Kiss your razor goodbye. Toss your tweezers. Lose the wax. With laser hair removal from RejuveRx, every inch of your skin will be as smooth and hairless as you want it to be.
Laser hair removal is one method of treatment for unwanted body hair. Up to 22% of women in North America have excessive or unwanted facial hair, which negatively affects the quality of life for many individuals. Men also feel compelled to rid themselves of unwanted body hair. Body hair may be undesirable for patients for cultural, social, cosmetic, or psychological reasons; unwanted hair can result in feelings of embarrassment or emotional burden that may impede patients' relationships or daily activities. This level of impairment is comparable to that experienced by patients with psoriasis and eczema and eclipses that experienced by patients with acne.
The Advantages of Facial Hair Removal
Facial hair removal can be an almost every day occurrence with some women, and for those with excess facial hair the most comforting thing to know is that you are not alone. Often this unwanted facial hair growth is simply a natural side effect of aging, however, there are a plethora of lip, chin, cheek and other hair elimination options available. According to Bristol-Myers, approximately 20 million women in the United States remove facial hair on a weekly basis. Waxing, plucking, tweezing, and bleaching can be big components to many womens daily schedule, however, these can often be tedious and time consuming. A simple and permanent solution is laser hair removal. Based on the latest reports by the ASAPS, skin care providers performed over 1.2 million laser treatments in 2007, making it third most popular overall cosmetic procedure on the market. Laser treatments offer is permanent hair removal, so theres no need to worry about waxing again. For men, laser facial hair removal is a great alternative to daily shaving and can help them achieve that well-groomed appearance. Another added benefit is no more razor burn or ingrown hairs on the face.
When it comes to facial hair removal, other popular options include waxing, depilatory creams, and electrolysis. The problem with waxing facial hair and using depilatories is that they can irritate hair follicles. Laser facial hair removal, on the other hand, causes minimal irritation to the face in comparison to waxing or electrolysis. Waxing can also cause painful ingrown facial hairs, which laser treatments are actually used to treat and eliminate. The National Center for Biotechnology Information finds facial lasers to effective for removing ingrown hairs from bearded areas. Shaving can cause a 5 o clock shadow, tweezing can irritate hair follicles and cause scarring, depilatory creams that dissolve hair at the root can be problematic when used on the face, irritating sensitive skin and not fully removing all the unwanted hairs. Electrolysis for facial hair can potentially cause bumps, hyper-pigmentation/skin discoloration, and sometimes scarring, especially with darker skin tones.
Cost of Laser Facial Hair Removal
The cost of facial hair removal may not seem like too high a price to pay, but waxing kits, professional waxing, and depilatories creams add up over time. When compared to the countless series of waxing and electrolysis sessions needed, laser hair reduction could be the best option available. The actual laser facial hair costs are reasonable and require only a small commitment. The monthly maintenance costs of facial waxing and the time need for electrolysis essentially make the relatively small price of laser facial treatments the obvious choice. A full-face hair laser treatment can be preformed in just 15 minutes, compared to the accumulated hours that are necessary for an electrolysis treatment. Facial laser hair removal sessions are repeated about twice a month for typically 4-6 sessions. This kind of removal of face hair offers men and women a quick and easy option. Its a facial price thats both easy on a budget and on a schedule.
Laser Hair Removal on the Face: Popular Areas
Laser hair epilation is convenient for all parts of the face, the only areas that lasers cannot treat are inside the nostril and inside the ear. When it comes to facial hair removal, the most popular treatment for women is upper lip laser hair removal. The chin & cheek are also popular facial treatments offered at laser clinics and medspas across the country. One of the newer face hair removal treatments is eyebrow laser hair removal. This is a great treatment for the glabella (the area between the eyebrows and above the nose, most often referred to as the uni-brow). Removing eyebrow hair is a wonderful way to shape eyebrows or just keep them permanently separated. However, for eyebrow treatments its important to wear protective glasses, as the lasers can be harmful to the eyes.
