Laser Hair Removal

How does it 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). Lasers designed for permanent hair reduction emit wavelengths of light designed to be absorbed by the pigment in the hair (melanin). If the surrounding skin is relatively light compared to the color of the hair, then the entire energy of the laser will be concentrated in the hair shaft, effectively destroying it without affecting the skin or follicle.

Does it hurt?

Generally speaking there is usually a prickly heat sensation or that of a rubber band snap on the skin. Some lasers hurt more than others depending on the amount and delivery of energy being used, the density and coarseness of the hair and the location of the area being treated. Areas like the upper lip and bikini are more sensitive than the back or legs. Our lasers have a built in cooling system to alleviate some of the discomfort experienced during treatment. Post treatment you may experience a slight sunburn sensation which usually dissipates within a few hours after your treatment.

Does it work on all skin types and hair colours?

Laser works best on pale skin and dark coarse hair. The closer you are to this combination (i.e. the lighter the skin and the more coarse and dark the hair), the better the results will generally be. Laser hair removal does work on light hair and dark skin types,  it could just take a greater number of sessions to achieve a large amount of reduction. White Hair can become finer in texture but is usually not completely removed.

Will the hair grow back?

The general opinion is that laser hair removal is permanent, and the Food and Drug Administration approved it as “permanent reduction”. Although this is true, you shouldn’t expect laser to remove every single hair from an area. Most people achieve about 90% reduction in their recommended treatment plan and are happy with a few lighter, fine hairs remaining in the treated area. It is common to need touch-up treatments every 1-2 years after the initial set of treatments for any new growth your body develops with age. Medications and hormonal fluctuations can also stimulate hair growth after laser hair removal so there is always a chance you could develop hair in the treated area in the future.

How Many treatments will I need?

On average, 5-7 treatments are needed to achieve a large amount of reduction, however, the number of sessions depends on various parameters.  The area of the body treated, skin color, coarseness of hair, and sex are all determining factors in the number of treatments you will need. Coarse dark hair on light skin is easiest to treat. Finer hair and hair on darker skin is harder to treat and may require more treatments. Certain areas (notably men’s and women’s faces) may require considerably more treatments to achieve desired results and those with hormonal imbalances may also require more treatments. In addition, since hair grows in several phases, (anagen, telogen, catagen), and laser can only affect the currently active growing follicles, (anagen), several sessions are needed to kill hair in all phases of growth.

What should I expect during the course of my treatments?

After treatment is completed (underarms take under 10 minutes, back treatment can take 1 hour or so), you should apply aloe vera or unscented moisturizer to soothe the skin for a few days. If the area is exposed ensure you wear a sun block with a minimum SPF of 30 to protect it and prevent tanning. Within 2-3 weeks, you should experience shedding of all treated hair.  Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower can help speed up the process.  After shedding occurs, you should experience a hair free period for a few weeks, until the next set of hair that was dormant before starts to come in. Once you have enough hair, go in for another treatment. This usually happens within 6-10 weeks post-treatment. This process continues until you have reached diminishing returns and the remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until you have reached your desired reduction.

What should I do before my appointment?

Before you receive any laser hair removal treatment you must ensure you do not have a suntan or sunburn. When your skin has a tan the melanocytes which give your skin its tanned appearance are in an excited state. When they’re in this state they are easily detected by the laser and therefore targeted. If this happens there is a chance your skin could get burned by the laser and become hyper or hypo-pigmented or scarred. You should also avoid is tweezing, bleaching or waxing the hair to be treated. Only shave or trim the treatment area. This is because the hair needs to be attached to the root to be affected by the laser. You should shave the area to be treated 1-3 days before treatment so the 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. If your hair is the type that you can’t see where it was right after you shave, make it a bit easier on your tech not to miss the spots you want treated by shaving 1-3 days before so the outline of where hair is growing is just very slightly visible. Throughout the course of treatment you may shave or trim the hair as often as you like.

How much does it cost?

Pricing is varies according the size of the treatment area and is determined upon consultation.

If you have any further laser hair removal questions or would like a complimentary consultation contact Oakville Plastic Surgery at (905) 901-9545.