Laser hair removal uses pulsed laser energy to remove unwanted hair from a targeted area, while leaving surrounding skin unharmed. Common areas on which laser hair removal is performed are the chin, upper lip, chest, underarms, back, bikini line and legs.
There are many benefits to having unwanted hair removed through the use of laser therapy. They include:
- Hair is precisely targeted
- Procedure is quick
- Hair reduction results are permanent (for 90 percent of patients) or long-lasting
A handheld device that emits intense laser pulses is moved across the area, focusing on individual hair follicles. Laser hair removal can be uncomfortable for some patients. Those that do experience discomfort describe it as a hair being tweezed. Your doctor may use methods to manage your pain as necessary based on the area being treated and their discretion.
Hair growth takes place cyclically, in three stages. The most effective laser hair removal takes place during the anagen (full-growth) stage, because the hair follicles in this stage are susceptible to laser energy. But, because all hair is not in the same stage of growth at any given time, several laser treatments, usually between three and five, spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart, are necessary. To some extent, the length of treatment depends on the texture of the patient’s hair, and the location from which it is being removed.
The most common complication of laser hair removal is the regrowth of the unwanted hair. Frequently, however, the hair that regrows is finer and lighter than the hair that was removed. Usually, regrowth can be addressed with a few additional treatment sessions. Other complications are rare, but may include skin irritation such as blistering and crusting, changes in pigmentation or texture of the skin, and scarring at the removal site.
Our GentleMax Pro™ is a dual platform laser made by Syneron Candela, using both a 755nm Alexandrite laser for lighter skin tones and a 1064nm Nd:YAG laser for darker skin tones. This device is the gold standard for effective hair removal in skin types I-VI, which includes most skin types. Our device includes the 20/22/24 mm Large Spot Delivery System which makes our GentleMax Pro the fastest dual wavelength hair removal laser in the market for large body areas. This laser’s patented Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) technology not only protects the outer layers of your skin with a cooling burst of cryogen, but also leads to increased patient comfort for the duration of the procedure.
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