More than ever before, both women and men are taking notice of trends in laser technology and new grooming norms, leading to a booming interest in permanent body hair removal. Today's hair lasers can safely, swiftly, and completely remove unwanted hair virtually anywhere. All it takes is the desire to move beyond the daily grind of razors and waxes.
Popular Areas for Body Laser Hair Treatments
Bikini Line
Easily among the most popular types of laser body hair removal, Brazilian bikini and pubic hair treatments allow people to don the latest swim wear, athletic attire, and intimate fashions with complete confidence. Bikini laser services are also a great treatment for ingrown hair.
Legs
This is the area of body hair removal that women typically spend the most time and money on. But whereas most commercial leg hair products will only provide a few days of smoothness, leg laser procedures deliver amazing results for the long haul.
Underarms
One of the great things about removing underarm hair is that it's a great place to start for anyone new to laser treatments for body hair removal. Most underarm laser treatments are quite quick and easy, and the results can pay big dividends for men and women, alike.
Chest
Not just the territory of swimmers and body builders anymore, removing chest hair is now a normal part of modern male grooming. Laser chest treatments can take a few extra visits to permanently reduce hair regrowth, but as body hair removal goes, it's a huge step up from the ball and chain called shaving and waxing.
Back
As the largest area for body hair removal, the back can be near impossible to treat with traditional methods. Fortunately, back laser hair removal can permanently eliminate much of that unwanted hair in just a handful of sessions.
For removing armpit hair there are far easier solutions than shaving or waxing. Shaving may not seem like that much of a hassle, but laser treatments for the underarms has some distinct advantages. Waxing underarm hair, shaving the armpits, or using depilatories for underarm hair removal all come with a heavy price to paybe it razors or shaving cream, products like Nair®, or professional waxing treatments. Never having to shave, wax, or use depilatories can translate into thousands of dollars in savings over the long term. According to some health resources, its been shown that armpit hair growth is faster than other areas of the body. This is why constant shaving is needed. The cost of underarm hair removal, however, is measured in more than just simple dollars and centsunderarm hair removal costs time.
Remember that laser technology is permanent hair removal. A recent study by the Psychology of Women Quarterly showed that 98% of women regularly remove hairs from their legs and/or underarms, meaning a permanent solution could be incredible relief to the vast majority of women. Shaving is quick and easy, but its easy to forget and hair lasers for underarms can help put an end to those embarrassing moments. Underarm laser hair removal allows for smooth, hair-free skin year around, which will especially come in handy during swimsuit season. Lasers offer permanent hair reduction after the specified number of treatments, so theres no reason to worry about going sleeveless again. One distinct benefit of laser technology specific to armpits is that lasers can get rid of that shadow appearance common for those of us with darker underarm hair. Underarm laser hair removal offers a smooth, clean look.
A point of apprehension with both pubic hair removal and underarm hair removal has always been the occurrence of ingrown hairs and irritation. The main benefit of armpit laser hair removal is that it not only permanently reduces hairs, but works as a treatment for ingrown hairs. Laser procedures prevent ingrown hairs as you shave, wax, or use depilatory creams less and less as you undergo the laser treatment. These products actually can cause ingrown hairs to form because they can create so much damage to sensitive underarm skin. However, laser hair removal can also be an ingrown hair treatment as the laser dissolves the entire hair follicle, including the root, allowing affected areas to heal properly and painlessly.
The biggest problem with back hair removal for men is the process of removing it. Shaving presents the obvious problem of reach, its nearly impossible to shave your own back, and it can be even more frustrating and embarrassing to find someone to do the job for you. Waxing back hair and depilatory creams also offer their own sets of problems. Like shaving, hair removal depilatories can be hard to apply to your own back, and waxing can be extremely painful, especially for men with excessive back hair. Unfortunately, more hair translates to more pain. In recent years, the simplest solution for removing hair from the back and shoulders has become advanced laser treatments.
