As part of our continuous commitment to your beauty, Aristocrat Plastic Surgery & MedAesthetics offers in-office laser hair removal using Gentalase by candela or a Sciton laser for patients who want to achieve a silky smooth, hairless appearance.
Laser hair removal is an extremely popular, non-surgical aesthetic procedure performed on millions of Americans each year. It is a non-invasive, convenient, and safe way to eradicate hair and hair growth. You’ll achieve long-term results and ultimately, long lasting hair removal that is far more effective than traditional shaving. (Individual results may vary.)
Laser hair removal is safe for all skin types, and can be done on any area of the body or face. By killing the base of the hair follicle under the skin, the procedure removes hair from the source without damaging the surrounding skin.
Depending on the skin area being treated, laser hair removal may take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours to complete. A low-energy laser beam is typically used for the procedure: Attracted by the hair’s pigment, the energy from the laser beam passes through the patient’s skin and down the hair shaft. It is then absorbed by hair follicles that are actively growing, thereby disabling the hair follicle in the deeper layer of the skin.
The laser beam does not affect hair follicles that are dormant. It takes multiple treatments to attack the different stages of hair growth. Anesthesia is rarely required, as the procedure is relatively painless.
Long lasting hair removal is when a significant amount of hair does not return for a longer time period than the complete growth cycle. Most hair is removed after a series of treatments. If hair does grow back, it will be finer and lighter than before. Consistency with your appointments is the key to your success with laser hair removal.
Things to note: Laser hair removal cannot be performed on tanned or sunburnt skin, so winter is the ideal time to schedule an appointment. Prior to the procedure, avoid plucking the areas where your hair will be removed. Instead, shave the area. Do not wax or pluck after the treatment either, and continue being vigilant with your application of sunscreen. Because the laser beam is attracted to the pigment in the hair, this process is generally more successful on those with dark hair follicles.
Some of the benefits associated with laser hair removal are:
- No surgery and no downtime
- Reduces undesirable hair from the face and body
- Treats larger areas effectively, as it reduces more than one hair at a time
- Helps achieve a balance between skin color and complexion
- Minimal discomfort
- Significant hair removal (no need for further waxing, electrolysis, shaving, tweezing and/or bleaching)
You may experience some swelling around the hair follicles for a few hours, but that should fade quickly (24 hours maximum). Otherwise, there is virtually no recovery time needed. Your hair will gradually fall out over the next couple of days. Remember to stay out of the sun as much as possible, and wear sunscreen. For best results, avoid waxing or plucking after the treatment.