How does hair removal work?

In the past, the usual remedies for unwanted hair were plucking, shaving, waxing, or chemical depilatories. Some are painful, some are messy, and all are only temporary.

For long-term hair removal, electrolysis is popular and effective, but can be uncomfortable and slow. Hair by hair, an electric current passes through a needle to destroy the hair root's ability to grow. It typically takes months or more of regular visits - even for small areas, like the upper lip. 
 

Now there's a more effective soution, the LightSheer Diode Laser, a state-of-the-art system specially designed to remove unwanted hair faster, with less discomfort, and more reliability than many other methods.

How does the laser work?

A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colors of light. The color of the light produced by a particular laser is one of the keys to its effect on hair follicles.

The light emitted by the SheerLight Diode Laser is well-absorbed by the pigment located in hair follicles. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment, disabling numerous follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair's regrowth.

Importantly, LightSheer's special contact-cooling handpiece is perfect for sensitive skin. It protects and cools the upper layer of the skin before, during, and after each pulse while directing the laser energy to the hair root. The combination of this aggressive skin cooling and other key laser parameters allows safe and effective treatment of all skin colors.

What should a patient expect during and after treatment?

The length of a laser session may be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, more than one treatment may be required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase.

Laser treatment itself may cause a slight tingling sensation. Most patients tolerate the procedure well. But because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia can be an option.

The appearance of the treated area immediately after the laser session will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of treatment and skin type. Immediate after-effects, if any, are minor. They may include redness and swelling, which disappear in a short time. Most people return to normal activity right away.

Am I alone in having unwanted hair?

No. You are far from alone. Among American women, 82% have facial hair and unwanted body hair, and 70% use one or more hair removal techniques.

Should I shave, tweeze, undergo electrolysis, wax or use a depilatory before my first treatment?

For optimum results, please refrain from any hair removal for 3 to 5 days before your first treatment.

Can I wear makeup during treatment?

We prefer if you arrive without makeup, but if you are coming from work, we will remove your makeup during the cleansing process.

What are the 3 phases of hair growth?

Anagen - Hair's active growth phase is called anagen. During anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin.

Catagen - Catagen is the regression phase when the lower part of the hair stops growing but is not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed.

Telogen - The resting phase is called telogen, during which the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of new hair.