FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
LASER
AND ELECTROLYSIS
HAIR
REMOVAL
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How
does the Laser remove hair?
How
does Electrolysis remove hair?
What
is the difference between Laser and Electrolysis?
Which
method is best for me?
Can
darker skinned patients be treated with Laser?
How
many treatments are required?
Is
Laser/Electrolysis treatment painful?
What
are the side effects of Laser treatment?
What
should I do to prepare for Laser treatment?
How
does the Laser remove hair?
Laser hair removal changes light energy into heat energy. When the
laser beam strikes melanin (the pigment in your hair follicles), the light energy is transformed into heat.
This causes a miniature explosion in the follicle, which damages the follicle.
The follicle then heals, which causes the follicle to decrease in diameter.
With sequential treatments the follicle eventually becomes "miniaturized".
At this stage, the follicle produces no hair at all and remains a fibrous
tract.
How
does Electrolysis remove hair?
Electrolysis involves inserting a probe into each hair follicle and applying
an electric current. It can be successful in eliminating hair permanently.
Because you can only treat one hair follicle at a time, it can be a time consuming process. With the laser, 50 hairs can
be removed at a time. That's 50 hairs versus 1 hair with electrolysis.
At LaserPlus, because we offer both methods we are a one-stop shop for your hair
removal needs. It is often the combination of electrolysis and laser
that will give you the results you are looking for.
What
is the difference between Laser and Electrolysis?
There are numerous similarities between laser hair removal and electrolysis.
Both procedures involve a transfer of energy and both procedures require
a series of treatments to reach satisfactory results. Like electrolysis,
laser hair removal requires sequential treatments because of the stages
of hair growth. Not all hairs are in the pigmented stage at the same
time, thus the laser does not see them. Since other hairs will enter
the growth phase at different times, additional treatments will be necessary
to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually
given at intervals of approximately 6-8 weeks, depending on hair growth.
Which
method is best for me?
Fair skinned patients with dark hair, are most easily treated with Laser.
Hair color and skin type are the two most important factors in predicting
success of Laser treatment. People with skin types I and II are most
easily treated. The Laser does not see blonde, gray or red hair.
LaserPlus will not treat patients who are currently pregnant and certain
medical conditions (i.e., cold sores, etc.) may need to be treated by a
physician prior to laser or electrolysis treatment. Your individual
circumstances can be addressed during your initial consultation with LaserPlus
and their staff physician.
Can
darker skinned patients be treated with Laser?
At LaserPlus our Light Sheer Diode Laser and the Altus CoolGlide Yag Laser can treat all
skin types from I - VI; and very
fine to coarse hair. The new Altus CoolGlide Yag Laser is a
state-of-the-art system designed to successfully
treat darker skinned patients.
How
many treatments are required?
The number of treatments necessary to achieve permanence varies based upon
the individual hair color and skin type. Theoretically, repeated
damage to the follicle would produce permanent results, but because of
various physiologic factors influencing hair growth, results are not totally
predictable. However, it is a fact that most people who undergo laser
hair removal experience long-term or permanent hair removal.
Is
Laser/Electrolysis treatment painful?
There is a minimal amount of discomfort. Each laser pulse can treat
up to 50 hairs at one time, versus one hair at a time with electrolysis.
The Light-Sheer and CoolGlide used at LaserPlus are fast, reducing treatment time, and the
Chill Tips cooling lenses of the laser add to the comfort level. A
topical anesthetic such as Benzo is available from LaserPlus for patients
who find the brief discomfort intolerable.
What
are the side effects of Laser treatment?
Immediate appearance of the skin is usually pink in color with some bumpiness.
Some patients may experience crusting of the area in a few days.
Discomfort similar to a sunburn may be experienced for the first twenty-four
hours. In certain instances (especially in darker skinned individuals)
temporary pigmentation changes may be noted. Some hair will remain
within the treated follicles for a few days or weeks after treatment.
This hair will shed in 15 to 30 days, leaving smooth, hair free skin.
What
should I do to prepare for Laser treatment? Electrolysis?
Laser:
Do not tweeze or wax areas to be treated for at least 4 weeks prior to
your appointment - trim hair if necessary during this time so as not to
damage the hair root and impede the results of your laser treatment.
The area can be shaved before your appointment or will be shaved at LaserPlus.
LaserPlus can provide you with a topical anesthetic to be applied to the
area an hour prior to your treatment; avoid creams and lotions. If you are
having laser on your face you should not apply any anti-aging or
anti-wrinkle preparations for 2 weeks before your treatment.
Electrolysis:
The hair needs to be just above the skin line before a treatment.
Do not cut, shave or use a depilatory for twenty-four hours prior to your
treatment. Tweezing and waxing should not be done during treatments
since they are counterproductive.
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