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What is laser hair removal? How does it work?
Laser hair removal offers patients a safe, fast, and effective
alternative for dealing with unwanted hair. Lasers work by emitting a
specialized light that is passed through the skin and preferentially
absorbed by its target, be it an unwanted blood vessel, birthmark,
tattoo, or in this case, hair. The laser used in hair removal targets
the melanin (color) in the hair follicle, damaging the follicle and
removing the hair.
Laser hair removal is safe enough to be used on all body parts,
including the face, back, underarms, bikini line, legs, and arms.
What treatments are available?
Waxing, shaving, and the use of depilatory creams are well-established
methods for hair removal, albeit temporary. Electrolysis is the
traditional tried and tested method for permanent hair removal, but is
often very time-consuming and inefficient. These days, the most popular
and most effective method for hair removal is the use of lasers which
have been specifically designed to damage and destroy many hairs in a
short time, and with little chance of complications. People are
interested in laser hair removal because it involves new and efficient
technology, and because its effects are permanent in over 80% of its
subjects.
Is treatment permanent?
On average, each laser treatment will be associated with five to 10
percent permanent hair loss. So in most cases, a reasonable degree of
permanent hair removal can only be achieved after several treatments.
The number of treatments will depend on each patient's individual
response to laser surgery, and the amount of hair to be removed.
Remember that the goal may not be total hair removal. Many patients are
happy with a reasonable degree of hair reduction. Also remember that the
hair that remains is often lighter in color and thinner than the
original hair prior to laser surgery. As with other treatments for
unwanted hair, there is no guarantee that laser hair removal treatment
will be permanent.
How many treatments are necessary?
Factors such as the amount of hair and individual reaction to the laser
treatment will affect the number of treatments needed. In most cases,
three to six treatments will be necessary to achieve optimal results.
Does treatment hurt? What can I expect with the procedure?
Most patients describe laser hair removal as feeling "prickly," or like
the light snap of a rubber band against the skin. Afterwards, it might
feel like a bad sunburn. Each patient has his or her own level of skin
sensitivity and pain threshold. Different areas on the body are also
more sensitive than others.
On the day of your treatment, plan on wearing clothing that will allow
easy access to the area being treated. You may not need any type of
anesthesia for your treatments. Laser hair removal works best when the
hair is one to two millimeters in length. No specific care is needed
after the treatment.
How long will it take my skin to heal?
Normally the skin just looks red and swollen for up to 48 hours, or
possibly longer. Most patients will be offered a test area before
undergoing a full treatment. This gives them a great idea of how the
treatment will feel, and the length of time it will look red and
swollen. Occasionally, patients can develop a blistering reaction. If
this happens, call your treating physician and ask for specific
post-laser treatment options.
What will I look like immediately afterwards?
Generally, some redness will remain for approximately five to seven
days. For some patients recovery time will be less while other patients
will have prolonged redness.
How much does treatment cost?
The cost of treatment is dependent on many factors. These factors could
include the size of the area needing treatment, the number of treatments
necessary, and the individual fees each office charges for treatments.
Some offices have package deals that include a certain number of
treatments per year for a reduced cost. It's always best to ask when
scheduling an appointment.
Are consultations free?
Different offices handle payment for consultations in different ways. It
is best to ask this question at the time when you schedule a
consultation.
Does the consultation fee go towards treatment cost if I decide to have
treatment?
Again, each office operates in its own individual way. In some instances
the consultation fee will go towards the first treatment. In other cases
the consultation fee is completely separate.
Will my insurance coverage treatment?
Unwanted hair is usually a cosmetic issue, so in most cases you should
expect to pay for treatment. In the rare instances where treatment is
considered medically necessary, insurance may cover the cost of
treatment. It's best to speak to your doctor and your insurance company
to clarify this question.
What procedures are considered "medically necessary" vs. "cosmetic"?
In some cases, hormone problems or other problems that can cause pain to
the patient are considered medically necessary. However, even though a
physician might consider a condition and medically necessary, the
insurance company might disagree and refuse to pay for treatment. It's
best to consult with both your physician and your insurance company
before going ahead with treatment.
LASER HAIR
REMOVAL:
The Future is Bright for Millions of Americans with Unwanted Hair!
