Laser hair removal is a procedure which removes hair from the body utilizing a long pulse laser. This procedure has been in use since 1997. The treatment is performed by a specially-trained laser specialist or a doctor (depending on the clinic and state regulations) by pointing the laser device at shaved skin. Laser heat disables follicles from producing hair. Hair grows in cycles. Since various hairs will enter their growth cycle at different times, about 6-8 treatments at intervals of 4-6 weeks are necessary to disable most of the follicles in a given area.

For the vast majority of people the answer is YES! At Desire Laser Plus we can treat women and men of all ethnicities and skin types. Lasers are attracted to pigment of the hair, so if you have white hair or very light blonde hair, that hair may not be treatable. However, it is best to schedule a free consultation to determine whether or not your hair is treatable. As a general rule; best results are seen by those with thick dark hair and light skin but True Laser technology is optimized for each individual’s unique skin type, and thereby offers safe and permanent results for virtually all skin tones and hair thicknesses with the exception of fine vellus hairs, aka Peach Fuzz.

Laser hair removal is most commonly performed on the underarms, legs, bikini area, upper lip, chin, abdomen, back, buttocks, thighs, neck, chest, and arms

Most patients need between 6 and 10 effective treatments spaced a minimum of 4 weeks apart. Because hair grows in cycles, several sessions are necessary in order to affect all hair on any given area. Treatments are scheduled based on the average length of hair growth cycles, usually once every 4-6 weeks. Hair cycle length varies depending on the body part. The face usually has a shorter treatment cycle and therefore more frequent treatments (about 3 weeks apart) whereas legs and back need less frequent treatments (closer to 4-6 weeks apart).

All of the treated hair should be expected to shed out within 2-3 weeks of each treatment. During the shedding phase, hair may look like it’s growing, but it is actually shedding out. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the shedding process. In rare cases, hair that doesn’t shed and is growing as usual after 2 weeks may not have been in the growth phase at the time of treatment and therefore have not been affected during the treatment. In any case, please inform your True Laser specialist at the time of your next treatment of any areas of hair that you feel were not affected so that they can adjust the settings if necessary.

All 4 to 6 treatments should be good effective treatments at aggressive settings in order to achieve permanent results. Once the hair sheds; you will experience a hair-free period for several weeks. Once new hair comes in again, usually within the 4-6 week interval, you should come in for your next session.

Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute, and large areas, such as the back or legs may take up to an hour.

When planning to undergo laser hair removal treatment, you should stop plucking, waxing for six weeks before treatment. True Lasers target the hairs’ roots, which are temporarily removed by waxing or plucking and will thereby render treatment ineffective. You may shave as often as you’d like leading up to your treatment date.

You should also avoid sun exposure in the treatment area for six weeks before and after treatment whenever possible. Sun exposure makes laser hair removal less effective and makes complications after treatment more likely. You know your body best, avoid scheduling treatments until you have cycled through any tan you may have previously received.

For a day or two afterward, the treated area of your skin may look and feel like it’s sunburned. Cool compresses and moisturizers will help.

Over the next month, your treated hair will fall out. Wear sunscreen for the following month to help prevent temporary changes in the color of the treated skin.

Generally, laser hair removal is far less painful than waxing, though the sensation is different. Patients describe the feeling of each laser pulse as that of a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second. Slight Pain is only felt briefly while the laser is hitting the skin. Since each laser pulse effectively destroys all the hair in a given area of roughly the size of a quarter, the treatments are fast.

Some people may experience the following potential temporary side effects:

• Itching

• Redness for up to 3 days

• Swelling around the mouth of follicle for up to 3 days

• Tingling or feeling of numbness

The following rare side effects are indicative of inappropriate laser type and/or failed adherence to the pre and post treatment instructions:

• Micro-crusting/scab formation

• Bruising

• Purpura (purple coloring of the skin)

• Temporary pigment change (hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation)

It is possible to just reduce the amount of hair in an area. Simply purchase a package for the area you would like to thin out and receive successive treatments until you are happy with the amount of remaining hair.

Patients should continue treatments until remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until they’ve reached their desired level of reduction.

While the vast majority of patients achieve outstanding results from laser hair removal, people with excessive hair growth particularly in unusual areas may want to explore any possible underlying medical conditions prior to receiving laser hair removal. Men may experience excessive growth due to undiagnosed insulin resistance whereas women with male-pattern facial hair may want to see an endocrinologist to rule out any possibility of PCOS, Hirsutism, or elevated testosterone levels.

Laser hair removal can only destroy hair that’s currently growing. For example, Desire Laser Plus may treat an area and effectively destroy all of the hair that was growing at the time of treatment, yet a patient may grow new hair (though this is usually just a few strands) due to hormonal changes that trigger new growth from previously dormant follicles such as pregnancy and menopause. Laser hair removal does not stop your body from developing new hair from dormant follicles due to medical conditions after treatments are completed.

• Pregnancy

• Menopause

• Glandular and/or hormonal imbalances

• PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)

• Insulin resistance

• Thyroid problems

• Reactions to certain medications

• Steroid use

The main difference with the laser is that it produces a single precise wavelength of light that will go a bit deeper into the skin to kill the base of the hair follicles. The machine will produce individual little zaps that target a specific hair rather than a large group all at once. It is a narrow beam that is targeted precisely at the hairs intended for elimination.

This treatment tends to be the quickest and most efficient form of hair removal due to the heat and intensity of a single laser.

IPL is a popular hair removal treatment. IPL does not use a laser light source but instead uses a broad spectrum high-intensity light that emits light at multiple wavelengths.

While laser devices emit one single focused wavelength to maximize follicle absorption, IPL covers larger patches of hair.

IPL is like using a strong light bulb and is usually cheaper than laser treatments, but because it is not as concentrated, it may require more treatments than heat laser hair removal to get the same results.

• IPL is a more affordable option but may require more treatments

• Lasers are more precise because they are more specific at targeting individual hairs

• Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second, so treatment times are fast

• Both can treat the same areas

• Both have different settings and can be adjusted to suit the patient’s specific needs

• IPL attacks larger sections at once

• Being more precise may mean laser is more suited to treating darker skin tones