RadiantImagesLaser.com ~ Serving the San Francisco Bay area
FAQ About Laser Hair Removal
The Radiant Images Laser Centers welcomes questions about laser hair removal and offers a free consultation.
Why choose Radiant Images Laser Center, Inc?
By using the Altus CoolGlide, we have the most comfortable and effective laser hair removal available. We
also have the best rates in the
the Bay Area,
and we put our clients first with the best service possible.
Our personalized service, and gender-friendly staff make
your experience with us a pleasant one, as well as
cost-effective one!
Call for a free consultation and and find out why we’re the
best.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?
Our lasers are developed in conjunction with some of the world's leading authorities on the use of lasers for medical applications. By using the principle of Thermokinetic Selectivity™, the laser "parameters" (guidelines for the effective use of the laser during treatment) were chosen to match the pulse width to the size and location of the hair follicle. The result is a safer, faster and more effective way to eliminate unwanted hair.
Who is a candidate for laser hair removal?
Anyone with darker hair is a good candidate; while light-blonde, gray, or redheads can be more problematic. While the LightSheer offers a comfortable and effective treatment on most all hair and skin types, for more stubborn hair or very dark skin, our Altus CoolGlide Laser is often a good solution. Our expert laser nurse adjusts the settings according to your hair and skin type. We will assess your skin and hair type on your initial consultation and plan your treatment accordingly for the best results.
How does the Laser Hair Removal treatment work?
Lasers designed for hair removal emit light at wavelengths specifically designed to be absorbed by the pigment in the hair (melanin). If the surrounding skin is relatively light compared to the color of the hair, then the entire energy of the laser will be concentrated in the hair shaft, effectively destroying it without damaging the skin. The Altus CoolGlide laser incorporates a cooling and chilling before the laser fires, protecting the skin and allowing more energy to be applied to the hair.
Are there any side effects?
Generally the
skin surrounding the follicle is not effected by the laser
at all. There can be a short-term bumpiness, as if the hair
had been waxed, but this goes away within minutes. Our
lasers has a chill tip to protect the skin, and our
certified technicians are trained to observe the skin during
treatment. Certain skin types may experience temporary skin
redness, but this usually disappears within a couple of
hours.
In very rare instances the skin may hyperpigment (be turned
darker) or hypopigment (turn lighter); again these are
temporary. If we believe your skin type may be susceptible
to this, we will try a few test pulses before we do a full
treatment.
Is the treatment painful?
In one pulse, the
Altus CoolGlide laser treats all the hair
on a patch of skin about the size of a quarter. The pulse,
lasting only millionths of a second, is usually no more
painful than plucking a few hairs.
Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, but
because of the chill tip you will experience a higher
comfort level that with any other laser.
Are TG’s welcome?
Radiant Images Laser Center is a gender-friendly clinic that has helped hundreds of our trans-gendered clients.
How many treatments are
required?
For permanent
hair reduction, the average person needs at least 5
treatments for all areas of their body and 6 treatments for
their face areas. Some people many require more or less,
depending on hair color and skin type, but, the majority of
our clients have excellent results after 5 or 6 treatments.
Rarely there are some people who, because of genetics,
hormones, or other causes, may only see minimal
improvements. We are careful to set realistic expectations
in these cases.
Almost all clients with dark hair, even those with extremely
persistent hair growth, will achieve permanent hair
reduction eventually.
Is the treatment
painful?
Most people on their first few treatments feel like rubber band snaps with each pulse. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, but because of the chill tip you will experience a higher comfort level that with any other laser. Most patients don’t need aneasthetics.
What kind of results should I expect?
Our lasers are FDA approved for permanent hair reduction. The number of treatments required depends on several factors related to your specific kind of hair and skin. Usually five to six treatments spread out 8 weeks apart are required to achieve satisfactory results. Following each treatment, you can immediately return to work and resume all regular activities.
What type of laser do you
use?
We carry the latest models of the Light Sheer diode laser (Altus CoolGlide1064 Nd:YAG). These lasers are FDA approved for permanent hair reduction and have been shown to provide excellent results with all types of hair and skin colors.
Which laser is right for me?
Depending on your skin tone and color, and the coarsness and darkness of your hair, the doctor will decide which laser would be best for your specific needs.
How much does it cost?
Prices vary for each patient depending
on the type of laser procedure, area of the body to be
treated, and the number of treatments needed. Our
affordable prices and financing plans assure that nearly
everyone can have the new look they have always wanted.
Come in today for your and you will be
amazed as to how affordable we truly are.
Keep in mind that most people spend more money in 4-5 years
on shaving, waxing, and depiliatory products. removal
will save you both time and money and it would have paid for
itself in just a few years.
