Laser Hair Removal - GentleLASE FAQ's

Excess body and facial hair has been a problem for thousands of years. Ancient techniques such as waxing, sugaring, and threading all have drawbacks. They are uncomfortable, time-consuming, and worst of all, not permanent. Laser Hair Removal with the Altus CoolGlide Laser is a cutting-edge therapy that gets right to the root of the problem, and ignores the overlying tissues. It works well, is safe when done under the care of medical professionals, and best of all is long lasting. It works best when there is color in the hair, as the pigment serves as the magnet for the laser light Without this magnet, results are less satisfactory. People with light hair may see only moderate improvement and may need a greater number of treatment sessions. Dark hair on light skin responds best and white hair does not respond at all. Q: Is it permanent? Treatment results may vary among patients. The Altus CoolGlide Laser is cleared by the FDA for Permanent Hair Reduction. The FDA defines permanent hair reduction as the long term, stable reduction in the number of hairs re-growing after a treatment regime. Q: Will it work in dark skin? The Altus CoolGlide Laser is FDA-approved for use in types I to VI skin, that is, from the whitest white to the darkest dark. Care is taken with the darker shades of skin, but excellent results can be obtained in black skin. Q: What does it feel like? The laser treatment may feel like a mild sting for a fraction of a second. It has a built-in cooling tip that not only helps to protect the skin but also helps to minimize the discomfort. Q: How long do the treatments take? An upper lip and chin can be done in 5 to 10 minutes. Underarms or bikini lines usually take 15 to 20 minutes. Legs and backs take longer. Very often, follow-up treatments are shorter (and less expensive) because there is much less hair to treat. Q: How many treatments are necessary? This is very important to understand. Hair goes through 3 stages of development. Typically in the anagen stage, the hair will respond more effectively to treatment. At any given time, only one third of human hair is in the anagen stage. For this reason, it is necessary to treat an area at least 3 times with the treatments spaced approximately 6 weeks apart in order to see the best and longest lasting results. Darker hair will respond better, but both dark and light hair may need up to 5 treatments for maximum response and the best long-term results. Q: Results - What can I expect? There is often no immediate change. Your skin may get slightly red or even develop a small crust that will peel. The laser may leave small red marks on your skin. The marks clear up in a few days. The hair that has been destroyed will not start to fall out for 2-3 weeks. Many times it will get darker and thicker just before it falls out. Don't worry if you do not see an obvious change immediately after your first treatment. Q: What other conditions respond to Laser Hair Removal? An uncomfortable condition called pilonidal sinus or cyst can be effectively helped by this therapy. This condition usually occurs in men, at the base of the back, over the intergluteal crease, and can cause considerable pain and discomfort. Removal of the hair at the site of the lesion can prevent recurrence of the sinus. Psuedofolliculitis barbae, usually seen as painful bumps on the neck and chin as a result of shaving, has been a difficult condition to treat, especially in black skin. Laser Hair removal can eliminate this condition. PREPARATION GUIDELINES FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL It is necessary for you to have one to two days' hair growth so that the areas that require treatment are easily recognizable. If not, it may be difficult to pinpoint all areas needing treatment. Your nurse will need to shave the hair to skin level with a razor as necessary. For hair removal on the face, please do not use (or make sure you wash off all) makeup prior to treatment. If you are currently on the medication Accutane or Gold Therapy or have been in the past 6 months, please let us know. This medication can make your skin more susceptible to damage from the laser. Generally, it is best to wait 4 to 6 weeks between treatments. There is no advantage to scheduling your visits closer together even if you do not see immediate results. The laser only targets hair in the growth phase. The next growth phase will be in 4 to 6 weeks.

Aventura Laser Hair Removal: An information portal for patients to learn more about laser hair removal, and to find a physician-supervised treatment center.

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