Unwanted, increased hair growth may be caused by medication, heredity, conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the hormonal changes of puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
If you are tired of constantly waxing, shaving, plucking, tweezing – laser hair removal may be a viable option for you.
WHAT IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a laser (a device that produces a highly concentrated, narrow and powerful beam of light) to remove unwanted hair. Common treatment areas include:
- upper lip,
- chin,
- armpits,
- bikini line,
- legs
However, it is possible to treat unwanted hair in other areas as well, such as arms, back, chest, shoulder area, sideburns, neck, abdomen and buttocks.
Currently, laser hair removal is one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. ranked third among cosmetic procedures behind Botox and Hyaluronic Acid filler injections.
HOW DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL WORK?
During laser hair removal, the energy from a laser beam passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The laser energy is absorbed by the melanin pigment (the color in skin and hair) in the hair follicle. This purposeful buildup of heat from the laser damages the hair within that hair follicle thereby inhibiting future hair growth.
WHO IS A CANDIDATE FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
It is most effective in lighter skinned, darker haired patients. Newer technologies and newer lasers, however, have made the procedure safe for patients with darker skin. Dr. ChinQuee will select the appropriate laser to use for your hair color and skin type.
Laser treatments are NOT effective for light blond, red, grey or white hairs. The melanin pigment is the primary target for the laser energy. Blond, red, gray and white hairs lack pigment so they don’t absorb the laser energy sufficiently enough to destroy the hair follicle making them not treatable with any laser.
WHAT TO EXPECT
You will first have a detailed consultation with Dr. ChinQuee to discuss your area(s) of concern and your goals and expectations for laser hair removal. You will be asked to avoid tanning both before and after hair removal sessions.
After the initial consultation, treatment takes place and is relatively painless. Both the patient and the physician will wear appropriate protective eyewear. Most patients will have the hair trimmed, with a scissor, to just a few millimeters above the skin surface. You must have hair in the follicle for the laser light to target. Therefore, you should not shave, wax, pluck for approximately 3-4 weeks before laser hair removal.
A special cooling device is used to provide safety and comfort as it protects the outer layers of the skin. Laser hair removal may vary in the amount of time it takes per procedure; It can take from a few minutes to an hour depending on the areas treated. You may notice slight redness immediately after the treatment but this reaction quickly subsides and you will be able to resume normal activities after the treatment.
Treatments are separated by about 4-8 weeks apart depending on the body area. Dr. ChinQuee will determine how many treatments are needed. It’s important to know that the actual number of treatments required depends on many factors, including hair density, the hair’s growth cycle, hair color, and the area being treated (for example, face, armpits, and bikini lines respond fastest; and arms, backs and legs usually need more treatments over time)
Reduction of hair growth occurs over time because we can only disable and destroy the hair follicles that are present at the time of treatment. Multiple laser treatments are therefore necessary for best results. And periodic maintenance treatments may be needed.
At each successive laser hair removal, most patients notice a significant reduction in the number of hairs that grow back in the treatment area. And the hairs that do grow back, besides being less in amount, are lighter in color and baby fine in thickness.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL ?
To help you find out if a treatment might work for you, call to schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. ChinQuee.