- Liposuction
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
- Massive Weight Loss
- Thigh Lift
- Liposuction of Arms
- Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
- Buttock Augmentation
- Calf Augmentation
- Hand Rejuvenation
- Labiaplasty
- Tattoo Removal
- Laser Hair Removal
- Unwanted Body Hair
- Alternative Treatments
- Patient Photographs
- Electrolysis
- How It Works
- How It Is Done
- Would This Work Well On Me
- Treatment Photograph
- What To Expect After Treatment
- Complications
- Care After Treatment
- Frequently Asked Questions
Laser Hair Removal - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is there any cream that works to remove hair?
- There is a product called Vaniqa® which is marketed for hair removal. I have prescribed it, on occasion, to patients that request it. Tellingly, no one has asked for a renewal of the prescription. It appears to have minimal effectiveness.
Q. Are there any restrictions after the laser treatment?
- Avoidance of ultraviolet light (i.e. sun exposure) for several days (in some cases, longer) after treatment is strongly advised in order to avoid hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) due to temporary melanocyte hypersenstitivity.
- Avoid sun and tanning before treatments to reduce the amount of melanin in the skin that would otherwise absorb the laser energy, causing more discomfort and making it necessary to reduce the energy setting on the laser.
Q. Is the hair removal permanent?
- Studies show that the hair follicles that are damaged by the laser treatment do not tend to recover, so that the effect is permanent. But, of course, not all hairs are removed with each treatment. Each treatment reduces the hair count ("density).
Q. What should I expect after my first treatment?
- I use the analogy of cutting trees in a forest. If an enthusiastic woodsman were to cut down every fifth tree in a forest, the forest would still look pretty much like a forest. It may take three or more such tree-cutting sessions, cutting down 20% each time, before the forest starts to look thinned out. Once about half the trees are eliminated, the results are noticeable. So you should not expect too much from just one or two treatments. Be patient and after your third or fourth treatment you should be noticing a difference. For my more mathematically-inclined patients, an exponential curve is a useful reference. In the mid-portion of the curve, there is a rapid decline, but then the curve flattens out, approaching but never actually reaching zero hairs.
Q. Is it painful?
- There is some discomfort. The analogy is a rubber band snapping on the skin. After awhile it does not seem to hurt as much. However, there are areas of the face and body, such as the upper lip and flanks that seem to be more sensitive. The cooling unit is very helpful in making it less uncomfortable. The treatment should be a little uncomfortable, but it should not be too painful either. The energy setting is adjusted to strike the right balance. Another clue is the redness of the skin. A little redness is desirable but a lot of redness may indicate the power setting is a little too high. Almost everyone can tolerate it. We’ve even treated 12 year-old girls on occasion.
Q. How many treatments will I need?
- This depends on your skin type, hair color and density, area of the body, and your expectation level. If you have dark hair and light skin, you have the ideal combination and should have a good result. If your hair is very dense, you are going to need more treatments. Most patients are satisfied with a hair reduction of about 80%. This may reduce the need for shaving from a daily ritual to perhaps weekly or less often. Some patients wish to eliminate the hairs completely. I have patients who have had ten treatments or more. Notably, they are not dissatisfied patients. On the contrary, they are happy to have a safe, effective treatment that has helped them tremendously with a problem that causes them social embarrassment. The male beard area is notoriously dense. Men having this area treated should expect to have more treatments.
Q. I have a big problem with ingrown hairs. Will this help?
- Yes.Ingrown hairs can be a nuisance, causing chronic inflammation. The hair is difficult to extract because it is buried by the skin. Laser hair removal can help reduce the hair density, and therefore the problem, because it works on hair follicles that are located under the surface of the skin.
Q. Should I let the hair grow out before my laser treatment?
- Yes. It can be helpful to have just the slightest amount of hair growth at the time of treatment, just enough to show the affected area. But any more than this is unnecessary. So you can stop shaving the day before your treatment or perhaps the morning of your treatment if your hair comes in quickly.
Q. I heard that shaving is to be avoided because this makes the hair come in worse. Is this true?
- No. This is an old wive’s tale. Shaving is to be encouraged. Women can shave too. This is much faster and less painful than plucking or tweezing. The new hairs that erupt from the surface of the skin do seem to be coarser but this is simply because it is short. It simply has not grown out enough to be flexible. If anything, shaving can be healthy for skin, providing a little exfoliation. Women should not regard it as unfeminine. With laser hair removal treatments, it is not necessary to shave as often.
Q. Do the hairs just fall out?
- Yes. You may see hair fragments that get pushed out of the hair follicles during the week or two after treatment.
