High Speed Laser Hair Removal

 

BOTH PAINLESS & EFFECTIVE ON ALL SKIN TYPES

+ Laser Hair Removal is directed by Dr. Darin Peterson.

Laser Hair Removal is a fast and effective solution for the permanent removal of unwanted hair. We are proud to use a federally approved Medical Grade Laser for "permanent hair reduction." Depending on the area that you are treating, you can expect to have a Laser Hair Removal Treatment every six weeks with most patients requiring four to eight sessions in total. We recommend a consultation appointment for your personal price quotation.

We are confident that with these exciting new MediSpa treatments, we will be able to help all our clients realize their true potential like never before! Dr. Darin Peterson medically directs all of our laser, IPL, and Accent treaments. Our Laser Technicians, provide safe and effective treatments for all of our MediSpa clientelle. They maintain a rigorous program of training that corresponds with the vision and mission of Pino and Marisa.  This allows them to keep abreast of the latest technology and changes in this exciting field.

 

Understanding Laser Treatment

A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Various types of lasers produce different colours of light. The colour of light produced by a particular laser is the key to its effect on hair follicles.

The pigment located in hair follicles absorbs the light emitted by the laser. The light pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment, disabling several follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair's growth.

Importantly a special contact-cooling hand piece protects the skin surrounding the hair root during treatment.

Our "810 Diode" laser provides state-of-the-art technology and is the worLd's most advanced and recognized treatment for effective removal of unwanted hair. All skin types can be safely treated. The FDA has approved it for permanent hair reduction.

Understanding Hair Removal

Hair grows in cycles, and many factors influence it's growth. Age, ethnicity, medications, hormone levels and even body site all influence the length, coarseness, and colour of body hair. How much hair you have depends on how many hairs are in the active cycle and how long that cycle lasts.

During any one time, 90% of the hairs on your head will be in their active growth phase, and only 10% will be in their resting phase. For scalp hair, the growth period can be as long as 7 years, while the resting period is usually 2-4 months.

On the other hand, the hairs on your arms have an active growth cycle of only 1-3 months before they revert to a resting phase. At any one time, only 70% of those hairs may be growing. That is why the hair on your scalp can grow so much longer than the hair on other parts of your body.

Anagen is the hair's active growing stage. During Anagen, the hair contains an abundance of melanin (pigment).

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

Telogen is the resting phas. During Telogen, the old hair falls out in preparation for the developments of new hair.

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

Shaving is simple and inexpensive but it requires a constant commitment. It does not alter the coarseness, growth rate or density of the hair.

Tweezing is tedious, painful, and impractical for large areas. Results may last for a few weeks or more. The process is painful and may cause allergic or irritant reactions and inflammations of the follicles. For long-term hair removal, electrolysis is popular and effective but can be painful and slow. Hair by hair, electric current passes through a needle to destroy the hair root's ability to grow. Electrolysis is a tedious, time-consuming process. It typically takes months or even years of regular treatments - even for small areas, such as between your eyebrows. Risks include infection, pitting, and scarring.

What Are the Main Advantages of the Laser System?

There are three main advantages to laser hair removal technology - comfort, speed, and accuracy. The laser uses a unique cooling hand piece, which avoids the kind of skin irritation that other methods may create. Groups of hair follicles are treated in rapidly successive pulses which allow large areas to be treated in a much more efficient manner than was previously possible. Finally, the last is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to the exact parameters that will disable only the hair follicle minimally affecting the surrounding skin.

Does it Hurt?

The laser only emits infrared light. You may feel a tingling sensation, but most people tolerate the procedure well. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others. We recommend application of a topical anesethic gel (betacaine) at home, one hour before the procedure. Betacaine needs to be applied 1/8 inch thick on the area that will be treated. Betacaine is available at Pino's salon and spa or over the counter at your pharmacy. Never exceed a 30 gram tube at one time, and never use if your are allergic to anesthetic freezing, as serious reaction may occur. If you are ever uncertain about using the topical freezing please call us before applying. Your safety is our primary concern.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The laser works by disabling hairs that are principally in their active growth phase at the time of the treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments will be necessary to disable all the hair follicles in a given area. It usually involves 4-6 treatments over 4 to 6 months for the body, and 6-8 treatments over 6 to 10 months for facial areas (difference accounted for by the more rapid cycling of facial hair). Additional maintenance sessions may be required after that. In some situations (ie, back hair on some males), a significant partial reduction in the hair density and reduction in hair shaft thickness after one or only a few treatments may be all that is desired. The length of the laser session may be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the areas being treated. Larger areas such as legs and backs may be broken into smaller sections as per your comfort and time restrictions.

