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Is it safe?
Yes. If performed by a well trained, qualified technician
lasers are safe. The Candela GentleLASE family of lasers have
been cleared by the FDA for the treatment of unwanted hair.
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Is electrolysis
considered more permanent than laser? Also, what are the advantages
of laser over electrolysis?
Electrolysis has FDA approval to advertise hair removal.
Lasers can not ethically make this claim. We can only
offer an 80% reduction. The reason being, lasers do not
remove grey, red, and light blond hairs. In other words
the hair has to be pigmented in order to absorb the laser
energy. Lasers destroy the blood supply to the hair using
heat from a laser beam and electrolysis destroys the blood
supply using a pulse of electricity. The problem with
electrolysis is that it takes much longer to perform treatments.
It would take roughly 30 minutes to cover the size of
3 or 4 square inches whereas the laser can do that in
15 seconds or less. With electrolysis the area still has
to be treated just as many times as with the laser. The
number of treatments has to do with the cycles of hair.
It would take years to complete a man’s full back
with electrolysis. If your hair has pigment meaning that
it is dark, lasers are the better choice. We still refer
people for electrolysis when they have grey hair mixed
in, only to remove the grey.
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How will
my skin look and feel after the treatment?
The skin will have a reddish appearance and will have swelling
that looks very similar to goose bumps for a few hours after
the treatment. The swelling typically subsides within a few
hours. The skin will feel like a sunburn for a few hours to
a few days after the treatment. It is very important to stay
out of the sun for a minimum of 7 days after your treatment
and to use a full spectrum UVB/UVA sunblock with an SPF of
30 or higher.
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Are there any health
risks or side effects from the laser treatment?
There is always a risk of being burned or blistered by
any laser device. You must make sure that you are using
a clinic or technician that is trained and certified.
There has only recently been a national board certification
for laser hair removal. It is offered by the Society of
Clinical and Medical Hair Removal Professionals. The owner
of Advanced Skin Fitness was one of the first 10 individuals
in the United States to become board certified. At Advanced
Skin Fitness we are very knowledgeable about laser hair
removal and safety.
In comparison to electrolysis, electrolysis can also
be dangerous if not performed properly. Electrolysis may
leave bruising and scarring if not performed by a well
trained practitioner. No matter which method you choose,
insist on discussing the credentials and experience of
the technician that will be performing the treatment on
you.
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Can lasers for
hair removal cause cancer?
The radiation produced by the laser is non-ioninzing radiation
which means it doesn't cause cancer. It is the same heat
that is produced from a light bulb. If you have had skin
cancer in the past or suspect that you may have skin cancer
you will be required to provide written permission for
laser hair removal from your dermatologist prior to treatment.
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How long do the
entire series of treatments take?
Treatments are usually performed 6 - 8 weeks apart.
On average women can expect 8 months to a year of treatments.
In some cases it may take up to 14 months of treatment for
men to destroy all of their hair. Men usually require more
treatments than women.
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Are there
any situations where laser simply doesn't work for certain
people for whatever reason?
Lasers will not work on grey, red, and light blond
hairs. You also can't use the GentleLASE alexandrite laser
(755nm) on tanned skin or skin of color. It will burn the
tan or pigmentation in the skin just like it burns the hair.
Alexandrite Lasers are the most commonly used lasers for hair
removal because the wavelength is best suited to remove hair.
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How many treatments
does it typically take to complete?
Most laser centers will tell you 5 - 6 treatments
are the average number of treatments it takes to remove
the hair. Current research shows that women require 5
– 6 treatments and men usually require more. Don't
let a laser center try and fool you and tell you that
their laser can do it in less. It has to do with how many
cycles of hair your body has and not as much to do with
the brand of laser. This is assuming that we are speaking
of a laser with adequate energy output. The Candela GentleLASE
lasers have the highest energy output and the largest
spot size (coverage area) of any laser on the market.
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How many areas
can be treated per visit?
Our lasers are fast. We can perform a full back treatment
including shoulders and neck in 45 minutes to 1 hour. Bikini
and underarms for women can be performed in 30 minutes or
less. The amount of coverage depends on the patient’s
tolerance to discomfort. Some can have full body treatments
in one session.
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Does it hurt?
Most patients describe the sensation of the laser pulse
as only uncomfortable, but not unbearable. It is often
described to the feeling of having a rubber band snapped
against the skin. The discomfort doesn’t usually
linger on more than a few seconds after the pulse. For
sensitive areas we have a topical anesthetic numbing cream
available.
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Can skin of color
and tanned skin be treated?
Yes! Finally hair removal is available for everyone.
We are one of the only laser centers in the Dallas/Fort
Worth metroplex offering the Candela GentleYAG. The GentleYAG
is designed to treat unwanted hair on darker skin types
and tanned skin. The hair must be black for the GentleYAG
treatment.
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Do I have to let
the hair grow out before treatment?
No. We prefer 2 to 3 days growth minimum so that we
may see the coverage area of the hair. The hair must be shaved
prior to treatment. Remember not to tweeze, wax, or bleach
the hair for 3 weeks prior to treatment.
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Which colors of
hair are best treated by lasers?
Darker hair responds best to laser hair removal because lasers
target the pigment in the hair follicle. Light brown or auburn
hair may require more treatment sessions. White, gray, or
silver hair does not respond to laser or light based treatments.
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Do many women have
unwanted facial hair?
Growth of hair on the face which is coarser, longer or more
profuse than is “normal” for the age and race of
the woman is not uncommon. Unwanted Facial Hair is a chronic
problem for about 22 million American women who remove facial
hair at least once a week.
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Will my hair be
gone after my treatment?
You will leave the treatment with smooth skin. There is however
3 to 5 mm of hair still in the skin. The hair has to shed.
When the hair begins to shed it appears to be growing again.
People often call a few days after their treatment and ask
about re-growth. This is not re-growth but is actually the
dead hair falling out of the skin. It usually falls out or
sheds within 2 to 3 weeks.
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