Laser Hair Removal for Women

For many women, unwanted hair can be a nightmare. Getting rid of it can be painful. Until recently, the only choices we had for removing unwanted hair were smelly hair-removal creams, sharp razors, hot wax or painful electrolysis needles.

Today, advanced medical lasers and light systems provide the ultimate solution. This medical technology transcends the older, painful hair removal treatments and delivers longer lasting results. Now, even men are pleased with the results made possible by lasers.

How does a laser remove hair?

Lasers and light systems don't actually remove the hair. Instead, they kill the unwanted hair by targeting the melanin in the hair follicle; disabling the hair from further growth. Hair removal lasers and light systems use low-energy settings to gently disable unwanted hair, thus putting an end to routine shaving or waxing. These treatments leave your skin looking and feeling smoother and silkier.

Because these systems scan the skin rather than treating one hair at a time, it is possible to treat larger areas such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs, face and neck. Best of all, these advanced Hair Removal Treatments are safe, fast, gentle and effective alternative methods for hair removal.

What if I have dark skin?

Hair removal lasers work by targeting the melanin. By adjusting the power settings on the lasers your technician can focus on the melanin in the hair and not the melanin in the skin. By lowering the power settings your technician can even treat dark skin successfully.

What are the benefits of Laser and Light Hair Removal?

• They do not cause the irritation that other hair removal methods may cause.
• Larger areas may be treated at one time than with electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
• They combine the speed of shaving with the lasting results promised by electrolysis.
• They are effective on almost any area of the body where smoother, younger, hair-free skin is desired.

How are these treatments different from electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a much slower process. With electrolysis, a needle is actually inserted into each hair follicle, one at a time. Once inserted, an electric shock burns the follicle to retard hair growth. The advanced laser and light systems use cool light to scan the treatment area; and within minutes all of the hairs in the laser beam are treated. Most patients who have had both say that treatment with lasers and light systems are less painful, faster and more convenient.

What are the treatments like?

Laser and Light Hair Removal are both gentle processes. First, your technician cleanses the area to be treated. Then the area is scanned with the laser or light handpiece. The light energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. The light energy vaporizes the carbon particles in the follicle, disabling hair growth. Treatments can last from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the size of the area being treated.

How many treatments will I need?

Usually two to three treatments are sufficient; however, your hair grows in cycles and many factors influence its growth. Age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication and metabolism all play a part in your hair's location, thickness and resilience. The number of treatments you may require for optimal long-term benefits depends on the area you wish to have treated, the hair density and your hair's growth cycle.

Laser and light systems treat the hair follicles in the growth cycle at the time of the treatment. Since some hair follicles may enter their growth cycle after your treatment, multiple treatments may be required to deliver optimal results. Most patients like us to treat until the hair is gone.

Following treatment

After your treatment, the area is cleansed and you can return to your normal activities immediately. Your physician may recommend that you use a specially formulated skin care product line or prescribe a skin care regime especially formulated for your skin type after laser treatments. The use of sunscreen is recommended for 48 hours on any treated areas exposed to the sun.

NOTE: Some older lasers do not work equally well with light or dark hair and skin. If you have dark skin, you may want to have a patch test to see if your skin can tolerate the laser.

This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.

Trademarks are property of their owners.
B & A photos may not be patients of the doctor featured in this web site.
Your results may differ. Copyright • 2002 • MJD Patient Communications
All rights reserved. Any reproduction in part or whole is strictly prohibited.