the growing phase, is the active growth phase of hair follicles. It is the phase during which laser hair removal treatment is most effective. During Anagen phase, the hair follicle is directly connected to the blood vessels and the hair bulb produces your hair pigment. The laser targets the melanin of the hair and cuts off the blood supply to hairs resulting in no more hair growth.
• The Catagen phase, also known as the transitional phase, is when hair follicles control the hair strand and hair growth stops. The hair is not visible and capable of absorbing the laser light and therefore its difficult for permanence to be achieved.
• The Telogen phase, also known as the resting phase, is when hair detaches from the blood supply and it is preparing to fall out. The hair bulb stops producing the color pigment. The hair is not visible and capable of absorbing the laser light and therefore cannot be destroyed.

Our hair is in Anagen phase only 1/3 of the time. 3/4 of the time it is in Telogen and Catagen phase. This is the reason why several treatments are required to catch all of the hairs when they are in anagen phase.

Laser Hair Removal on Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, women often experience an increase in hair growth due to hormonal changes that the body goes through. The body becomes more sensitive and those who find the treatment painful may stimulate stress on the body which is not good for the fetus. Although there is no proof that laser hair removal treatments are dangerous during pregnancy, it is best to avoid treatments until after bearing a child.

Laser Hair Removal Vs. Traditional Methods

Laser Hair Removal is the best way to eliminate unwanted hair and a permanent solution. It is effective and painless, making it a more popular method of hair removal for those who are not interested in shaving and waxing over and over again for the rest of their lives. Laser hair removal is much more affordable than it used to be and more cost and time efficient in the long run in comparison to waxing, shaving or depilatory creams. While Traditional methods of hair removal include waxing, shaving, tweezing and depilatory creams which are all temporary and need to be repeated frequently over a lifetime. Shaving is a popular option as it is a fairly inexpensive hair removal method; however it can results in ingrown hairs, irritations and cuts. Shaving has to be done on almost a daily basis for skin to stay smooth and hair free. Waxing pulls hair out by the roots but does not destroy the hair base, so the hair grows back. Waxing can be painful and must be repeated every few weeks. Tweezing is only ideal for small areas such as eyebrows; it can be rather time consuming to pull each individual hair out one by one. Depilatory Creams are full of harsh chemicals that burn out the hair and can cause skin irritation or a chemical burn.