Hair removal lasers target hair follicles to eliminate their ability to grow hair. Treatments are quick, well tolerated, and have no downtime. The face and body can be treated. Dr. Goldman’s team has been performing hair removal for over 20 years. They have the experience to help you plan a personalized treatment plan and the technology to get you the best results.
As the name implies, laser hair reduction uses powerful lasers to destroy hair follicles. The laser light is absorbed by pigment in the hair follicle, heating and damaging it, eliminating hair production from that follicle. For ideal results, a series of treatments, each separated by about 6 weeks, are used initially. Patients may return periodically (every couple years) to have maintenance treatments.
Laser hair reduction offers a long-term solution that can reduce or eliminate shaving or waxing of the treated areas. It is effective for various body areas and skin types.
For several reasons, a series of laser treatments is needed to achieve adequate hair reduction:
Thus, for best results multiple sessions separated by a few weeks are used initially, and patients typically return periodically to have maintenance treatments.
Before your laser hair reduction treatment, you will have a comprehensive consultation with one of our highly qualified practitioners. During this initial meeting, our team will assess your hair and skin type to determine the most effective treatment plan tailored to your needs. You will have the opportunity to discuss your goals, address any concerns, and learn about the expected results and any necessary pre-treatment preparation.
During the procedure, you will be provided with safety eye wear to protect your eyes from the laser light. Dr. Goldman’s highly skilled advanced practice provider will use a small handheld probe to guide the laser over the treatment areas, ensuring precise targeting. We may use a gel on your skin to facilitate light transmission and keep the skin cool. The duration of your treatment will vary depending on the number and size of the sites being treated, taking anywhere from a few minutes for small sites to up to an hour for larger areas.
The number of treatments required will vary depending on factors like your hair color, hair shaft thickness, skin type, and the size of the area being treated. Typically, between 5 and 9 sessions are required, usually spaced 6 weeks apart. Treatment is performed in our clean, comfortable, private, and state-of-the-art medical office setting. No anesthesia is needed.
Laser hair reduction is most effective for individuals with dark hair and light skin. Dark hair absorbs more light than light hair, releasing more heat to damage a follicle, but darker skin color necessitates lower laser settings (or different devices) to avoid affecting skin pigmentation and therefore typically requires more treatment sessions.
Higher settings cannot be used on dark skin, and certain devices are not safe for dark skin, because of the risk of pigmentary change (darkening or lightening of the skin). Our highly experienced staff has access to different devices to treat all skin types, has the experience to use them, and can explain the best treatment plan for your hair and skin.
Dramatic permanent hair reduction is achieved by most patients, and satisfaction rates are very high for laser hair removal, but some follicles do recover function over time and new follicles may start to grow hair as we age, so most patients will return for occasional maintenance treatments over time, usually years apart after the initial treatment course. Permanent, total hair removal cannot be guaranteed.
Light hair does not absorb light efficiently, so lasers do not heat follicles containing light hair as effectively as those containing dark hair. This means the laser has more trouble heating, burning, and damaging the follicle. Patients with light hair therefore often have difficulty achieving significant hair reduction, even on maximum laser settings. More treatment sessions at higher settings are needed, and efficacy can still be limited. Fine light facial hair (vellous hair) generally cannot be lasered.
After a laser hair reduction session, you may experience temporary redness and swelling in the treated area, similar to a mild sunburn. These effects usually subside within a few hours to a couple of days. Avoid sun exposure and apply sunblock when going outdoors for a few days after treatment.
The sensation of a laser pulse is sometimes described as feeling like a warm or hot rubber band snapping on the skin. Most patients say this is mildly uncomfortable, tolerable, and worth the benefit. Very few patients cannot tolerate treatment. Settings do affect discomfort: higher settings create more heat and discomfort. Larger hair follicles (like the beard) also release more heat and therefore generally are associated with more discomfort. Topical anesthetic is not necessary and is not safe to use on large surface areas or multiple treatment sites.
If you would like to find out more about laser hair reduction, please feel free to contact us.