CHICAGO (July 27, 2003)
Excess facial or body hair can be a nagging
cosmetic concern for men and women, alike. While depilatories, shaving,
waxing, and electrolysis are common solutions for hair removal, many
people complain that the accompanying discomfort and time-consuming
nature of many of these treatments are too high a price to pay for
temporarily smooth skin. However, these men and women are beginning to
discover that lasers are a convenient yet gentle solution to the problem
of unwanted hair.
Speaking today at ACADEMY ‘03, the American Academy of Dermatology’s
summer scientific meeting in Chicago, dermatologist Allison T. Vidimos,
RPh, MD, Staff Member, Department of Dermatology, Section of
Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology, and Program Director, Dermatology
Residency, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, discussed the
facts of laser hair removal.
“The continued development of laser technology has led to a variety of
exciting treatment options for patients of all skin types with unwanted
hair,” stated Dr. Vidimos. “Last year, more than 585,000 laser
treatments were performed in the United States, and the number of
patients taking advantage of this procedure to receive permanent hair
growth reduction is growing.”
Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser to gently remove unwanted
hair. The laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the
pigment in the hair follicle. In a fraction of a second, many of the
treated hair follicles are injured by the heat generated by the laser.
Laser treatments can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours
depending on the size of the area being treated.
With the exception of the region close to the eye, almost any area of
the body with excess hair can be treated with lasers. The most common
areas requested by patients are the face, upper lip, neck, chest,
periareolar (breast region), underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and
legs.
“In general, patients with light skin and dark hair are the ideal
candidates for laser hair removal,” said Dr. Vidimos. “However, the use
of longer wavelength lasers and skin cooling devices have increased the
safety of lasers used to treat patients with darker skin types that,
until now, have not been candidates for laser hair removal. These skin
cooling devices protect the upper layer of skin in darker skinned
patients from absorbing too much laser energy, thereby reducing the risk
of blistering and pigment change.”
Yet while laser treatments for darker skinned patients have improved,
patients with tanned skin are still not candidates and must wait until
their tan fades before they can be treated. Patients are instructed not
to suntan or use sunless tanning products prior to laser treatment,
since tanning alters skin pigment and can affect how the skin absorbs
the laser energy. This could lead to increased side effects such as
blistering or discoloration following treatment.
In addition to a patient’s skin color, their hair color also influences
the success of laser hair removal. As a rule, the pigment in dark hair
absorbs more laser energy, making black or brown hair easier to treat.
Light hair, such as blonde or red, contains a pigment that absorbs laser
energy less readily, and therefore does not respond with permanent hair
reduction.
The number of hair removal treatments required for optimal long-term
benefits usually depends on the area the patient would like to have
treated, the hair density, and the patient’s hair growth cycle. Hair
grows in cycles and many factors influence its growth. Age, ethnicity,
weight, hormones, diet, medication, and metabolism all play a part in a
patient’s hair distribution, thickness, and resilience. When necessary,
laser treatments are usually repeated at six to eight week intervals.
A typical laser hair removal patient may experience brief swelling and
redness following the procedure. Most patients will be completely healed
in two to 10 days, although their hair may not fall out for up to two
weeks after treatment. Following laser hair removal, patients can return
to their normal activities immediately. As always, patients should avoid
any direct sun exposure and use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor
(SPF) of 30 since the treated skin will be very sensitive to the sun.
“The success of laser hair removal depends on the skill of the physician
performing the treatment,” cautioned Dr. Vidimos. “I would advise
patients to ask questions, and make sure that the physician they’ve
chosen to work with is a board-certified dermatologist or other
appropriately-trained surgeon with extensive experience in performing
laser procedures in order to ensure the best possible results.”
The American Academy of Dermatology, founded in 1938, is the largest,
most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic
associations. With a membership of over 14,000 dermatologists worldwide,
the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical,
surgical, and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating
high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in
dermatology; supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of
healthier skin.
Laser Hair Removal Is
Safe And Effective
SCHAUMBURG,
IL (May 19, 1998)
Study results presented at the 25th Annual
Scientific and Clinical Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic
Surgery suggest that the new diode laser safely produces long-lasting
hair removal.
Addressing colleagues in Portland, OR, dermatologic surgeon and laser
expert Melanie C. Grossman, MD, reviewed clinical data using an 800 nm
diode laser on 100 patients with skin types I-VI, light to very dark
skin. Dr. Grossman is a clinical assistant professor at Cornell
University and the New York Hospital in New York City.
The purpose of the study was to determine the safety and efficacy of
hair removal using this new type of laser that has a longer wavelength
and a cooling hand piece.
