Unwanted
hair for both men and women can be a nightmare. Getting rid of it
can be painful. Until recently the only options for hair removal
were smelly hair removal creams, sharp razors, sticky wax or painful
electrolysis needles. Our advanced approach to beautiful skin
provides the ultimate solution. Now, men and women alike will be
pleased with the newest techniques in laser hair reduction.
Laser hair reduction uses a low-energy laser to gently remove
unwanted hair to deliver longer lasting results. Because the laser
treats more than one hair at a time, it is possible to treat larger
areas such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs and face. Laser
treatments leave your skin looking and feeling smoother and silkier.
Best of all, laser hair reduction treatments are a safe, fast,
gentle and effect alternative method for hair reduction.
Am I a candidate for laser hair reduction?
The absolute requirement is that one's hair must be darker than the
surrounding skin. Very darkly pigmented or tanned patients absorb
too much laser energy in their skin and require specialized lasers
for their treatments. Byrd Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Center has the
proper lasers to treat all skin types effectively.
What will it cost for laser hair reduction for me?
Treatment cost varies with the size of the area treated. Large
areas, such as the entire back, or the entire legs, cost
considerably more than small areas, such as the upper lip. The
number of treatments varies according to the area treated since hair
follicles in different areas respond differently. Individual
consultation is necessary to obtain exact pricing.
Influence of skin color on laser hair reduction
Light skin makes laser hair removal easier to perform. Fewer
treatments are required, and better, faster results are obtained.
People with darker skin can be treated, but results are slower, more
sessions are needed, and greater expertise is required. Laser hair
removal must be individualized for each patient.
Influence of hair color on laser hair reduction
Dark hair absorbs more laser energy and is easier to treat. Coarse
dark hair responds the best to laser treatment. Light hair is more
difficult to treat. Blonde or red hair is very difficult to treat.
Multiple treatment sessions are required and results are variable.
Blonde or red hair usually contains pheomelanin, which absorbs laser
energy less avidly than the eumelanin pigment which is present in
black or brown hair.
Why are multiple treatments needed?
All hair is in one of three stages of growth at any given time;
anagen, catagen or telogen. A hair's active growth phase is called
the anagen phase. During the anagen phase, the hair contains an
abundance of melanin. The catagen phase is the regression phase when
the lower part of the hair stops growing but is not shed, and the
follicle is reabsorbed. The resting phase is called the telogen
phase, during which the old hair falls out in preparation for the
development of new hair. Studies have shown that laser hair
reduction treatments are most effective when hair is in the active
or anagen phase. It is during this phase when melanin, the target of
the laser light, is most abundant.
What areas can be treated?
Any area, except adjacent to the eye, where there is excess hair.
The most common areas requested are the face, upper lip, neck,
chest, periareolar (nipple area), underarms, back, abdomen, bikini
line, and legs.
About 'permanent' hair reduction by laser
Laser hair reduction results in a dramatic reduction in hair
follicles and the results are long-lasting, but this procedure does
not guarantee 'permanent' removal of hair. Although the vast
majority of hair follicles are destroyed, a few of the follicles are
able to regenerate which may result in the need for additional
treatments over the years. The laser treatments cause the hair to
come back slower and thinner and the results tend to be additive,
i.e. more treatments lead to greater degrees of permanent hair
reduction. For any given patient, results cannot be precisely
predicted. Results can be variable, even with the best lasers.
Pulsed light (IPL) and laser hair reduction
IPLs are not lasers because they emit broadband light of many
different wavelengths. Most of the light energy is in the shorter
wavelengths making treatment of darker skin types less effective and
more risky than with a laser properly selected for the patient's
skin and hair type. These devices are in practice more difficult to
adjust than lasers and require great expertise for their proper use.
Lasers are by far the safest and most predictable method of hair
reduction. IPL treatments are the most likely to result in
blistering.
Guarantees in laser hair reduction.
It is impossible to predict the exact result a patient will achieve
with laser hair reduction, especially with regard to how many
sessions a given individual will require. Many of the hair reduction
clinics which guaranteed results have gone out of business. Like
most reputable medical practices, the most established laser hair
reduction practices do not guarantee results.
Discount laser hair reduction clinics.
Established medical centers with excellent reputations do not
discount their fees. Patients know their reputations and rely upon
their experience and expertise. The same is true for laser hair
reduction. Consumers are advised, as with all forms of medical care,
to seek the center of highest quality rather than lowest cost. Laser
hair reduction requires exacting science, individual attention,
experience, and a trained, caring, professional staff.
Laser hair reduction limitation of effectiveness.
Contrary to the statements of those unfamiliar with this new
technology, laser hair reduction is effective when properly
performed for the great majority of candidates. Non-responders are
usually limited to those with blonde or red hair.
Tanning and laser hair reduction.
Tanning and laser hair reduction are not compatible. Tanning prior
to the procedure will necessitate turning the laser power down,
thereby reducing the effectiveness of the treatment.
Adverse treatment reactions.
Pigmentary change of the skin treated can occur, including either
dark or light areas. Pigmentary changes may persist for months, but
are almost always temporary. They are very rare in patients with
fair skin who are untanned. Blisters and burns are rare but
occasionally occur, particularly in patients with dark skin.
Diet and laser hair reduction.
Diet is generally unrelated, except for Beta Carotene, which
interferes with the treatment.
Beta-Carotene and laser hair reduction.
Beta Carotene, found in carrots, vitamin A supplements, squash, and
other vegetables, is deposited in the skin producing a subtle orange
or yellow color in the skin. This pigment absorbs laser energy,
preventing it from reaching the hair follicle, and increasing the
absorption of laser energy in the skin. Beta carotene persists for
months after ingestion. Patients interested in the best results from
laser hair removal will benefit from discontinuation of the use of
all forms of beta carotene.
Laser hair reduction for African-Americans.
The darker one's skin, the more difficult it is to obtain adequate
results from laser hair reduction. The darker one's skin the more
sessions one requires. Newer lasers can now provide effective laser
hair reduction for most patients, no matter what their skin type.
Who should not have laser hair reduction?
Patients with a recently acquired dark tan. Blondes or redheads with
any recent tan. People of color with fine, light hair. Anyone who
cannot afford multiple sessions (one treatment is rarely adequate).
Byrd Aesthetic &
Anti-Aging Center • 11050 Crabapple Road • Building B • Roswell, Georgia 30075
Telephone: 770-587-1711 • Toll-free: 1-866-671-5633 • Fax:
770-518-8810 • Dr. Byrd's Blog
Roswell is a north
side suburb of Atlanta, GA. Copyright 2010. All Rights Reserved Byrd
Aesthetic.
Last Updated
March 02, 2010
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