The desire to remove excess or dark hair usually begins in adolescence and seems to continue until the day we die. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line, or other body parts, many women AND men are intent upon having the hair on their scalp be the only visible hair on their bodies. There are many options available to remove unwanted hair, including laser hair removal, but few options to get rid of hair permanently.
Session Duration: Approx. 30 -60 Minutes
Understanding how hair grows helps us to understand how to keep hair from growing. Each hair is contained in a pilosebaceous unit, which consists of a hair shaft, hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and erector pili muscle. Hair growth and shedding is a continuous cycle through 3 phases. The anagen phase is the growth phase, the catagen phase is a transitional state, and the telogen phase is the resting phase. Hairs spend a variable amount of time in each phase determined by genetics, hormones, and area of the body. Hair in the anagen phase is more susceptible to injury than hair in the telogen phase. All of these factors must be considered when choosing a method of laser hair removal.
Laser Hair removal is a common application of laser technology, but it is not permanent and not for everyone. Lasers work by emitting light at various wavelengths, energy output, and pulse widths. The wavelength used determines the skin structure it will affect such as veins, melanin, or water. Most lasers used for laser hair removal target melanin and are therefore designed to burn structures that contain melanin. The more melanin present, the more damage will be done. It makes sense that laser hair removal works best for light-skinned people with dark hair. As with electrolysis, hair follicles in the anagen phase are more easily destroyed than those in the telogen phase. Therefore, laser hair removal treatments must be repeated. At this time it appears that laser treatment, while not causing permanent destruction of all hair follicles, does retard the re-growth of new hair.
Q. What should a
patient expect during and after a laser hair removal treatment?
A. Treatment
may vary, depending upon patient characteristics and the area being
treated. You will be asked to wear special goggles to protect yours
eyes from the intense beam of laser light.
You will be placed
in reclined position, depending on the location of treatment. A "pencil
thin" handpiece is used to direct a beam of laser light to the specific
area of treatment. In most cases, anesthesia is not required.
Some patients report
feeling a slight stinging sensation during the laser hair removal treatment,
followed by some redness, which usually goes away in 2-4 hours. Some
swelling may also be experienced and may last 1-2 days. There will not
be any purple skin discoloration or bruised appearance to the treated
skin.
Laser hair removal
postoperative care is minimal.
Final treatment results
should be evident within 2-3 weeks after a laser hair removal treatment
for pigmented lesions. In the meantime, normal daily activities can
by resumed with only a slight redness evident at the treatment area.
