Laser hair removal has come of age and is a fully developed procedure that can yield long-term permanent hair reduction of the face, back, bikini area, underarms, and legs. We are committed to the latest technological innovations in this field and now can offer treatment for any skin type and hair color.

What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser Hair Removal is a light based treatment used to permanently reduce hair anywhere on the face or body.

Who is a candidate?

Individuals with all skin types and hair color can be safely treated.

Patients who are pregnant or who have taken Accutane in the last 3 months cannot have Laser Hair Removal. In addition, patients with pacemakers or defibrillators should not have treatments with the Syneron Aurora (due to radiofrequency energy). Patients who are tan should postpone treatments until the tan fades to minimize risk of side effects. Also, patients who have recently waxed, plucked, or bleached should postpone treatments to maximize the results.

What is Laser Hair Removal like?

During a Laser Hair Removal treatment, your provider will apply ultrasound cooling gel to the area being treated. The laser is then applied in "pulses" to the entire area. The laser handpiece has a built-in contact cooling sapphire glass window that is in direct contact with the skin and protects the skin from heat generated by the laser.  Depending on the size of the area being treated, each treatment takes between 15 minutes to hours. Subsequent treatments are performed at 6 to 8 week intervals, depending on the area being treated.

How does Laser Hair Removal work?

Lasers are machines that produce a beam of light that has a specific biological target. Some lasers target blood vessels and are absorbed by these. Some lasers target pigment, so hair follicles or age spots absorb these. The target that absorbs the light converts it to heat and is modified or removed. Previously we used intense pulsed light to effectively treat unwanted hair. The Aurora combines intense pulsed light with radiofrequency. Radiofrequency does not target pigment and therefore is effective in treating lighter hair.

What type of equipment is used?

Dr. Lee has multiple hair removal devices including the Aurora & Galaxy (IPL + bipolar radiofrequency) from Syneron, the PW770 (700-1100 nm infrared light) from Cutera, the Gemini and Lyra (long-pulsed Nd:YAG 1064 nm lasers) from Laserscope, and many others.  Dr. Lee will always be able to use the proper laser and wavelength that is right for your hair and skin type.

What desired results can be expected?

Specific areas of hair growth are easier to remove than others. Underarms, bikini lines, and legs are easier to treat, whereas more treatments are needed to remove facial hair, due to the effect of hormones. The average number of treatments ranges from five to ten visits. This is because at any given time, only a fraction of hairs are in the growing phase (anagen cycle). Only anagen hairs can be effectively removed with laser because the resting phase (telogen) hairs do not have mature pigment at their follicle bulb which is the target for the light. Thus, one treatment will sometimes only get 10% of the hairs because only those hairs have enough pigment to be destroyed. The FDA has approved all of our lasers for permanent hair reduction. Data has shown that about 30-90% of the hair does not grow back for one year after the end of the treatment cycle. Of course, this assumes the appropriate treatment and the correct number of treatments for each individual, all of which can be variable. No one can guarantee 100% permanent hair removal, as people do need occasional maintenance or touch-up treatments.

Are there any negatives?

There is some discomfort during the procedure likened to the snapping of a warm rubber band. Most people find this to be mild and tolerable. We use contact cooling to minimize any discomfort and also offer a topical anesthetic if desired.

Immediately after a treatment there may be some redness and/or mild swelling, although usually this dissipates before you leave the office or within a couple of hours.

Bruising is also uncommon, although the risk increases if you take aspirin products or are on blood thinners. Bruises are temporary and resolve in 1-2 weeks.

Uncommonly, a skin wound such as superficial blisters and scabs can occur, which heal within 2 days to 14 days. Use of antibiotic ointment on a regular basis usually results in uneventful healing. There is a <0.5% possibility of a skin wound leaving behind a permanent scar. It is also rare for an infection to occur since the skin is usually not broken.

Another risk is a possibility of hypo (too little) or hyper (too much) pigmentation that is very uncommon. Usually treatable with prescription creams, chemical peels or further laser treatments, there is a <1% possibility that the pigmentation could be permanent. There is an increased risk of this with tanned or naturally dark skin. You may need extra treatments than those required by others if your skin is dark in order for us to be more conservative (gentler with initial and subsequent treatments) due to this increased risk. It is also important that you let any tanning lotions fade and do not seek artificial tanning treatments for 3-4 weeks prior to the procedure.

Dr. Lee has several lasers which are FDA approved to treat all skin types (including black and tan skin) safely.  These lasers are called long-pulsed Nd:YAG lasers and are the safest lasers to use on darker skin.

Other lasers are more effective on white skin and dark or brown hairs.  Dr. Lee has a wide variety of lasers available so she will always be able to use the proper laser and wavelength that is best for your individual hair and skin type.

What happens after Laser Hair Removal?

Immediately following a treatment, the area may be pink for a few hours. It usually takes 1-2 weeks for the hair to fall out following a treatment. During this time you may clip or shave the hair. Individuals undergoing laser hair removal treatments should not pluck or wax before or in-between treatments as this will reduce the effectiveness of the treatments.

How is this different than other procedures?

Laser Hair Removal is much faster than electrolysis. At each Laser Hair Removal treatment, all the hair is treated. Whereas with electrolysis, only small sections are treated each time. Because of this, many more sessions are required with electrolysis than with laser treatment.

Laser hair removal also eliminates ingrown hairs which are typical after waxing and plucking and can help people who suffer from folliculitis.

Can this be combined with other treatments?

Laser Hair Removal may be combined with many other cosmetic services.

What is the cost of Laser Hair Removal?

The fees for Laser Hair Removal are based on the areas being treated. Please call our office to set up a consultation.