The Benefits of Laser Back Hair Removal
Today's hair lasers represent an efficient hair reduction method that can be used on just about every part of the body. Common areas include the lips, chin, cheeks, necks, shoulders, underarms, bikini lines, thighs, hands, and even toes. Among men, popular regions include the unibrow, the nape of the neck, and, of course, back laser hair removal. The advantage of laser treatments for back hair removal over waxing or depilatories is that lasers represent permanent hair reduction. Laser back hair removal is also less painful than waxing and more efficient than shaving or depilatories.
How many Laser Hair Removal Back Treatments are Required?
The numbers of treatments required for body hair removal depends entirely on the individual patient. Because there are different hair growth cycles, this means that the follicles grows at different intervals. Since, hair grows in 3 cycles; patients typically need, at least, 3 laser treatments to see permanent results. The number of treatments required also depends on the density of the hair and the area of the body. For instance, removing pubic hair may only take as few as 3 treatments to complete, whereas a full back hair removal can take up to 8 treatments to achieve permanent results. During a free consultation with a laser clinic, youll get an approximate idea of the number of treatments that will be required and an exact idea of the cost of back hair removal.
Due to its intimate nature, bikini line hair removal doesn't tend to get discussed as often as some other types of body hair treatments. But, as many laser technicians can tell you, the demand for bikini laser hair removal has skyrocketed in recent years, as more and more people seek to escape the pain and hassle of traditional pubic hair removal methods like shaving and waxing.
Bikini Laser Hair Removal: What to Know
The appeal of a treatment like bikini hair laser treatments is very easy to understand. With fashion and grooming trends being what they are, it's not always easy to exude total confidence in low cut bikinis, under garments, or athletic attire, especially with the skin irritation often brought on by razors and at-home hair products. After just a few brief visits to a reputable laser clinic or medical spa, however, you can safely and efficiently remove pubic hair and keep it off for the long haul.
Are Bikini Laser Hair Removal Results Permanent?
This is a key question that comes up with all types of bikini line hair removal: is it a permanent solution? Well, according to the FDA's definition, bikini laser hair removal is not a form of permanent hair elimination. This is because laser treatments, while effective in permanently removing as much as 90 percent of hair regrowth, cannot guarantee the complete elimination of all unwanted bikini area hair for the life of the patient. Instead, the procedure's effects are described as permanent hair reduction rather than permanent hair removal. Nonetheless, with results lasting for multiple years in many cases, bikini laser hair removal is truly the next best thing to a permanent treatment.
How Does Bikini Laser Hair Removal Work?
If you've ever read about how laser treatments works on the back, legs, or face, you already know the principles behind bikini hair removal. But, considering the sensitivity of the region, laser technicians do take extra care to insure that the procedures are performed carefully and precisely, whether they're just removing sporadic follicles from around the bikini line, or all the hair in proximity to the genitals (a.k.a Brazilian hair removal). If a patient feels pain from the laser, it's usually brief and minimal, akin to a light snap from a rubber band, and any redness or bruising should subside within a few days after the treatment. For many people, all it takes is 3-4 sessions of bikini line laser hair removal, lasting less than an hour each, to get their desired results.
When you're talking about permanent leg hair removal, you're essentially talking about a woman's cosmetic dream come true. Along with the countless hours and dollars women spend on razors, waxes, and depilatories every year, the hassle and discomfort of nicks, cuts, and pesky stubble make leg hair removal a battle that seemingly can't be won. This is starting to change, however, with the growing popularity of leg laser hair removal. Compared to shaving or waxing, advanced hair removal is a gigantic leap forward, thoroughly removing leg hair quickly and safely, and keeping it off for good. This is the permanent hair reduction treatment that is truly revolutionizing the way women, and even many men, think about leg hair removal.
-What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a procedure by which hair is removed from the body by utilizing a long pulse laser. Lasers are developed and designed from years of research. The laser parameters are carefully defined by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser light and pulse duration to the follicle size, depth and location to inhibit the re-growth of the hair.
