Laser hair removal (LHR) or permanent hair reduction works to stop hair growth in a desired area and eliminate or minimize waxing, shaving, or bleaching unwanted hair. LHR is a series of treatments and works best on dark, thick hair like that on the leg. LHR generally requires 6-8 treatments to achieve best results.

Why are at least 6-8 treatment sessions usually needed?
All lasers work by disabling hairs that are in their active growth cycle at the time of treatment. Hair follicles in their “dormant” phase have no hair shaft in them and so will not be affected by the laser. Because hair follicles cycle through “active” and “dormant” phases, additional sessions are usually desired once the “dormant” follicles become “active,” and to deal with hair follicles which were stunned but not killed by previous treatment.

Does it hurt?
You may feel a tingling or snapping sensation like a rubber band. There is no bleeding, and no open wound is created. Some people find the first laser treatment more uncomfortable than subsequent treatments. This is because there are more hair roots which are destroyed during the first treatment.

While some areas of the body like the upper lip and pubic hair area are more sensitive than others, many patients report little or no discomfort. Your nurse is well-trained in discomfort techniques and will prepare your treatment accordingly. If you are scheduled to have topical anesthetic applied, ample time will be allowed. People who have had waxing, sugaring, and/or electrolysis (or treatment with other lasers) usually report that they have little discomfort.

What systems do we use?
Forever Young uses two different systems for LHR: Cutera’s XEO which includes the Prowave for light to medium skin tones and the Nd:YAG which is perfect for darker skin tones or even tanned skin. Forever Young also uses Viora’s V30 as another solution for lighter skin tones.

Cutera’s Nd:YAG for hair removal is a 1064 wavelength laser that allows for the treatment of unwanted hair in the darker skin types 5 and 6. The Nd:YAG can also be used safely on skin that has recently been in the sun and is tanned. The 1064 is a long wavelength that bypasses the epidermis, thus making it safe to treat skin which is heavily pigmented.

The ProWave Hair Removal System by Cutera is a light-based system that allows for the treatment of most skin by varying the wavelengths used to treat different skin types. The Prowave uses a pre-cooled hand piece to minimize discomfort and post treatment skin reactions such as redness and swelling. And the enlarged treatment area on the handpiece makes for quick and safe treatments of large areas such as the back and legs. A series of 4 to 8 treatments is usually required to totally rid an area of unwanted hair especially on darker skin.