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I would like laser hair removal for my underarm hair.

Posted by Dr. Edwin Williams in Laser hair Removal on October 23rd

Question:

I would like laser hair removal for my underarm hair. Does this treatment remove a layer of skin? Will my underarms be sensitive for very long afterwards?

Answer:

In response to this question, the laser will affect the hair only and will not disturb the skin on the surface. Laser affects active hair in the growth phase. It heats up the hair at the follicle which then causes the hair to fall out. The underarms after treatment will look mildly red for approximately 20 minutes. A soothing cream is applied and there is very little discomfort after that time period. Immediately after treatment, you will be able to go back to all areas of activity and daily living.

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I am a fair-skinned blonde female. Am I a good candidate for laser hair removal?

Posted by Dr. Allison Pontius in Laser hair Removal on June 26th

Question:

I am a fair-skinned blonde female. Am I a good candidate for laser hair removal?

Answer:

Being fair-skinned is advantageous for laser hair removal; however, if your hair is blonde, the laser will not work and electrolysis would be a better option. The laser does not work on blonde or gray hair but it does work well on dark hair.

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Can I resume my laser hair removal sessions even after a few years?

Posted by Dr. Allison Pontius in Laser hair Removal on June 25th

Question:

I had a few laser hair removal sessions a few years ago. I probably did not do as many as I was supposed to. It seems like it thinned out the hair but did not permanently remove it. Can I resume my sessions now? Will I need fewer sessions than someone just starting out?

Answer:

Yes, it would be fine to resume your sessions now ensuring that you had pigmented or dark-colored hair. The laser does not work for gray or blonde hair. Hairs that are in the growth cycle are usually removed permanently, but hairs that are not currently in the active growth cycle when treated with the laser tend to become more fine with each treatment. Likely this is what happened to you. Now you still have hair but it is finer than it was originally. And yes, you would likely need fewer sessions to complete the hair removal process than someone just starting out.

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After I have laser hair removal, when can I get back to the beach?

Posted by Cosmetic Nurse Specialist in Laser hair Removal on June 13th

Question: After I have laser hair removal, when can I get back to the beach? If I go into the ocean the next day, is there a possibility of infection?

Answer: Generally, laser hair removal targets the pigment so it is not a good idea to be in the sun for at least two weeks following treatment. Also, a patient is not to have a tan of any kind whether that be self-tanning lotion or natural tan. As far as going into the ocean and getting an infection, I cannot quite answer that question. But generally it is not wise to go to the beach after having laser hair removal. The best time for laser hair removal would be the fall months or the winter time.

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How long would it take to remove fine hair from my upper lip?

Posted by Cosmetic Nurse Specialist in Laser hair Removal on June 11th

Question: With laser hair removal, do you treat one hair follicle at a time like electrolysis and how long would it take to remove fine hair from my upper lip?

Answer: With laser hair removal, we do not treat one hair follicle at a time. There is generally an area that is treated and it would take a 15-minute appointment.

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Would it be wise for me to reschedule my appointment?

Posted by Cosmetic Nurse Specialist in Laser hair Removal on June 10th

Question: Will laser hair removal on the upper lip and chin result in my skin remaining red the next day? I have scheduled an appointment for this treatment but now I have a really crucial meeting the next day. Would it be wise for me to reschedule my appointment?

Answer: I do not feel it would be necessary to reschedule this appointment. Generally, the redness for the upper lip and chin lasts about two-three hours after treatment and we also apply a cream that helps to reduce redness.

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I have very hairy arms and legs

Posted by Dr. Edwin Williams in Laser hair Removal on May 2nd

Question: I have very hairy arms and legs. I am very interested in laser hair removal and was wondering how much time per session is involved and how painful this procedure is?

Answer: We schedule hair removal in 15-minute increments. The time required depends on the area to be treated and the size of the patient. The discomfort involved depends on the patient and also the amount of hair that is present. Generally, this will decrease over time.

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Lasers that works best for darker skin and coarser hair

Posted by Dr. Edwin Williams in Laser hair Removal on May 1st

Question: Is there any hair type for lasers that works best for darker skin and coarser hair? I am an African-American and would like to have the thick coarse hair on my back and back of my neck removed.

Answer: It is difficult to treat patients with dark skin with the GentleLase laser we have here in the Rejuva Center. The laser itself works by targeting pigment; therefore, the treatment parameters have to be set lower to prevent damage to the patients’ skin.

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