“The laser beam targets the pigment located in hair follicles that gives hair its color. It emits light energy just long enough to be absorbed by the pigmented hair, thus destroying or significantly impeding the hair and the hair’s ability to regrow, but not long enough to effect the surrounding skin.”

“Theoretically, damage to the hair follicle can remove unwanted hair permanently, but because of the nature of hair and the many factors that influence its growth, the results are variable. The effect of repeated treatments is cumulative, however, with many people experiencing long-term hair removal after several treatments.”

“As with any medical treatment, use of the laser for hair removal can have some side effects. These tend to be minor and manageable in clinical use. Extensive study and experimentation has gone into defining the laser parameters used today so that the risk of scarring and most other complications following treatment are minimized.”

“No treatment to remove unwanted hair is completely painless. Patients who have undergone repeated waxing or hours of electrolysis have certainly experienced the pain that these methods have caused. The laser I’ve chosen is fast—which reduces treatment time, and requires a minimum of repeat treatments—and cools the skin’s surface during the treatment. This helps reduce discomfort while protecting the skin surface from thermal injury during delivery of the pulse of the laser light. If large or sensitive areas with unwanted hair are to be treated, a topical anesthetic cream may be applied to the site to further reduce discomfort.”

“Immediately after treatment, the site will be somewhat swollen, feel like a mild sunburn and appear slightly red. This reaction usually subsides over a few hours, and the treated sites usually return to their normal appearance over the next several days. The hair may then take 1 to 3 weeks to shed. You can continue shaving during this time. The amount of discomfort after the procedure is normally minimal and should not limit most normal physical activities.”

“There is the potential for hyperpigmentation (darkening) and hypopigmentation (lightening) of the treated skin, but these changes are usually transient. If you have a history of Herpes Simplex (cold sores) in the area being treated, you may have a flare-up of this condition, however the risk of this complication can be greatly reduced if you take antiviral medication prior to the procedure.”

“The most important thing is not to get tan prior to laser hair removal. You must avoid the sun for six weeks prior to the procedure and for at least four weeks after the laser treatment. You should shave the day prior (although shaving is not necessary on short hair such as the upper lip) but avoid waxing, depilatories or electrolysis for six weeks before the treatment.”

“Avoid the sun for one month after the laser treatment. This makes the fall and winter months ideal times to consider laser hair removal treatments.”