HOW IT WORKS

Get to the Root of Unwanted Hair

 

Unwanted hair is a common problem, for both men and women. Frequent hair removal chores including shaving, depilatories, plucking, and waxing are time-consuming, inconvenient and often painful. At best, these frequently used methods offer only temporary results – for some only a few hours.

 

Free yourself from the constant need to shave and wax unwanted facial and body hair in order to look and feel your best. Laser technology has brought us a better way, a safe, long-lasting way to remove unwanted hair from any part of the body, leaving skin feeling smooth and looking great.

 

We can help you get at the root of the problem with laser hair removal with our state-of-the-art Elite+™ laser system. Laser hair removal gives you effective, permanent hair reduction anywhere on your body that you have unwanted hair. Whether it’s your face, legs, back, or bikini line, you can have the results you want.

 

Contact us to find out how we can help you get to the root of unwanted hair.

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How It Works

 

To understand how laser hair removal works, it’s helpful to understand how your hair works.

 

How Your Hair Grows

 

Hair grows from deep within hair follicles, which are thin cavities embedded in the skin. Hair does not grow continuously, but grows in a three-phase cycle.

     1. Anagen Phase. This phase is where the hair actively grows. The Anagen phase typically lasts for several months and is the best phase for Laser Hair Removal.

     2. Catagen Phase. During this brief phase, the hair bulb regresses and begins to shrink.

     3. Telogen Phase. The final phase is a resting phase which lasts a few months. During the Telogen phase, the hair is released from the follicle. After the resting phase is complete, the hair will restart the Anagen or growth phase.

 

While the rate at which hair grows differs by individual, the length of the hair growth cycle generally depends on the type of hair and area of the body. For example, the active growth phase of the hair on your head may last several years, while hair on the body has an active growth phase that may last only a few months.

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How Laser Hair Removal Works

 

During laser hair removal procedures, a laser device emits light energy that travels through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft. Pigments are the substances that give skin and hair its color (also known as melanin). The energy absorbed damages the pigmented hair follicle, which impairs its ability to grow. Hair follicles that are in the anagen, or active growth phase, have more pigment and absorb more energy, and typically respond the best to treatments. For this reason, it typically takes multiple treatments to achieve the best results – it’s important to “catch” your hair in this active growth phase when you are receiving treatments.

 

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Technology We Use

 

There are many devices for laser hair removal however, we use the best in laser technology, the Cynosure® Elite+™. The Elite+™ uses two proven laser wavelengths that provide treatments for patients of all skin types. Treatments with this system are fast, effective, and safe.

 

Fast

With spot sizes up to 24mm, the Elite+™ laser provides fast treatments, allowing you to resume your normal activities as quickly as possible. These larger sized spots make for quick treatments of larger areas such as the back, legs, or chest. Smaller spot sizes are used for smaller areas, such as the upper lip.

 

Effective

The Elite+™ contains two different types of laser wavelengths that provide effective treatments on patients of all skin types. One of the lasers is better for lighter skinned patients, and the other is better for darker skinned patients.

 

Safe

The Elite+™ system has been in clinical use for many years and has been proven safe in many clinical publications.

 

How to Prepare For Your Treatment

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For at least one month prior to your appointment, avoid tanning and using sunless tanners to prepare for laser hair removal and laser skin treatments. The skin should be as light as possible at the time of treatment. For this reason, many people choose to undergo laser treatment during winter.

 

For 4-6 weeks prior to your appointment, refrain from plucking, epilating or waxing your skin. Shaving is fine, but these other hair removal techniques can reduce the effectiveness of the laser treatment. Also, the hair should not be bleached.

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Shave the area that will be treated within 12-24 hours of your appointment. The hair follicles should be visible, but it can be more painful if longer hair is present during the laser hair removal.

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Clean the skin at the treatment site. Leave it free of cosmetics, lotions and creams. If you apply deodorant, it needs to be removed prior to treatment. This will allow for effective energy delivery of the laser device to your hair follicles, thus providing a more effective treatment.

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What To Expect On The Day Of Treatment

 

During the treatment, the laser specialist will guide the device over the treatment area. As he or she does, it will deliver light energy, which travels through your skin and is absorbed by the hair follicles. You may feel cold air blowing throughout the treatment for added comfort. You will also hear a slight beep as the laser delivers this energy into your skin. It is normal to feel a slight snapping like a rubber band as the energy is being delivered. 

 

The hair follicles that absorb energy from the laser will be damaged. Hairs that were present in the follicles at the time of treatment will fall out over the next couple of weeks and future hair growth will be impaired. Since not all hairs are actively growing at the same time multiple treatments are required for optimal results. As the follicles in the transitional and resting periods return to the active growth phase, you may notice some hair regrowth but not as thick as it was before the treatment. This regrowth will become thinner and lighter with each subsequent treatment until there is little, to no hair at all.