Laser Hair Removal 

Laser hair removal is used to remove unwanted hair permanently.  Men and women can both be treated, as well as teenagers who are physically mature and past puberty.  Patients seek hair removal treatments for almost any body part, from facial or bikini line treatments to leg, arm, neck or back hair removal. Women mostly have their bikini, underarms, facial, legs and arms lasered.  Men usually have their backs, chests, shave lines, back and front of neck area lasered.  Each treatment significantly and permanently reduces the number of hairs that can regrow, and it works on virtually any part of the body - except the eyelid or surrounding area.

Our clinic uses the LightSheer Diode Laser System to remove unwanted hair faster, more comfortably, and with fewer treatments than ever before and delivers great results.

Going for a new treatment procedure can be daunting if you don’t know what to expect. Here we have attempted to alleviate any concerns you may have before your first treatment. However, if there is anything else you would like to know, feel free to call us, or book a free consultation with one of our professional therapists, who will be able to answer your questions.

How does it work
The system emits near-infrared laser light that is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or turned on, for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to damage the follicle, while the system's unique, patented contact-cooling handpiece, the ChillTip, helps protect the skin by conductive cooling during the laser energy delivery.

What to expect

How to prepare

• Stay out of the sun. A tan increases the risk of side effects, such as skin lightening. If you have a tan either from sun exposure or sunless tanning products wait until the tan fades completely before undergoing laser hair removal. 
• Avoid plucking, waxing and electrolysis. If you usually wax, pluck, thread or mechanically remove hair from the root please stop at least 3 weeks before your appointment. This is because laser treatment works on pigmented hair. If you remove the hair from the root, you remove the pigment and you will not get ultimate results. Between treatments we advise our patients to shave or trim. The advantage is that one doesn't need to grow the hair like when waxing. 
• Should I shave before my appointment?  If you would like our therapist to take before & after photos, please don't shave before your first appointment and request a before photo. If you have taken your own before photo and you are in a hurry, please shave the area clean the night before. 

Before the procedure
Before laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with the therapist. The therapist will use this visit to:

• Review your medical history, including medication use 
• Discuss risks, benefits and expectations, including what laser hair removal can and can't do for you. 
• At the consultation, be sure to discuss a treatment plan and related costs. Laser hair removal is typically an out-of-pocket expense. 
• You can apply a topical anaesthetic to your skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment. 

During the procedure

• You will be fitted with special glasses to protect your eyes from the laser beam 
• The therapist will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. The type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cool gel might be used to protect your skin. 
• When the therapist activates the laser, the laser beam will pass through your skin to the tiny sacs (follicles) where hair growth originates. The intense heat from the laser beam damages the hair follicles, which inhibits hair growth. Some discomfort in the skin is possible, and you'll likely feel a sensation of cold from the cooling device or gel. 
• Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, might take only a few minutes. Treating a larger area, such as the back, might take several hours. 

After the procedure
The most common side effects of laser hair removal include:

• Skin irritation. Temporary discomfort, redness and swelling are possible after laser hair removal. Any signs and symptoms typically disappear within several hours. 
• Pigment changes. Laser hair removal might darken or lighten the affected skin, usually temporarily. 
• Rarely, laser hair removal can cause blistering, crusting, scarring or other changes in skin texture. 

Results

• The LightSheer Diode laser has been cleared by the FDA for hair removal and permanent hair reduction on all skin types and tanned skin. For best results, you might need 4-8 treatments every 8 weeks apart on the body and 6-12 treatments every 6 weeks on the face.  You will already see a difference after the 1st treatment. 
• Will my hair ever grow back?
  The short answer is no. Once the hair follicle is damaged, it cannot grow new hair. However, there are invariably a few hair follicles that manage to partially escape the laser during each treatment. Some of these follicles may be only stunned and will need to be retreated although the new hair growth might be finer and lighter in colour. 
• Results of laser hair removal vary greatly from person to person. Hair colour and skin type influence the success of laser hair removal. After each treatment you’ll see a noticeable, permanent reduction in the number of hairs that regrow in the treated area. Factors that may affect the success of your individual treatment include skin and hair colour, and hormonal effects or imbalances (hirsuitism, puberty, menopause etc.). Additional periodic maintenance treatments perhaps once every 6 to 12 months might be needed as well.  
• Laser hair removal isn't generally effective for white, grey, red or blond hair although treatment options for lighter hair continue to be investigated.  It is the pigment in the hairs that convert the laser energy into the heat necessary for permanent hair reduction. So it follows that the less pigment there is, the less effective the procedure will be. 
• It is recommended that a consultation is carried out on younger people, as well as women who are planning a pregnancy in the near future, as hormonal changes can cause hair to regrow.

Is it Safe

• The LightSheer Diode laser system safely and effectively treats all skin types as well as tanned skin. For darker skin types and people with tans, appropriate fluences are generally lower and appropriate pulse widths are generally longer to prevent damage to the epidermis. Using the appropriate treatment parameters, however, people with all skin types can benefit from laser hair removal with the LightSheer. 
• Can I have laser treatment if I am pregnant?  No. Hormones are the cause of hair growth. When a woman is pregnant her hormone levels can interfere with laser treatment. We advise that pregnant woman return for laser treatments once they have had their baby. 

How does it compare to other Hair Removal Treatments?
Compared to waxing, hair reduction is permanent, less painful and nearly as fast. Hair is also not required to grow out before treatment. Compared to electrolysis, it is significantly less painful, significantly faster, not technique dependent, and far more cost effective. Compared to other Laser hair removal systems, it is much less painful, is safe for any skin type, and provides similar or better effectiveness.