Hair Reduction

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light (laser) to remove unwanted hair.

During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.

Although laser hair removal effectively delays hair growth for long periods, it usually doesn't result in permanent hair removal. Multiple laser hair removal treatments are needed for initial hair removal, and maintenance treatments might be needed as well. Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair, but it can be successfully used on all skin types.

Laser hair removal is used to reduce unwanted hair. Common treatment locations include legs, armpits, upper lip, chin and the bikini line. However, it's possible to treat unwanted hair in nearly any area, except the eyelid or surrounding area.

Hair color and skin type influence the success of laser hair removal. The basic principle is that the pigment of the hair, but not the pigment of the skin, should absorb the light. The laser should damage only the hair follicle while avoiding damage to the skin. Therefore, a contrast between hair and skin color — dark hair and light skin — results in the best outcomes.

The risk of damage to skin is greater when there is little contrast between hair and skin color, but advances in laser technology have made laser hair removal an option for people who have darker skin. Laser hair removal is less effective for hair colors that don't absorb light well: gray, red, blond and white. However, laser treatment options for light-colored hair continue to be developed.

Risks of side effects vary with skin type, hair color, treatment plan and adherence to pre-treatment and post-treatment care. The most common side effects of laser hair removal include:

Skin irritation. Temporary discomfort, redness and swelling are possible after laser hair removal. Any signs and symptoms typically disappear within several hours.

Pigment changes. Laser hair removal might darken or lighten the affected skin. These changes might be temporary or permanent. Skin lightening primarily affects those who don't avoid sun exposure before or after treatment and those who have darker skin.

Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. Other rare side effects include graying of treated hair or excessive hair growth around treated areas, particularly on darker skin.

If you're interested in laser hair removal, choose a doctor who's board certified in a specialty such as dermatology or cosmetic surgery and has experience with laser hair removal on your skin type. Before laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with the doctor to determine if this is an appropriate treatment option for you.

The doctor will also offer specific instructions to prepare for laser hair removal. These might include:

Staying out of the sun. Follow your doctor's advice for avoiding sun exposure before and after treatment. Whenever you go out, apply a broad-spectrum, SPF30 sunscreen.

Lightening your skin. Avoid any sunless skin creams that darken your skin. Your doctor might also prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a recent tan or darker skin.

Avoiding other hair removal methods. Plucking, waxing and electrolysis can disturb the hair follicle and should be avoided at least four weeks before treatment.

Avoiding blood-thinning medications. Ask your doctor about what medications, such as aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs, to avoid before the procedure.

Shaving treatment area. Trimming and shaving is recommended the day before laser treatment. It removes hair above the skin that can result in surface skin damage from burnt hairs, but it leaves the hair shaft intact below the surface.

Laser hair removal usually requires three to six treatments. The interval between treatments will vary depending on the location. On areas where hair grows quickly, such as the upper lip, the treatment might be repeated in four to eight weeks. On areas of slow hair growth, such as the back, the treatment might be every 12 to 16 weeks. For each treatment you'll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. An assistant might shave the site again if necessary. The doctor might apply a topical anesthetic to your skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment.

After laser hair removal and between scheduled treatments, avoid sunlight and don't use a tanning bed for six weeks or as directed by your doctor. Use a broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen daily.
Hairs do not fall out immediately, but you will shed them over a period of days to weeks. This may look like continued hair growth. The repeated treatments are usually necessary because hair growth and loss naturally occur in a cycle, and laser treatment works best with hair follicles in the new-growth stage. Results vary significantly and are difficult to predict. Most people experience hair removal that lasts several months, and it might last for years. But laser hair removal doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal. When hair regrows, it's usually finer and lighter in color.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I a candidate for laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is required when one’s hair is darker than the surrounding skin. Additionally very darkly pigmented people absorb too much laser energy in their skin and are not ideal candidates. Tanned patients with light hair are not candidates. Tanned patient with dark hair should wait until their tan fades before they are treated. Science the laser targets pigments; the best candidate is a patient with dark hair and light skin. This will allow the laser to obliterate the hair follicle without damage to the surrounding and overlying skin. The laser is ineffective against dray or blonde hair. The darker skinned individuals can undergo laser hair reduction, but special considerations and lower energy levels are required.

What will it cost for laser hair removal for me?

