LASER HAIR REMOVAL – FACTS – Q & A
Laser Hair Removal – In response to the ever-increasing demand to remove unwanted hair on virtually any body area, the ability to offer superior results to the widest variety of patients is crucial. The LightSheer™ Diode Laser System delivers on the promise and has become the most popular LASER HAIR REMOVAL device worldwide. Offering a unique combination of laser parameters and patented ChillTip™ protection, the LightSheer™ family of diode laser systems represents quintessential simplicity in a state-of-the-art package.
The LightSheer™ laser is the latest technology in the permanent removal of unwanted facial and body hair for men and women.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL is performed as an in office procedure without the need for anaesthesia and with immediate return to sedentary activities.
Laser Hair Removal Lightsheer™ – A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colours of light. The light emitted by the LightSheer™ diode laser is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) located in hair follicles (melanin pigments give hair its color) and hair shaft. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment – disabling several hair follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair’s regrowth – but not long enough to damage the surrounding skin. The LightSheer™ diode laser’s special contact-cooling handpiece further protects the epidermis (upper layer of skin). This patented method of epidermal preservation allows delivery of more laser energy deeper into the hair follicle.
The laser was developed in 1994 and the first hair removal study began in July 1996. The FDA cleared the device for treatments in December 1997. The FDA then granted it’s claim for permanent hair reduction in April 1999 after it demonstrated in a 3000 person study a better than 50% permanent hair loss after only 3 treatments.
The LightSheer™ Diode Laser Hair Removal System was designed from the ground up for LASER HAIR REMOVAL, so it has the wavelength, fluence, pulse width, and active epidermal cooling system – the ChillTip™ ideally suited for LASER HAIR REMOVAL. The system is small, compact and (in some models) portable, so it fits well into virtually any type of existing practices. The system’s solid state construction makes it durable; it’s state-of-the-art user interface makes it easy to use.
You should not have much hair to manage. If you need to, shaving or trimming is the most effective way to maintain in between treatments.
Depending on your needs, most body areas can be treated with this state-of-the-art technology.
Try to avoid sun exposure. Hair can be more aggressively treated without a fresh tan. Having hair is essential to having a successful treatment. You cannot wax, tweeze, thread or have electrolysis for 4 weeks before a treatment. The best way to manage hair before is to shave, trim, bleach or use cream depilatories. The day of your treatment the hair will need to have been freshly shaved. If you suffer from cold sores often and are having your mouth area treated you will need to get a prescription for Acyclovir or Zovirax and take as directed by your technician. Usually it is 2 days before and 3 days after your treatment. Purchase either Aloe, Vitamin E gel or sunburn creams and keep them in your fridge ready to go for after your treatment.
The LightSheer™ Diode Laser Hair Removal System’s design provides for enhanced comfort during treatment, minimal risk of infection, speed and accuracy. Since the system uses a unique cooling handpiece, it minimizes skin irritation that other methods may create. Since it is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced. Because the system is fast, it allows for larger area to be treated, considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process, which allows more patients to be treated during a typical day. Finally, the LightSheer™ Diode Laser Hair Removal is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to damage only the hair follicle while minimally affecting the surrounding skin.
As with any medical or surgical procedure there are risks, although with LASER HAIR REMOVAL they are minimal. We will review all potential risks with you at the time of your consultation.
As with any medical treatment, use of the Diode Laser system can have some side effects. However, side effects have been minor and manageable in clinical use. The precise laser parameters used for the Diode Laser system were carefully defined by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the color of laser light and the pulse duration to the size, depth, and location of the hair follicle. This research has resulted in a safe technique that effectively eliminates the risk of scarring and substantially reduces most other complications following treatment.
The LightSheer™ laser produces a sensation most commonly described as the snap of a rubber band. The Diode Laser System is fast, which reduces treatment time. The contact cooling lens tip helps reduce discomfort while protecting the skin surface from thermal injury during delivery of the pulse of the laser light energy.
If large or sensitive areas with unwanted hair are to be treated, a topical anesthetic cream such as EMLA may be applied to the site 1 to 2 hours prior to treatment to further reduce any discomfort.
The LightSheer™ laser is the only laser of its kind FDA approved for permanent hair reduction.
Because lasers target the PIGMENT in hair roots, lasers work best on black or brown hair. Naturally red hair may require 4-6 treatment sessions. Very light coloured natural red or blonde hair may require 5 or 6 treatment sessions, and may respond only partially. White hair does not respond to treatment.
The LightSheer™ laser is the only laser of its kind FDA approved for permanent hair reduction.
The length of a laser session may range from a few minutes to two hours, depending on the size of the area being treated.
Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time. They actually go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. The LightSheer™ works by disabling hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually given at intervals of 8-12 weeks, depending on the particular area of the body being treated and the density of the hair in that area. Our staff will work with you to develop the best program that fulfills your needs.
A tan is damage to the skin. When it is damaged it creates “tan” or colour. This is “melanin” deposits in the skin. The laser is attracted to melanin. The technology in the LightSheer allows the skin to be cooled effectively to not traumatize the “tan” but the energy of the laser must be reduced accommodate a tan. Therefore the client may require more treatments than someone without a tan. To have a more effective and aggressive treatment it would be better to not have a tan.
Redness often has faded greatly by the time you get home. It would not be uncommon for the skin to be slightly drier that evening and to require more of your favourite moisturizer, for example, Cliniderm™ Moisturizing Cream.
The hair follicles may appear slightly more obvious or a bit pink for the next day or two, but this is seldom a cosmetic problem, and generally much less obvious than after waxing or sugaring.
The laser will not create ingrowns. If you suffer from them the laser will produce an effective treatment to clear the ingrowns.
Yes, as long as the skin is intact. If the skin is open anywhere you must use polysporin ointment on the open spots.
How long do I wait between treatments?Waiting time may vary with individuals. The general guideline is 4-6 weeks for neck and above areas and 8-12 weeks for areas below the neck.
Over time laser treatments have proven to be less costly than other ongoing methods such as waxing, shaving or electrolysis. A price list will be provided by the clinic.
Most insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic procedures. However, consult your insurance company for more information.
Laser reduction works 90% of the time in most individuals. Unfortunately 10% of people may not respond at all. This cannot be determined until after 2 treatments. If you attend all sessions as suggested you should obtain 70-95% permanent hair reduction.
Waiting time may vary with individuals. The general guideline is 4-6 weeks for neck and above areas and 8-12 weeks for areas below the neck.
You should NOT have waxing / sugaring / plucking or electrolysis, because these things will temporarily remove pigmented hairs from the hair roots and reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment. Sometimes after plucking, waxing or sugaring the hair will become thicker and darker, because one of the ways that the body defends itself from chronic irritation is to produce thicker, darker hairs.
Shaving really is the BEST temporary way to remove unwanted hair before laser treatment, and between laser treatments. Shaving leaves the hair SHAFT in the hair follicle, so the hair shaft can be a target for laser energy, heat up and KILL the hair follicle.
You should not have much hair to manage. If you need to, shaving or trimming is the most effective way to maintain in between treatments.
