LASER ASSISTED HAIR REMOVAL

The removal of unwanted hair has come a long way from the days of shaving, tweezing, depilatories, waxes and electrolysis --- not only are these methods unpleasant, they are only temporary. That’s the bad news. The good news is the FDA has approved the use of two laser systems for the PERMANENT reduction of unwanted hair and has clinical studies to back it up. Called LightSheer and Cool Glide systems, they are state-of –the-art and light years ahead of traditional methods for removing hair.

For Women:

Unwanted hair on the face, arms, legs, bikini line, underarms, abdomen, and breasts. Particularly good candidates have dark hair and light skin -- darker hair absorbs the laser light most effectively, although laser hair removal is now effective for ALL types, including Asian, African American and even tanned skin.

For Men:

Unwanted hair on the back, neck, legs, arms, hands, abdomen, chest and ingrown hairs on the face and beard.

What is the method?

Dr. Vistnes uses two lasers for unwanted hair removal -- The LightSheer and Cool Glide (Vantage) Systems and both are remarkable in their technology and application. While both successfully remove hair, the Vantage system from Altus Medical now allows darker pigmented patients and tanned individuals to undergo successful hair removal treatments with extremely minimal risk of injury to the skin.

How does it work?

LightSheer and Vantage systems emit a laser light which is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle of an active hair. The laser is pulsed – turned on for a fraction of a second -- just long enough to damage the hair follicle and prevent, or severely restrict, the re-growth of a new hair.

What can I expect?

There is mild discomfort during the treatment and while many people can tolerate it without a topical anesthetic, you may want to request a topical anesthetic prior to the treatment. Following the 20-60 minute treatment, the area may become slightly red and puffy; some describe it as the sensation of a minor sunburn. This will subside in a day or so, but you may have to use a mild hydrocortisone steroid cream for 2-3 days following the treatment. Around 3-10 days after the session, you may experience what appears to be hair re-growth. Don’t worry... most of these are the dead hairs being expelled or shed from the follicle.

Results

It is key to understand that hairs have a 3-phased life cycle – growth, regression and resting and that the laser works best on hairs in the active, growth phase. At the time of your treatment, many hairs will be in the stages of regression or resting, and therefore will be unaffected by the laser. These hairs will complete their cycle and spur a growth phase later on. It is for this reason that a series of treatments is usually necessary at intervals of 4-8 weeks to achieve maximum reduction of hair. The number of treatments is totally dependent upon hormone levels and body site. Many patients are satisfied after as few as 3 treatments while others may have 6 or more treatments to achieve the desired results. You can typically expect a progressive reduction in the amount of visible hair with each successive treatment. **Ask for a spot test during your consultation to get an idea of the results**. >> click here to see before and after photos