FAQ's for Laser Hair Removal

Q: What does laser hair removal feel like?  Is it painful?

A:  Most people describe the feeling similar to a pinch of a rubber band.  Although pain is an individual feeling, most clients express the sensation as tolerable.

Q: What should I do before my treatment?

A:  Try to avoid sun exposure. Hair can be more aggressively treated without a fresh tan. Having hair is essential to having a successful treatment. You can not wax, tweeze, thread or have electrolysis for 4 weeks before a treatment.  The best way to manage hair before is to shave, trim, or use cream depilatories. The day of your treatment the hair will need to be freshly shaved.

Q: What should I expect after a treatment?

A: After a treatment the skin may be red and bumpy.  This is absolutely normal.  Post treatment, we recommend protecting the area from the sun to avoid any additional heat to the area, as well as avoiding activities such as exercise, saunas, and other activities which may irritate the area or induce heat for 24-48 hours immediately after treatment.  The area should be moisturized with a soothing cream and cleansed with a mild soap as advised by our laser technicians. 

Q: How many treatments will I need?

A: Hair grows in continuous cycles. The anagen or growth phase of hair contains the largest amounts of melanin and this phase is the laser's target.  From scientific studies we understand that any area contains a maximum of 20-30% of anagen hairs at one time, thus, these anagen hairs are affected each treatment. Most clients will require a minimum of three treatments. Repeated sessions are necessary. Finer hair and dark skin clients may require 6-8 treatments. If you suffer from a hormone imbalance your treatments may be ongoing. To have effective treatments it is imperative that they be sequenced.  Every client's expectations of hair loss are different. Some may be happy with 50-60% loss and may want to discontinue and others will want to continue until they reach their maximum loss of 80-95%.

Q: How long should I wait between treatments?

A: Waiting time may vary with individuals. The general guideline is 4-6 weeks for neck and above areas and 6-8 weeks for areas below the neck.

Q: What should I do to manage the hair between treatments?

A: You should not have much hair to manage. If you need to, shaving or trimming is the
most effective way to manage hair growth between treatments.

Q: Are the Results Permanent?

A: The LightSheer laser has been cleared by the FDA for hair removal and permanent hair reduction on all skin types and tanned skin.  To achieve a satisfactory level of clearance, 4-6 treatments are typically required. 

Q:  Does laser hair removal create or treat ingrown hairs?

A:  The laser will not create ingrown hairs. If you suffer from them the laser will produce an effective treatment to clear the ingrown hairs.
 
Q: Does the LightSheer work on different skin colors?
 
A: The LightSheer diode laser system safely and effectively treats all skin types (Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI). For darker skin types 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.
 
Q: Does the LightSheer work on tanned skins?
 
A: A tan is damage to the skin. When it is damaged it creates "tan" or colour. This is "melanin" deposits in the skin.  The laser is attracted to melanin. The technology in the Lightsheer allows the skin to be cooled effectively to not traumatize the "tan" but the energy of the laser must be reduced to accommodate a tan. Therefore a client with a tan may require more treatments than someone without a tan. To have a more effective and aggressive treatment it would be better not have a tan.
 
Q: What advantages does the LightSheer have over other laser hair removal systems?
 
A:  Lasers operate at wavelengths or nanometers.  Primitive lasers, such as the Alexandrite laser emits a wavelength of 755nm which is effective at targeting melanin in the hair and consequently the skin
The LightSheer Diode Laser System was designed from the ground up specifically for laser hair removal only, so it has the wavelength, fluence, pulse width, and active epidermal cooling system?the ChillTip ideally suited for laser hair removal. 
 
Q:  Is the Lightsheer Diode FDA approved?
 
A:  The laser was developed in 1994 and the first hair removal study began in July 1996. The FDA cleared the device for treatments in December 1997. The FDA then granted it's claim for permanent hair reduction in April 1999 after it demonstrated in a 3000 person study a better than 50% permanent hair loss after only 3 treatments.
 
Q: Why should I use the LightSheer Diode Laser System rather than the methods I've been using for years?
 
A: The LightSheer Diode Laser System's design provides for enhanced comfort during treatment, minimal risk of infection, speed and accuracy. Since the system uses a unique cooling hand-piece, it minimizes skin irritation that other methods may create. Since it is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced. Because the system is fast, it allows for larger areas to be treated, considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process, which allows more patients to be treated during a typical day. Finally, the LightSheer Diode Laser is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to damage only the hair follicle while minimally affecting the surrounding skin.