Laser Hair Removal at LiteTouch MedSpa
in NYC.
What is laser
hair removal?
Laser hair removal is a procedure by which hair is removed from the
body by utilizing a long pulse laser. Lasers are developed and designed
from years of research. The laser parameters are carefully defined
by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching
the laser light and pulse duration to the follicle size, depth and
location to inhibit the re-growth of the hair. The laser works by
disabling hairs that are in their active growth cycle at the time
of treatment. Since other hairs will enter their growth cycle at
different times, several treatments are necessary to disable all
of the follicles in a given area.
Who is a
candidate for laser hair removal?
Both men and women seek laser hair removal services to have unwanted
hair removed. Hair removal is commonly done on the hairline, above
and between eyebrows, top of the nose, lip, chin, ear lobe, shoulders,
back, underarm, abdomen, buttocks, pubic area, bikini lines, thighs,
face, neck, breast, arms, legs, hands, and toes.
Is laser hair
removal permanent?
The general opinion is that laser hair removal is permanent, and the
Food and Drug Administration approved it as “permanent reduction,”
A set of 6 treatments at specified intervals are generally necessary
to achieve substantial hair removal with laser. Factors that determine
the length of treatment include the particular area to be treated,
the texture of hair, frequency of treatments, history of temporary
measures to remove hair (waxing, tweezing, shaving, and depilatories,
etc.) etc.
How does the
laser hair removal treatment work?
Lasers are optical devices, which produce intense coherent, collimated
and mono-chromatic beams of light. A laser consists of an active
medium such as a crystal, gas or liquid that amplifies light when
excited by an external energy source (a flash amp or electric discharge,
for example). When the appropriate medium is employed, the laser
can be fine-tuned to generate a very narrow band of light wavelengths
(such as the individual colors of the visible spectrum).
How should
I prepare for treatment and what should I expect after treatment?
You should shave the area to be treated 1 day before treatment. No
waxing, no tweezing, no threading or removing hair with the root or
any other way is allowed throughout the entire course of treatment,
as hair needs to be in place to be targeted by the laser. The area
should be shaved as closely as possible so that laser can target the
most energy towards the hair follicle and not waste energy on the part
of the hair above the skin’s surface.
After treatment is completed (underarms take under 10 minutes, back
treatment can take 1 hour or so), you should apply aloe vera to soothe
the skin for a few days. Within 2-3 weeks, you should experience shedding
of all treated hair. At first, hair will look like its growing back
in, but it is just coming through the skin to shed. Shedding starts
at about 1.5 weeks and can last until 3.5 weeks post-treatment or so.
Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can
help speed up the process. After shedding finishes, you might experience
little black dots still “stuck” in the skin. These are commonly referred
to as “pepper spots” and will shed eventually. Exfoliate to help those
out as well.
After shedding occurs, you should experience a hair free period for
a few weeks, until next set of hair that was dormant before, starts
to come in. Once you have enough hair to justify a treatment, you
may then go in for one. This usually happens within 6-12 weeks post-treatment.
The patient continues this process until he/she has reached diminishing
returns and the remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or
until you have reached your desired reduction.
How many laser
hair removal treatments are required and spaced how far apart?
Most people need at least 6 treatments spaced 4-12 weeks apart. This
is because hair grows in 3 phases and is killed in the first “anagen”
active growing phase. Several treatments are needed to target ALL
hair in the active growth phase. Approximately 4-12 weeks after every
treatment, additional treatment is required to eliminate the hairs
that came out of the dormant phase and are now active.
Is laser hair removal treatment painful?
Everyone’s pain threshold is different, but generally laser hair removal
is not much more painful than waxing, but the sensation is different.
It resembles a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second
with each pulse. Most people do not require an anesthetic cream but
one may be used for very sensitive patients /areas (anesthetic cream
can be obtained at the Spa or prescribed).
What are
the possible risks, side effects, and complications of laser hair
removal?
Side effects occur infrequently, and as a rule, generally are temporary.
Side effects may include swelling, bruising and erythema.
Every laser candidate should explore a possible underlying reason of
the extreme hair growth before starting laser because if there is something
in the body consistently triggering hair growth; laser treatments might
seem ineffective because the body will keep developing new hair. So,
it will always seem like there is not a reduction, when in fact it’s
NEW hair your body is producing that you are seeing, not that treated
by laser growing back. Women with PCOS hair growth patterns (upper
lip, chin, cheeks, etc.) should see an endocrinologist and have hormonal
tests taken. Men can get tested for insulin resistance etc. Talk
to your doctor if you suspect you might have an underlying medical
condition causing excessive hair growth before starting laser hair
removal. Once the condition is controlled through treatment/medication,
laser hair removal can then be performed. Laser can affect the hair
that’s currently present, but cannot prevent NEW hair from developing.
What is the
hair growth cycle and how does hair growth work?
Under normal circumstances hair growth in each hair follicle occurs
in a cycle. There are three main phases of the hair growth cycle:
anagen, catagen and telogen. Anagen (active) is the growing phase
or when the hair fiber is produced. During anagen, the hair contains
an abundance of melanin, the pigment that gives your hair its color.
This is the phase during which laser hair removal treatment is most
effective. Catagen (club hair) is the period of controlled regression
of the hair follicle. This phase is when the lower part of the hair
stops growing, but does not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed.
It will be difficult for permanence to be achieved when the hair is
in the catagen growth cycle. Telogen (tired) is the last of the
hair growth cycle. In this resting phase, the old hair falls out in
preparation for the development of a new anagen hair. Permanence cannot
be achieved when the hair is in the telogen growth cycle.