Laser hair removal is performed by a specially-trained laser specialist or a doctor depending on where you go, who distributes the light of a long pulse laser onto the skin. The laser works by disabling hairs that are in their active growth cycle at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter their growth cycle at different times, several treatments are necessary to disable all of the follicles in a given area.
-Am I a Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
Both men and women seek laser hair removal services to have unwanted hair removed. Hair removal is commonly done on the hairline, eyebrow, top of the nose, lip, chin, ear lobe, shoulders, back, underarm, abdomen, buttocks, pubic area, bikini lines, thighs, face, neck, breast, arms, legs, hands, and toes.
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. Alexandrite long pulse and diode types of lasers work best on light-colored skin. Nd:YAG long pulse lasers are better and safer on darker skin (skin types IV and darker see Question #12 below to determine your skin type). Since laser works by being attracted to and targeting the dark pigment, using an alexandrite or a diode laser on darker skin can result in skin burning or loss of skin pigment (hypo-pigmentation). Long pulse Nd:YAG lasers were created to cater to dark-skinned patients, so they are safer on the skin at settings that actually affect the hair than alexandrite and diode lasers.
When choosing your hair removal options, select an environment whose main priorities are your safety, health, and results.
-Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
The general opinion is that laser hair removal is permanent, and the Food and Drug Administration approved it as permanent reduction, but doesnt work on everyone. Generally, this means that you shouldnt expect laser to remove every single hair from an area. Most people need to follow up with electrolysis treatments for any remaining hairs for complete clearance as hair becomes too fine for laser to target and you reach diminishing returns. Most will also need touch-up treatments 1-2 times a year after the initial set of treatments for any new growth your body develops with age.
It has also been observed that some people seem to be non-responders this is not confirmed and reasons are not known as not enough research has been done in this area. Keep in mind that it's also difficult to judge whether someones lack of results is due to the persons potential underlying medical condition that causes continuous growth and makes it seem like laser isnt working, whether the treatment wasn't performed properly, or whether for some people it just doesn't work and we don't know why. Basically, you cant determine this for yourself unless you try it. In addition, results also depend on many variables involved, including the tech's experience, type of laser used and how settings are set, etc.
A set of at least 6-8 treatments at specified intervals are generally necessary to achieve substantial hair removal with laser. Factors that determine the length of treatment include the particular area to be treated, the texture of hair, frequency of treatments, history of temporary measures to remove hair (waxing, tweezing, shaving, and depilatories, etc.) etc.
Electrolysis is considered a permanent hair removal method that has been used for the past 125 years. It involves treating one hair at a time and can take a considerably long time to complete a large area, but IS an option as well. It is also the recommended method for small areas (generally, chin, upper lip, eyebrows, etc), as well as for fine and light-colored hair. The most cost-efficient treatments to completely clear an area should start with laser to remove the bulk of the hair and finish with electrolysis to remove the remaining finer sparse hair.
-How Does Laser Hair Removal 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. Hair removal lasers target the dark pigment in the hair. Thats why laser hair removal works best on light skin (so laser passes right through) and dark coarse hair (has most pigment).
The ability of the laser to produce a very narrow bandwidth on a consistent basis is the key to a safe efficient treatment. The types of lasers used for permanent hair reduction include the ruby (old machines only safe for very pale skin types - not recommended), Nd:YAG, diode, and alexandrite.
While the laser emits a beam that only heats the hair shaft, heat is transmitted from the hair shaft to the surrounding tissue for several milliseconds after the laser pulse. Several lasers possess cooling attachments which cool the surrounding skin to fully absorb any heat transmitted from the destroyed hair shafts.
