Laser Hair Removal & Electrolysis

For decades, women have tried to rid themselves of unwanted hair of the face, legs, underarms, abdomen, and groin. Waxing, plucking, and electrolysis have all proven to be painful and they are procedures that must be repeated regularly. Laser hair removal, the newest trend in hair removal, is promising; seemingly painless the results last longer than other hair removal treatments.

Lasers are a popular procedure for the rapid, gentle removal of unwanted hair. The laser causes controlled damage to hair follicles, causing them to go into shock temporarily. While in shock, the follicles do not generate hair. About three to six treatments are recommended over a period of time for best results. Hair will eventually return but may not do so for 2-4 months in most patients. Some patients observe no recurrence of hair growth for 6-12 months. When hair returns, it is usually thinner and lighter, with typically 75% reduction in hair growth.

Laser Treatments

Laser hair removal treatments are performed in our office using the latest, state-or-the-art laser hair removal equipment. Most sessions last anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes depending on the size of area treated. Treatments are associated with mild discomfort, similar to a small rubber band snapping against skin. The discomfort is well tolerated when small areas are treated, but large areas can be treated as well. Discomfort can be minimized by the use of ice immediately prior to the laser application. Laser hair removal sessions usually do not require sedatives, pain medications, or injections of local anesthetic because of the low level of pain associated with the treatment. You may generally return to work immediately after treatment.

You may develop light spots on your treated areas. Such a problem usually normalizes within a week to ten days. You can easily prevent discoloration or burning by wearing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. If you like to tan, a special course of treatment that takes tanning into consideration will be developed for you.

Laser treatments and other methods can help to remove unwanted tattoos, stretch marks, and other marks on the skin.