Question 1

How long has laser technology been in use?

Accepted Answer

LASER was first used in medicine in 1961, nearly 60 years ago! Laser hair removal began in 1997, and has advanced in the past 8 – 10 years with larger treatment areas and more powerful lasers. The Food and Drug Administration approved these devices for “permanent reduction” of hair. They disable hair permanently as long as the right type of hair is treated with an appropriate type of laser at effective settings. Laser Hair technology has been stagnant until NOW! The Splendor X is a game changer! This device is revolutionary because it combines two powerful laser wavelengths in a single pulse, has the largest spot size and a very rapid firing rate.

Question 2

How old do you have to be for laser hair removal?

Accepted Answer

There really is no age limit, but we currently do not treat children under the age of 15. Individuals 15-18 will require consent from their treating pediatrician. Young individuals will develop new hair as they grow, and will require touch ups to maintain results.

Question 3

How is laser hair removal different from electrolysis hair removal?

Accepted Answer

While electrolysis is very effective, it works by inserting a tiny needle into each hair follicle, one at a time, and delivering a jolt of electricity and/or radio frequency energy.  In contrast, the size of the treatment window on the laser head allows the laser to disable many hair follicles in a single pulse.  We can treat an entire upper lip in a few quick pulses, while an electrologist would take up to hundreds of precisely placed “zaps” to cover the same area.  Just think of the time commitment involved in larger areas, such as a back, bikini or full legs!  In addition, you experience a less painful sensation with the laser.

Question 4

Is there a cream to get rid of hair?

Accepted Answer

Vaniqa® is a topical medication approved by the FDA for facial hair. Vaniqa® can help slow the hair growth for many that suffer from unwanted facial hair, but not everyone. Using Vaniqa® as a treatment for unwanted facial hair is expensive, and you must apply it twice a day. If it works you must continue to use it or the facial hair will return.

Question 5

What is the difference between an IPL and laser hair removal?

Accepted Answer

IPL stands for Intense Pulsed Light and is not a laser. While IPLs can be effective for some cosmetic procedures, the laser is more powerful, faster and more effective for hair removal. IPL devices use a beam of incoherent light, often in conjunction with a cream or gel, to burn the hair shaft. A serious flaw with these systems is that they lack the laser’s ability to produce a selective bandwidth of light that will only affect the hair shaft. IPLs produce a wide bandwidth of light that can heat up all of the surrounding tissue, making it less effective in disabling hair and putting the patient at a higher risk for burns, especially on darker skin. IPL devices are generally less expensive than laser devices. The most effective hair removal lasers (i.e. alexandrite, diode, and ND:Yag types) tend to achieve better and faster results than IPLs.

Question 6

How does laser hair removal remove hair?

Accepted Answer

Hair removal lasers emit a light at a specific wavelength that is known to be absorbed by the pigment (color) in the hair follicle — without damaging the surrounding skin. The light is converted to heat energy, which in turns disables the hair follicle so that it will not produce another hair.  Since lasers target pigment, treatments are most effective on coarse hair because it has a lot of pigment and can absorb a lot of heat. Finer hair absorbs much less heat and often require more treatments to achieve reduction. The SPLENDOR X, emits two wavelengths to target the pigment in the hair as well as the blood supply to the hair follicle resulting in better hair reduction.

Question 7

Why does it take a number of laser hair removal treatments?

Accepted Answer

Hair grows in repeating cycles, and only in the actively growing phase does the hair contain enough pigment to sufficiently absorb energy to disable the hair follicle.  When hair is in the dormant phase, it has less pigment, and it cannot absorb the laser light. Since various hairs will enter their growth cycle at different times, about 6-10 treatments, at intervals of 6-12 weeks, are necessary to achieve optimal hair reduction. Individual results will vary among individuals and even on the same individual in different locations. Not all hair is created equal.

Question 8

What is the cost of laser hair removal?

Accepted Answer

The cost of laser hair removal varies depending on the size, complexity and other factors of the area treated.  You will find our pricing fair and well worth the investment. Not all lasers are equal and results are based on the quality of the laser and experience of the individual performing the treatment.

Question 9

What causes hair growth?

Accepted Answer

Heredity and ethnic background constitute the primary causes of hair growth.  Excessive hair growth in women often results from normal biological changes that occur throughout life, such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause and old age.  Any one of these changes may cause an increase in hair growth in areas that never had hair before, or cause a small to moderate problem area to worsen.  Other causes of hair growth can be associated with certain medications, stress and obesity. More serious causes can be an abnormality in the endocrine system, such as irregular menstrual cycles; ovarian disorders, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS); and thyroid abnormalities.

Question 10

What should I do to prepare for laser hair treatment?

