Laser Hair Reduction

What are the benefits?
The average patient in clinical studies sees a 48% reduction in hair growth after three treatments and up to an 80% lasting reduction after six to eight treatments (results vary). After you have completed a series of four to six treatments, any remaining hair will usually be finer and lighter in color. Most patients require one or two touch-up treatments per year. Blond, platinum, most red, gray hair will not respond to this treatment.

How does it work?
Laser energy is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle while your hair in its anagen, or active phase of growth: The laser light is converted into heat, causing thermal damage to the follicle without harming the surrounding tissue. Hair re-growth is impeded in the damaged follicle.


What can I expect during the treatment?
Laser light will be delivered through a hand held wand attached to a laser console. You may experience a stinging sensation as the laser pulse is delivered. To reduce discomfort, the cooling system automatically removes heat from the surface of your skin before, during and after the laser exposure (You should not need general anesthesia or pain medication, but a topical anesthetic cream may be applied to sensitive areas). The process can take from 15 minutes for a small area (lip or bikini) to 1 hour for a larger area (like full back or legs).
 

What would I expect after the procedure?
The treated area is cleansed and you are free to return to your normal routine. Some patients may experience a slight reddening and swelling around hair follicles, though this will typically disappear within a few minutes. It is always recommended that you avoid sun exposure or use sunscreen following treatment.
Several days after treatment injured hair follicles will begin to fall out, a process that can be sped up by lightly rubbing the skin with a towel. It may seem that some hair continues to grow for several weeks after the procedure, but many of these will also fall out. What hair that is not eliminated will likely be replaced by thinner, lighter, significantly less noticeable hair.

How many treatments will I need?
Hair growth involves several cycles and, thus, some hairs may be affected during a single treatment and some may not. We have seen that after several treatments most terminal (mature) hairs are replaced with finer hairs of lighter color. Some hairs are completely eliminated. Although complete hair removal may not be achieved, the hairs become less visible and, thus, less bothersome. The number of treatments needed to obtain optimal results varies with hair density, color and growth cycle as well as skin type, though it is common to have 3-4, and possibly as many as 8, treatments; once every 4-8 weeks. Results will improve with each subsequent treatment.
Only 30% or less of your hair may be in the active phase at any one time depending on the body area.

Thus, a series of treatments will be required to achieve the long-term improvement you desire. These treatments are spaced approximately 4-12 weeks apart, based on hair growth cycles. Our extensive experience tells us that you can expect to need from 3-8 treatments (4-6 is average) to each treatment area for long lasting optimal results. Often people will need touch-ups and any hair re-growth.

 
Adverse Effects
Hair treatment is very safe. There are rare occurrences of small blistering which usually heals without any scaring.
The practitioners take a careful history and adjust the laser settings to minimize the risk.