Treatment cost varies with the size of the area treated. Large areas, such as the entire back, or the entire legs, cost considerably more. Small areas, such as the upper lip, can be less. Individual consultation with the laser Centre is necessary to obtain exact pricing.

Influence of skin color on laser hair removal?

Light skin makes laser hair removal easier to perform. Fewer treatments are required, and better, faster results are obtained. People with darker skin can be treated, but results are slower, more sessions are required, and greater expertise is required on the part of the laser centre . Laser hair removal must be individualized for each patient.

Influence of hair colour on laser hair removal?

Dark hair absorbs more laser energy and is easier to treat. Coarse dark hair responds the best laser treatment. Light hair is more difficult to treat. Blonde or red hair is very difficult to treat multiple treatment sessions are required, and results are variable. Blonde or red hair usually contains pheomelanin, which absorbs laser energy less avidly than the eumelanin pigment, which is present in black or brown hair.

Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments?

Although one laser session can produce long-term hair removal, as a rule multiple treatment sessions are necessary to obtain optimal results. In large part this is due to the fact that laser hair removal is most effective for hair, which is in the anagen phase. Anagen is the growth phase of hair. Since hair grows in cycles, not all of the hairs are in anagen at any given time. Additional sessions are necessary to target all of the hairs when they are in anagen.

What area can be treated?

Any area, expect adjacent to the eye, where there is excess hair. The most common are as requested are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, periareolar, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line, and legs.

About permanent hair reduction by laser?

Waxing, shaving, and plucking all produce hair removal, which is temporary. Several of the newer lasers have clearly documented that there is permanent hair reduction after each treatment. The results tend to be additive, i.e. more treatments lead to greater degrees of permanent hair reduction. For any given patient results cannot be precisely predicated. Results can be variable, even with the best lasers.

Is laser hair reduction permanent?

Laser hair reduction should give a 70% reduction in hair growth. What grows back is lighter, thinner and finer hair quality. However, it is experienced that the majority of patients have been happy with their results.

How many treatments do I need?

The number of treatments for laser hair reduction is variable. Clients require 8-10 sessions spaced one to two months apart, and possibly touch-up during the lifetime. It is important to understand that hair grows in cycles. In order for the laser to be efficacious, the hair follicle must be in the active growing phase. Therefore, hair follicles that are in the resting stage will be resistant to laser therapy at that time.

What should I avoid after treatment?

Sun exposure or tanning should be avoided. This can be accomplished by the use of sunscreens. The treated areas should be handled gently, avoiding the use of abrasive cleansers or topical acne preparations. If necessary, a topical antibiotic such as Flutibact, T-Bact (a prescription antibiotic available as a cream or an ointment) can be applied. Most patients experience no noticeable after effects of laser hair removal.

What will look like after the treatment?

Is not instance, no perceptible skin changes are apparent. Rarely, mild redness and swelling may occurs, it usually fades within 24 hours. At the time of treatment many of the hairs are removed, and others shed in 1-2 weeks following the treatment. In most instances you will be able to apply makeup immediately if you chose.

Is laser hair removal safe?

The Intense Pulse Light was developed from years of research at the Weliman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world’s leading medical laser research institutions. The laser is pulsed, or “turned on”, for only a fraction of a second and the hair follicles. A unique component of the Intense Pulse Light is the actively cooled sapphire handpiece, was designed to protect the skin by actively cooling it before, during and after the laser light is transmitted. It also actively draws off heat from the skin surface, which further protects the skin from injury.

Does it hurt?

The cooling tip has a mild anesthetic property, which allows tender areas to be treated in a relatively painless fashion. You may feel a tingling or stinging sensation during the treatment, but most people tolerate the procedure well. Topical anesthetic is available to increase your comfort if u choose. Following your treatment, you may experience a sunburn-type sensation in the treated area for several hours.

How does laser hair removal differ from electrolysis and is permanent treatment?

The main difference between this technology and the traditional method known as electrolysis is that laser can treat multiple hair follicles at one time, no longer requiring the need to identify and probe each individual hair follicle, as is done with electrolysis. Laser hair removal is a relatively new technology. Most people need an average of 8-10 treatments. Hair grows in cycles and subsequent treatments are necessary to treat the follicles that are lying dormant below the surface of the skin. These dormant follicles contain little pigment and are not affected by the first treatment.

Hair Reduction

Hair Reduction

Frequently Asked Questions

Get Appointment

Time Shedule

Working Hours

Select Branch

Personal Information

Get In Touch