Laser is a giant step forward in hair removal technology. It is a non-evasive, light energy that eliminates hundreds of hair follicles in an instant. Laser is an affordable state-of-the-art technology offering:

• Convenience
• Safe and gentle treatments
• Accuracy
• Increased effectiveness
• Immediate results with less follow-up visits

What are the Advantages of Laser Hair Removal?
Treatment of large body areas that once took months to perform with electrolysis can now be accomplished in less than an hour. Freedom from unwanted hair is faster, easier, and comfortably achieved because the laser treats many hairs with a single pulse. Laser technology is delicate enough for a woman’s fine, sensitive skin and yet strong and effective for a man’s coarse, tough hair.

Laser treatments leave your skin looking and feeling smoother and silkier. More important is the confidence you gain with your beautiful hair-free skin.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Our office uses the Candela Gentlelase Plus Alexandrite laser.

A small handpiece is used that allows a gentle beam of laser light to pass through the skin and to penetrate deep into the tissue, where it is selectively absorbed by the melanin, the dark pigment coloration present in the hair and hair follicle. This causes thermal damage to key structures – the bulge, hair bulb and vascular supply- to eliminate unwanted hair without damaging the surrounding skin.

The design of the handpiece through which the laser light is emitted allows for the full visibility of the skin’s surface so that the laser treatments can progress unimpeded.

The Candela Gentlelase Plus allows for varying degrees of laser penetration by offering different spot sizes. This allows for greater coverage (treating a larger area more quickly) and delivers deeper penetration of laser light to the targets ( bulge and bulb ). It is extremely helpful in optimizing treatment for each individual application and adjusting key parameters to account for skin color, hair color, hair density, vessel size and depth. It is extremely helpful as the hair follicles become miniaturized and hair modification occurs.

How is the Skin and Comfort Level of the Patient Ensured?
The skin is completely protected and the patient made comfortable during treatment by spraying cryogen, a safe, environmentally compatible coolant, onto the skin milliseconds before each laser pulse.

This “DCD” spray (Dynamic Cooling Device) is a unique state-of-the-art metered cooling system. It ensures that the epidermis is completely protected, minimizes patient discomfort and thermal injury. DCD allows the use of high fluences (settings), reduces skin irritation, and thus gets better results with no need to be bothered with the application of messy gels or other time consuming procedures to protect the epidermis.

How Long will it Take to Remove the Hair?
To answer this question one must consider all the variables. Many different factors determine the length of time necessary to completely remove all your unwanted hair.

1. Type of hair - straight, wavy or curly.
2. Type of skin - normal or sensitive, as well as fair or dark in color.
3. Metabolic rate – how quickly your skin heals and how quickly your hair grows.
4. Cause of the hair growth.
5. Density of the hair.
6. Location of the hair.
7. Temporary methods of hair removal previously used.

How Many Laser Treatments Will I Need?
The number of treatments needed depends upon the following factors:

• Specific area being treated
• Skin type
• Hair texture
• Hair color
• Hair density
• Hormonal influences
• Ethnicity
• Metabolism
• Medications
• Fluence levels used
• Hair Growth Cycles

Hair Growth Cycles
Each follicle in human skin maintains an independent growth rhythm from the other follicles. At any given time the majority of hair follicles grow in 3 different cycles, from an active or growth phase (anagen) during which the laser absorption is most effective due to an abundance of melanin, to a resting phase (catagen) during which the hair bulb regresses and begins to shrink, to a dormant – shedding phase (telogen) when the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of a new hair. During telogen there is little or no melanin in the hair follicle and the laser will not be effective.

The laser works by disabling hairs that are in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Hairs lying dormant will not be affected. Repeated treatments will be necessary to disable all the hair follicles as they reenter the growth cycle. It appears that after the first initial treatment of the laser, the hairs that regrow are synchronized into the early anagen phase, where they are most vulnerable to laser light treatment. That is why the second treatment is so important and why it is necessary to maintain a strict schedule of treatments at fixed intervals.

The laser is able to treat any active anagen hair follicle even if the hair has not yet appeared or reached the surface of the skin. The laser can also treat the hair if the hair shaft is not straight (curly or crooked).The certified laser specialist will work with you to develop the personalized treatment program and exact laser parameters that best meet your hair removal needs.

The duration of anagen varies greatly depending on age, season, gender, body site, hormones, and genetics. There is several years duration of anagen in the scalp hair of either sex. The duration of anagen and telogen and percentages in different body areas is shown and serves to emphasize the importance of the span of time necessary to effect permanent hair reduction and the need to maintain strict scheduling of treatments.

Most individuals, even those with extremely persistent hair growth, achieve permanent hair reduction after six or eight treatments.

Are There Any Special Considerations?

• Safety eyewear is worn to protect the patient’s eyes from the laser light.




• Waxing and tweezing and the use of depilatories and electrolysis must be discontinued 6 weeks prior to treatment. Hairs are necessary to serve as dark elongated targets for the laser energy. The area may be shaved the same day of treatment.
  
  
• For dark skin types, a topical bleaching cream (hydroquinone) may be started 4-6 weeks before treatment to optimize results.
  
  
• Sunlight should always be avoided before and after treatment and sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher should be applied daily. Tanned skin cannot be treated until the tan has faded. This includes UV light from a tanning booth and those tans from tanning creams.
  
  
• A spot test is performed on the area to be treated in order to properly adjust the laser to the exact parameters needed to optimize treatment for each individual application and to transmit effective energy deep into the tissue to disable and eliminate the hair while paying careful attention to the surrounding skin, hair color, depth and density of the hair and patient comfort.
  
  
• Laser hair removal works best with dark hair on light skin, but other factors such as hormones, age, ethnicity, metabolism and medications all play a part in the hair's resilience and may influence the treatment.
  
  
• Traditional electrolysis can be performed on sparse growth or persistent regrowth. White, gray or blonde hair cannot be successfully treated with laser due to a lack of pigment. Electrolysis would then be recommended.
  
  
• Anywhere from 5-30 days after the treatment, shedding of the hair that was left in the follicle may occur and this appears as new hair growth. It is not new hair growth but dead hair rising to the surface and working it's way out of the follicle. It can be removed by washing or wiping the area with a wet wash cloth or loofa and keeping the area well moisturized.

Are There Any Side Effects?

• Laser technology rapidly removes hair with a new level of effectiveness and convenience. Most individuals experience no more than a slight stinging sensation. Short-term side effects may include a slight reddening of the skin (erythema) or minimal local swelling (perifollicular edema) and will subside within an hour or two. They are desired clinical side effects that indicate that the patient has been treated appropriately. Applying ice will give relief and reduce the swelling duration. Aloe, Vitamin E, antibiotic creams or ointments and/or topical cortisone may also be used.
  
  
• In rare instances there may be itching, blistering or scabbing , as well as temporary pigment changes (hyper and hypo pigmentation).
  
  
• The treated area may have a mild sunburn-like sensation that quickly disappears after 24 hours. Adverse effects are minimal and transient. Patricia Chauvin will work with you to develop the personalized treatment program that best meets your needs. It is extremely important for to make a commitment to follow this schedule in order to achieve the desired results of beautiful, smooth, hair-free skin.