Laser Hair Removal

Imagine No More Shaving, Waxing or Tweezing. 

Laser hair treatment uses focused, pulsed light to reduce unwanted or excessive hair. The light is absorbed by any dark hair (not blonde or white) and converted to heat, which destroys that hair but leaves the surrounding tissue unharmed.   

What Happens During the Laser Procedure?
Laser treatments are scheduled according to the size and nature of the area being treated. You should shave the area to be treated the day of your appointment; however, do not tweeze or wax for at least two weeks prior. You will be given safety goggles to wear during the treatment to protect your eyes from the laser light. A hand piece will direct the light to the skin, and you will feel a sensation similar to quick heat. The laser emits a light and you may notice a slight smell as the light treats the hair follicles. A numbing cream is available for especially sensitive areas, but most patients do not require this as they tolerate the sensation quite well. 

During your consultation, your provider will recommend the number of treatments you would need to achieve optimal results. This may range from three to 12, depending on the nature of the area.  

What Can I Expect After the Treatment?
You will experience mild to moderate redness, which typically lasts from one to three hours, and some tenderness similar to a sunburn. Cool compresses may be applied to the area for the first 24 hours. 

Do not apply makeup or shave the area for 24 hours. The treated area should be protected from direct sun exposure for two weeks. It will take up to two weeks for the hair remaining in your hair shafts to purge. After that, you should notice a difference in the amount of hair growth. Do not wax or tweeze between treatments. You can shave, however. Your provider will give you any other care instructions to ensure proper recovery, and will advise you of appropriate preparation for your future appointments. Treatments should be spaced four to six weeks apart. 

Will the Results be Permanent?
Technically, the results are not “permanent." Although the hair shaft affected by the laser is destroyed, hair growth is largely determined by our hormones. Therefore, the laser cannot prevent hormones from causing new, different hair growth in the future. If this occurs, however, you will probably not require as many treatments as you did at first.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Now your age does not have to show! 
Cosmetic flaws may be caused by heredity, medication, pregnancy or environmental factors. Yet most vascular and pigmented lesions are ideal candidates for noninvasive intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments. The widest range of benign vascular lesions, erythema rosacea, telangiectasias and hemangiomas can be safely and effectively treated with IPL.

How does IPL technology work?
IPL’s selective pulsed light energy is precisely absorbed by the target areas, without damaging healthy skin. Selectively heating and closing off blood vessels, IPL pulsed light reduces the lesions, while sparing nearby tissue from injury. With pigmented lesions, the light energy heats the melanin in the lesion and causes it to fragment. The melanin fragments are then absorbed by the body and eliminated. By providing smooth consistent light pulses, the energy delivered to the skin is gentle and effective.
 
What to expect?
Patients must consult with a provider to determine their course of treatment. Providers set treatment plans according to the characteristics, such as size and location, of each patient’s lesions. Most lesions can be treated within half an hour. For best results, repeated treatments are required. Before treatment, a cold gel is usually applied to the area to be treated. Then, the provider delivers precise pulses of light to the target area.

Is it safe?
IPL’s high levels of light and gentle energy parameters assure safe, effective treatment. Uniquely shaped IPL pulses precisely heat their intended targets, causing remarkably little or no skin damage or discomfort. This optimal use of energy both increases safety and eliminates the need for cooling methods. Clinical trials conducted by leading authorities on pulsed light document its safety and effectiveness.  

Does it hurt?
While pain tolerance is an individual matter, most people tolerate IPL treatment well and describe the sensation as quick heat to the skin. The majority of patients require no anesthesia, though topical anesthetic is an option for sensitive areas.