Be aware that hair removal systems that use traditional light for treatment (Intense Pulse Light machines or IPLs) are not true hair removal lasers. These devices use a highly concentrated beam of traditional incoherent light, often in conjunction with a cream or gel, to burn the hair shaft. A serious flaw with these systems is that they lack the laser's ability to produce a selective bandwidth of light that will only affect the hair shaft (selective photothermolysis). These devices produce a wide bandwidth of light that can heat up all of the surrounding tissue. IPLs are generally cheaper devices and are used for various skin procedures first and foremost, with hair removal as more of an afterthought. Judging from consumer feedback, true lasers usually achieve better and faster results for hair removal purposes.
-What Should I Expect Before and After Treatment?
You should shave the area to be treated 1-3 days before treatment (some clinics will offer to do this for you, but beware of irritation caused by disposable razors etc). No waxing or removing hair with the root with any other way is allowed 4-6 weeks before and throughout the course of treatment as hair needs to be in place to be targeted by laser. The area should be shaved as closely as possible so that laser can target the most energy towards the hair follicle and not waste energy on the part of the hair above the skins surface. If your hair is the type that you cant 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.
After treatment is completed (underarms take under 10 minutes, back treatment can take 1 hour or so), you should apply aloe vera to soothe the skin for a few days. Within 2-3.5 weeks, you should experience shedding of all treated hair. At first, hair will look like its growing back in, but it is just coming through the skin to shed. Shedding starts at about 1.5 weeks and can last until 3.5 weeks post-treatment or so. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the process. After shedding finishes, you might experience little black dots still stuck in the skin. These are commonly referred to as pepperspots and will shed eventually, but might take a bit longer. Exfoliate to help those out as well.
After shedding occurs, you should experience a hairfree period for a few weeks, until next set of hair that was dormant before starts to come in. Once you have enough to justify one, go in for another treatment. This usually happens within 6-10 weeks post-treatment. Patient continues this process until he/she has reached diminishing returns and the remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until you have reached you desired reduction.
If you dont experience shedding, the settings used might have been too low and you should inform your technician that it didnt happen. Also, if you feel that a lot of hair didnt shed, the technician might have missed a lot of areas, and you might consider asking for a free touch-up. This should be done 4 weeks after treatment as by then shedding will be complete and you will know that whatever remains wasnt affected. Certain clinics might offer these touch-ups free of charge when you sign up for treatments as their standard practice.
-How Many Laser Treatments Will I Need and How Far Apart are They Scheduled?
Most people need at least 6-8 initial treatments spaced 6-10 weeks apart. This is because hair grows in 3 phases and is killed in the first anagen active growing phase. Several treatments are needed to target ALL hair in the active growth phase. Approximately 6-10 weeks after every treatment, additional treatment is required to eliminate the hairs that came out of the dormant phase and are now active. After 6-8 treatments or so, patients should experience a considerable percentage of hair reduction. Depending upon hair type and genetic factors, some clients may require additional treatments beyond these initial treatments. If it seems like the treatments are not working after 6-8 treatments, patients should look into possible underlying reasons (see Question #9 below).
Usually, treatments are spaced 6-8 weeks apart to start, and gradually move to 8-10 weeks apart after the initial 2-3 treatments. Instead of following an arbitrary schedule, wait until you have experienced shedding of the treated hairs (should complete within 2-3.5 weeks) and you see enough hair come in after the hairfree period to justify the next treatment.
-Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
In one pulse, the laser can remove all the hair on a patch of skin the size of a nickel (depending on the specific laser spot size ranging from 9-18mm on average i.e. the head of the laser from which the power is coming with every pulse). Everyones pain threshold is different, but generally laser hair removal is not much more painful than waxing, but the sensation is different. It resembles a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second with each pulse. Most people do not require an anesthetic cream (like EMLA), but one may be used for very sensitive patients/areas (can be provided or prescribed at the clinic). Be aware that using anesthetic creams is only safe on small areas (like upper lip, bikini, or underarms) and in small quantities. Using it on large areas like the back can cause adverse effects or even death. Consult with your tech and doctor if unsure.
-What Are the Possible Risks and Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?