"We wanted to test our premise that the longer wavelength would make
treatment safer for darker skin types, and that the cooling device would
produce less side effects to the epidermis and reduce patient
discomfort," explained Dr. Grossman. "We’re pleased to report that our
findings substantiate the potential advantages of the diode laser."
According to Dr. Grossman, the newly FDA-cleared diode laser is a very
efficient device that contains several small diodes or semiconductors
that are arranged together to produce light. A diode laser is
significantly smaller than traditional lasers, making it a convenient
and portable system for in-office procedures.
In the clinical study, each subject had seven test areas, five of which
received a single laser treatment, and two that received an additional
treatment after one month. Fluence and pulse duration varied. There was
one control site. Treatment of a larger area was also performed on each
patient. Patients were evaluated 1, 3, 6 and 9 months after treatment.
Hair regrowth was assessed subjectively and objectively by computer
images with a CCD camera (charged coupled device that produces digital
images).
Follow-up data at three months showed a statistically significant growth
delay in 100% of the subjects. Temporary skin discoloration was seen in
less than 10% of the subjects, and there was an absence of scarring. No
skin rash or irritation was observed.
"Greater understanding of laser skin interactions and refinements in
laser technology have enabled dermatologic surgeons to optimize the
safety and effectiveness of laser-based hair removal procedures. We are
confident that the diode laser and its future applications hold a great
deal of promise," concluded Dr. Grossman.
The American Society for Dermatology (ASDS) was founded in 1970 to
promote excellence in the field of dermatologic surgery and to foster
the highest standards of patient care.
New
Developments In Laser - Assisted Hair Removal
NEW YORK, NY (October 28, 1998)
Excess unwanted body hair concerns
both men and women. Regardless of the cause, millions of Americans
remove unwanted hair daily by a variety of temporary hair removal
strategies that include shaving, waxing, chemical depilatories and
tweezing. Electrolysis provides a permanent, but often tedious and slow
alternative solution for hair removal.
Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology’s Derm Update ’98,
Melanie C. Grossman, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology,
Cornell University Medical School, New York, NY, discussed new laser
technologies that are emerging in the treatment of unwanted body hair.
"Recent improvements in the understanding of laser skin interactions and
advances in laser technology have afforded the development of several
laser-assisted hair removal strategies. Coupled with our existing
knowledge, this gives way to new and exciting possibilities into future
testing and research development," Dr. Grossman said.
Lasers enable the treatment of large surface areas in a short time span,
allowing treatment of an entire back, leg or chest in one treatment
session. While in many cases results are excellent compared to existing
alternatives, it is easier to induce a growth delay than to induce
permanent hair removal. Success varies depending upon the individual and
the location of the hair on the body. Currently, FDA-approved methods of
hair removal include: the Long Pulsed Ruby Laser; the Q-Switched Nd:YAG
Laser in combination with a carbon suspension; Long Pulsed Alexandrite
Laser; Diode Laser; and the Non-coherent light source.
The Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser works in combination with a topical
suspension, which is carbon-based. Hair is removed from the skin surface
by shaving the day before treatment. The day of treatment, the carbon
suspension is applied and low energy laser pulses are delivered to the
treatment area, which directs the carbon into the hair follicles. Higher
fluence pulses are then delivered to the skin surface and target the
carbon-filled follicles. Areas of treatment include the face, trunk and
extremities. Various body sites and individuals respond differently.
The Long Pulsed Alexandrite Laser is another FDA-approved method which
is used to treat the trunk, the extremities and the face. Hair-bearing
areas must be shaved prior to treatment. In addition, a Non-coherent
broad-spectrum light source is also used to treat areas shaved prior to
treatment. A cooling gel is applied to the surface of the skin and then
laser light pulses are delivered.
The newest FDA-cleared method is the Diode Laser. Under investigation
are several additional sources for the treatment of hair removal: a Long
Pulsed YAG Laser; and a light therapy which utilizes a topical drug
Amino Levulonic Acid (ALA), which targets hair follicles for destruction
using a red light source known as Photodynamic Therapy.
"With the development of new treatments underway and the refining of
existing technologies, the dermatological advancement of hair removal is
successfully moving forward," Dr. Grossman concluded.
The American Academy of Dermatology is the world’s largest medical
society representing physicians who specialize in treating skin, hair
and nail conditions.
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