Laser Hair Removal
 Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment inside the hair follicle without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. Because hair cycles through "growth" and "dormant" phases, and because during the "dormant" phase the follicle has no pigment,
4 or 6 treatments will be needed.
The area to be treated is shaved. A small handpiece, or "wand" is placed against the skin and a burst of coolant is applied as the laser is activated. The handpiece is repositioned and the laser is activated again. The size or the area treated will determine the number of laser activations, or "pulses", required.
With electrolysis, the operator inserts a needle into the hair shaft with the intention of reaching the follicle, then sends a small electrical charge designed to disable the follicle. The operator then removes that particular hair with a tweezer.
Hair removal is much faster with a laser as the laser is pulsed about once per second across the surface of the skin. Each "pulse" of laser light disables a large numbers of hair follicles. Electrolysis operators can only treat those hairs that they can see and which they can reach the follicle through the hair shaft. A 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.
The number of sessions will vary for each individual. During the initial visit, the laser light disables those follicles in the "active" phase of the 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, we recommend a series of three treatments.
While some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, most patients report little or no discomfort. For more sensitive patients, anesthetic creams can be applied prior to the treatment.
How is Laser Hair Removal different from electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a much slower process. With electrolysis a needle is actually inserted into each hair follicle, one at a time. Once inserted, an electric shock burns the follicle to retard hair growth. Laser Hair Removal uses the cool light of the laser to scan the treatment area and within minutes all of the hairs in the laser's beam are treated. Most patients who have had both procedures say that Laser Hair Removal is less painful, faster and more convenient.
What are the benefits of Laser Hair Removal?
• Larger areas may be treated using lasers than with electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
• It combines the speed of shaving with the lasting results promised by electrolysis.
• Laser Hair Removal is effective on almost any area of the body where smoother, younger, hair-free skin is desired.
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