The possibility exists that some side effects or complications can occur given various variables, including:
Normal
Itching, during treatment
Redness for up to 3 days
Swelling (around mouth of follicle) for up to 3 days
Pain, tingling, or feeling of numbness (cold spray)
Rare
Crusting/scab formation (on ingrown hairs)
Bruising
Purpura (purple coloring of the skin) on tanned areas
Infection
Temporary pigment change (hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation)
Side effects occur infrequently and, as a rule, generally are temporary. If any of the above last for more than 3 days, make sure to contact your technician and/or doctor. There is a possibility that settings were set too high and the technician needs to know in order to adjust on your following treatment.
-What are the possible causes of excessive hair growth and how can it affect my treatments?
The causes of excessive hair growth pattern are many and varied, including:
Heredity
Pregnancy
Glandular and/or hormonal imbalances (possible PCOS condition for women), including diseases causing these effects
Insulin resistance issues
Reactions to certain medications
Normal aging processes
Excessive temporary removal methods like waxing, tweezing, creams and depilatories, etc
Every laser candidate should explore a possible underlying reason of the extreme hair growth before starting laser because if there is something in the body consistently triggering hair growth, laser treatments might seem ineffective because the body will keep developing new hair. So, it will always seem like there is not reduction, when in fact its NEW hair your body is producing that you are seeing, not that treated by laser growing back. Women with PCOS hair growth patterns (upper lip, chin, cheeks, etc) should see an endocrinologist and have hormonal tests taken. Men can get tested for insulin resistance etc. Talk to your doctor if you suspect you might have an underlying medical condition causing excessive hair growth before starting laser hair removal. Once the condition is control through treatment/medication, laser hair removal can then be performed. Laser can affect the hair thats currently present, but cannot prevent NEW hair from developing.
-What is the Hair Growth Cycle and How Does Hair Growth Work?
Under normal circumstances hair growth in each hair follicle occurs in a cycle. There are three main phases of the hair growth cycle: anagen, catagen and telogen.
Anagen (active) is the growing phase or when the hair fiber is produced. During anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin, the pigment which gives your hair its color. This is the phase during which laser hair removal treatment is most effective.
Catagen (club hair) is the period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. This phase is when the lower part of the hair stops growing, but does not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed. It will be difficult for permanence to be achieved when the hair is in the catagen growth cycle.
Telogen (tired) is the last of the hair growth cycle. In this resting phase, the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of a new anagen hair. Permanence cannot be achieved when the hair are in the telogen growth cycle.
Remember, anagen is followed by catagen, a period of controlled regression of the hair follicle. Ultimately the hair follicle enters telogen, when the follicle is in a so-called resting state.
Normally this cycle of hair production will continue for the duration of the individual's life. However, other factors can influence, promote and inhibit hair production. How well the laser can eliminate the hairs, depends on the skin type/color, hair type/color and what initially caused the hair to grow.
-How do I Determine my Fitzpatrick Skin Type?
In 1975, Thomas B Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, developed a classification system for skin typing. This system was based on a person's response to sun exposure in terms of the degree of burning and tanning the individual experienced. For successful removal of hair, wrinkles, veins, sun spots, and scars using LASER technology, it is necessary determine your correct skin type.
TYPE I: Highly sensitive, always burns, never tans.
Example: Red hair with freckles or Albino
TYPE II: Very sun sensitive, burns easily, tans minimally.
Example: Fair-skinned, fair-haired Caucasians
TYPE III: Sun sensitive skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown.
Example: Darker Caucasians, European mix
TYPE IV: Minimally sun sensitive, burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown.
Example: Mediterranian, European, Asian, Hispanic, American Indian
TYPE V: Sun-insensitive skin, rarely burns, tans well.
Example: Hispanics, Afro-American, Middle Eastern
TYPE VI: Sun-insensitive, never burns, deeply pigmented.
Example: Afro-American, African, Middle Eastern
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