Laser Hair Removal Treatment

If you find that removing unwanted hair by shaving, waxing, and threading is difficult and time-consuming, you may want to consider laser hair removal. Hair reduction by a laser procedure is long-lasting and eliminates the need for constant manual maintenance. Our lasers are effective on all skin types and hair colors.

Your provider applies pulses of laser energy to your skin. During this time your skin feels like a rubber band snap or a momentary hot spot. A stream of cool air minimizes discomfort and prevents side effects. Topical anesthetic is also available for purchase at skinfo® (in-store only) or for a $49 fee Advanced Dermatology clinical staff will apply (one time) topical anesthetic to the area being treated. Treatment time is 10 to 60 minutes, depending on the size of the target area. Follow-up treatments are performed at 4 to 8-week intervals.

You can expect the removal of 30% to 90% of your hair after 3 to 10 laser treatments. The rest of the hair grows back and requires follow-up treatments. Not all hair is removed in a single treatment because hair strands exist at different growth stages, some in which hair is pigmented and others in which hair is not pigmented. To be absorbed by laser energy, hair strands must have pigment. Hair strands in a non-pigmented growth stage cannot interact with laser energy and will not be removed until they reach a growth stage in which they are pigmented. As you may suspect, white hair and light-colored hair require more treatments than dark hair. For these reasons, we can’t guarantee the removal of 100% of hair.

To remove hair of all colors in people with different skin types, we treat our patients with one of four different laser devices. As discussed earlier, laser energy is absorbed by the pigment in the hair. If this same laser energy is also absorbed by the pigment in the skin, as in dark-skinned people, the skin may be damaged by heat. This is why we don’t use intense pulsed light in dark-skinned patients. Instead, we use the CoolGlide® Vantage, a laser that emits energy absorbed only by hair pigment and not skin pigment. This laser is approved by the FDA for removing hair in people of all skin types.

The location of hair also affects their ease of removal. Hair in the underarms, bikini line, and legs are easy to remove, while facial hair requires multiple treatments due to hormonal effects.

Although uncommon, a superficial blister or scab may develop after treatment. Healing typically requires 2 to 14 days with regular use of antibiotic ointment. Infection is rare because the skin is not broken during treatment. A scar may form in less than 1 in 20 treatments.

Changes in skin color may occur, although this is very rare. Treatment of pigmentary abnormalities consists of prescription creams, chemical peels, or further laser treatment. Skin color changes happen in only 1 in 20 cases. Skin that is tanned or naturally dark has a higher risk of side effects. That’s why it’s important to allow your suntan or artificial tan to fade before treatment. If your skin is naturally dark you may need additional treatments because we treat dark skin more conservatively to minimize side effects.

Prior to treatment all potential risks and side effects will be discussed with you by your medical provider and cosmetic coordinator.

If your skin is tanned by sun exposure or artificial tanning lotion you should allow at least 4 weeks for the tan to fade before the procedure. You may continue to shave before, during, and after treatment. No other preparation is necessary.

Advise your provider if your medical history includes cold sores or herpes virus infection. This information will help prevent complications.

The treated area may be red and swollen for a few hours after treatment. You may apply makeup immediately. The treated hair falls out during the next 2 to 4 weeks. You may clip or shave this hair during this time. Do not, however, pluck or wax the hair before or between treatments. If you do, the laser treatments will be less effective.

Yes. Shaving, plucking, waxing, use of depilatories and electrolysis are other ways to remove hair. Lasers have many advantages over these traditional techniques. For example, lasers treat all your hair in a single session, whereas electrolysis treats only single small sections each time. This means that more sessions are required with electrolysis than with lasers. Lasers also eliminate ingrown hairs that form after waxing and plucking. This capability helps to remove hair in people with folliculitis.

Yes. Laser hair removal may be combined with other cosmetic treatments, most of them on the same day as laser treatment.

Patients who are pregnant or have taken Accutane during the previous three months should not have laser hair removal. If you wear a pacemaker or defibrillator you may not be treated with devices which, in addition to laser or light energy, include radiofrequency energy (e.g., the Comet). If you have recently waxed, plucked, or bleached your target hair you should postpone laser hair removal.

The fee for laser hair removal depends on the area to be treated.