Accepted Answer

You should not wax, epilate, or remove hair with the root using any other hair removal method for at least 6 weeks prior to your first session and throughout your course of treatments. The hair needs to be in place in order to be targeted by the laser. The area to be treated should be shaved 1-2 days prior to treatments so that the energy is targeted towards the hair follicle and not wasted on the hair above the skin’s surface. Treating unshaved skin can result in burning of the skin by singed hairs and cause more discomfort.

Question 11

What happens during the laser hair removal procedure?

Accepted Answer

Before the treatment, the area to be treated will be cleansed. The laser treatment will take place in a room set up specifically for laser treatments. Everyone in the room must wear protective eyewear during the procedure. To perform the procedure, the skin is held taut and the skin is treated with the laser. Many patients say that the laser pulses feel like warm pinpricks or a rubber band being snapped against the skin.  A laser removes hair by vaporizing it. This causes small plumes of smoke that have a sulfur-like smell. How long your treatment lasts depend on the size of the area being treated. Treating the upper lip takes minutes. If you are having a large area like the back or legs treated, your treatment will last longer. The Splendor X greatly reduces treatment time by at least 75% compared to other devices because of its large square spot size and power.

Question 12

What should I do after a laser hair removal procedure?

Accepted Answer

To avoid possible side effects, you will need to protect your skin from the sun or tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment for at least 4 weeks. You will see some redness and swelling after treatment. This often looks like a mild sunburn. After the treatment, applying ice packs and cooled pure aloe vera gel help soothe the skin. All hair should shed within 3 weeks following the treatment. Sometimes, shedding doesn’t start until about 10 days after the session. During the shedding phase, hair may look like it’s growing, but it is actually coming out to shed. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the shedding process. After 3 weeks, some patients may see small black dots remain in the hair follicles on some areas. These are commonly referred to as “pepper spots”, which eventually shed on their own. Exfoliating may help speed up the process. Regardless, they will be singed off in the following session. Once the hair sheds, patients should experience a hair-free period for several weeks. Patients should continue treatments until the remaining hairs are too fine for the laser to target, or until they’ve reached their desired reduction.

Question 13

Is there downtime after laser hair removal?

Accepted Answer

No, laser hair removal generally does not require any real downtime. Immediately after having laser hair removal, your treated skin will be slightly red and swollen. Despite this, most people return to their everyday activities. If your redness persists for more than a few hours or you notice blister formation notify the office.

Question 14

How long will the results of laser hair removal last?

Accepted Answer

After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it. The hairs also tend to be finer and lighter in color. To keep the area free of hair, you may need maintenance laser treatments.

Question 15

Is laser hair removal permanent?

Accepted Answer

Laser hair removal treatments result in a permanent reduction of hair, and no matter what some clinics may claim, hair removal lasers cannot and do not remove 100% of the hair in an area. With proper treatments, laser can remove the majority of the coarse hair on a body area, but they are less effective on fine hair. Results vary depending on skin and hair type. Studies have shown that many patients can achieve hair reduction of up to 85-90% and remaining hair returns lighter and softer. Results vary depending on individuals. Younger patients tend to need maintenance or touch up treatments 5-10 years after the initial treatment.

Question 16

Does laser hair removal hurt?

Accepted Answer

This is a common concern for many. To reduce the discomfort, we use special cooling systems to lower the temperature of the skin at the treatment site before, during, and after laser exposure. The treatment is generally well tolerated. Some patients describe the treatment as a sensation like a rubber band snap and many feel it is less painful than waxing.

Question 17

What are the possible side effects of laser hair removal?

Accepted Answer

The most common side effects are minor and last 1 to 3 days. These side effects include: Discomfort, Swelling, Redness. Other possible side effects that are less common include: Blistering, Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks, Infections , Scarring, Skin lightening or darkening. With proper care the skin color tends to return to normal. Some changes to skin color, however, can be permanent.

Question 18

Am I a candidate for laser hair removal?

Accepted Answer

Both men and women seek laser hair removal to remove unwanted hair. Hair removal is commonly done on underarm, pubic area, legs, abdomen, lip, chin, back, buttocks, thighs, face, neck, chest, arms, and toes. Laser technology works by targeting dark pigment. Therefore, it works best on pale skin and dark coarse hair. The lighter the skin and the darker and coarser the hair, the better are the results.

Question 19

Can laser hair removal stimulate hair growth?

Accepted Answer

There are reports that finer hairs treated with laser become more prominent and more numerous. It is a rare occurrence and occurs when treating fine hair, especially on women’s faces and men’s upper arms, shoulders and upper backs. It is also a concern when treating sparse hairs of any kind on any body area. Darker skin types (type IV and darker) are more susceptible to experiencing laser-induced growth. There is no known reason for hair stimulation to occur and no known treatments except, more laser treatments to reduce the hair.

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