What Happens After?

Within several minutes, the treated area may become slightly red and puffy and feel like a sunburn. Most people return to normal activity right away. Some people opt for cold compressing the area intermittently over the next few hours. This reaction subsides quickly and within a day or so the area returns to normal. There may be a residue of hair left on the follicle that appears as a dark spot. Rarely, people may experience some brown scabbing or blistering. This is temporary and will resolve in a few days. An antibacterial cream (polysporin) should be applied twice daily for 3-7 days and the area must be protected from the sun. Some people may require makeup to hide the redness, for facial areas only. Within the next 3-4 weeks the lasered hair is expelled from the follicles. It has a stubble-like appearance and you may shave it or loofah as necessary to keep the area tidy. Avoid rubbing the area vigorously for 4-5 days and do not tweeze. Hypo-pigmentation (lightening of the skin colour) and hyper-pigmentation (darkening of the skin colour) may be a temporary effect from the laser, more so for tanned or darker skinned patients. Once the hairs have been expelled you'll get temporary hair removal. This generally lasts 6 weeks for facial hair and up to 12 weeks for body hair. At these points in time a new light and finer re-growth signals that the area can be retreated.

In Summary, the Potential Problems Are:

Prolonged redness - some skin types are more sensitive and the redness may last than 24 hours. In most, it has resolved by 3 days.

Pimples (whiteheads) -may appear in the treated area. There is no harm and they will dry up and disappear in a week.

Hypo-pigmentation (lightening of the skin) - uncommon and can be avoided by not having a tan. Usual skin colour returns in 6 weeks - 3 months for 90% of affected individuals.

Hyper-pigmentation (darkening of the skin) - uncommon when using sun block for 4 weeks before and after treatment. During the sunny months of the year, sun block is recommended (May to October) and during sun holidays in winter if they fall within those 4 weeks pre and post treatment. Darker skin types are at higher risk.

Tiny superficial blisters - less than10% can occur 2-3 days after treatment. They are not painful and appear as small brown marks that usually fade in 2-3 weeks. Scarring has not been reported after laser treatment.

Non-response to Laser Hair Removal - uncommon, but generally, if it happens it occurs mostly in females with facial hair and a hormone imbalance. Ask your doctor whether hormone lab tests and additional treatments are indicated. Body hair is not usually affected unless hair colour is too light (light blond, white, gray) or too fine. The later groups have insufficient pigment in hair follicles to absorb the laser light. Some non-responders may respond to electrolysis. On the other hand, individuals may do well with laser hair removal.

Laser Safety

Lasers have been used in surgery for over 20 years. In experienced hands and with approved eye protection, they are safe.

Pre- and Post-Treatment Instructions and Information

BEFORE STARTING TREATMENTS

• Do not remove hair with depilatory creams, waxing, or tweezing for 4-6 weeks.
• Shave to maintain the area to be treated.
• Do not expose the area you are treating to UV rays without a protective sunblock for 4-6 week.

ON THE DAY OF TREATMENT

• Wear loose fitting, comfortable and washable clothing.
• If you are having a bikini or leg area treated, a bathing suit or baggy shorts may be worn.
• You will be required to sign a consent form.
• Photographs are taken before treatment to record hair density.

AFTER TREATMENT

• The redness, swelling, and "sunburned feeling" may last a few days. Tylenol may be taken. Avoid perfumes, make up, strong soap (unscented Spectrojel is recommended) on treated areas until the stinging has subsided.
• Apply the antibiotic cream (polysporin) twice daily for 3-7 days.
• Protect the treated area from sun exposure for at least 4 (up to 8) weeks using a sunscreen during the sunny months of the year (May to October) and sun holidays.
• Our staff is available to answer any questions or concerns.

Remember - your health and satisfaction are our primary concerns, please be temporarily seen at a walk in clinic or your family doctor.