How does Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser hair removal work?
The Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser is a non-invasive light
therapy device specifically designed to eliminate undesired
hair from all parts of the body. The Altus CoolGlide Xeo™
laser generates a pulse of intense, concentrated light which
is directed through a small, cooled hand piece which is
gently applied to the treatment site.
This laser energy passes through the skin to the hair
follicle, where the energy is absorbed by pigment in the
hair and hair follicle, causing selective damage to the hair
root without damaging delicate pores and structures of the
skin. The laser is pulsed, or "turned on", for only a
fraction of a second. The duration of the pulses is
carefully determined so that laser energy will be absorbed
by the hair follicle without transferring excessive heat to
the surrounding skin.
Some of the hair which was in the treated follicles is wiped
off immediately after treatment, and the rest is shed over
the next 2-3 weeks. The hair roots which have been destroyed
are reabsorbed by the body.
The surface of the skin is protected by cooling gel pads
applied immediately before and after treatment, and by a
gold plated cooling head which glides over the skin (CoolGlide
Xeo™) half a second before the laser beam. This selectivity
helps to protect the skin, while effectively treating the
unwanted hair.
Unlike "hair-by-hair" treatments like electrolysis, the
laser uses a wide beam which treats many hairs at once.
Because the Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser can treat dozens of
hairs with each pulse, it is possible to treat larger areas
such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs and face. The Altus
CoolGlide Xeo™ laser can be used just about anywhere on the
body, and usually requires no anesthesia or other treatment.
Even sensitive areas such as the nipples, upper lip and
bikini line can be treated easily and with minimal
discomfort.
The system's unique design allows us to customize treatment,
according to your hair and skin color, hair texture, and
location on the body.
Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser treatment is a safe, fast, gentle
and effective method for hair removal. In just a few
treatment sessions using the gentle power of lasers, you can
greatly improve the appearance of skin which is disfigured
by unwanted hair.
How does the Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ differ from older laser
systems?
Other laser and intense pulsed light systems include:
• Intense pulsed light - these systems are flash lamps
producing a spectrum of light energy rather than laser
light. Intense pulsed light systems tend to stun rather than
kill hair follicles, so that there is often an unacceptable
amount of hair regrowth, even after many "intense pulsed
light" treatments.
• First generation Ruby 694 nanometer (Epilaser, Epitouch,
Chromos)
• Second generation Alexandrite 755 nanometer (Epitouch
ALEX, Photogenica LIPR, GentleLASE)
• Third generation Diode 800-810 nanometer (LightSheer,
Apex)
These relatively short wavelength lasers can produce good
results in some circumstances, but because they produce
light which has a shorter wavelength, their laser energy
both scatters more in the skin, and is mostly absorbed in
the top few millimeters of the skin, above many of the hair
roots. This means that sometimes not enough energy reaches
the hair roots, where it is needed. These short wavelength,
lower power systems are effective in some cases, but in
other cases may only stun rather than destroy many of the
hair roots and therefore sometimes cause temporary rather
than permanent hair reduction. Short wavelength lasers can
be difficult or impossible to safely use on people with
dark, tanned or black skin. The cooling system in 800 nm
lasers usually relies on a sapphire window, which is only
1/10 as efficient as the gold plated copper cooling head in
the Altus CoolGlide. Because the sapphire window of the 800
nm lasers has to be pressed on the skin while the laser is
triggered, there is a risk that stray hairs will be burned
into the skin. By comparison, there is no contact between
the laser aperture and the skin when the Altus CoolGlide Xeo™
laser beam is applied to your skin.
By contrast, the Fourth Generation Altus CoolGlide Xeo™
laser uses the longest available, deeper penetrating 1064
nanometer wavelength. Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ reaches even the
deepest hair roots, which can be 4-6 mm below the skin
surface in some cases.
The long 1064 nanometer wavelength of the Altus CoolGlide
Xeo™ makes it possible to safely and effectively treat all
people -- even those with tanned, very dark or black skin.
Like all lasers, the CoolGlide works more efficiently on
light colored skin -- so to minimize the number of
treatments you need, try not to have a fresh suntan when you
come in for treatment.
CoolGlide Xeo™ also allows the operator to adjust the
duration of the pulse of laser energy to best suit the
thickness of the hair shafts on different parts of your
body. Some older laser systems lack this degree of fine
control.
The gold plated ClearView™ cooling head on the CoolGlide
laser provides an extra margin of safety and comfort, allows
the operator a clear view of the area to be treated, and
does not require pressure on your skin.
What areas of the body can be treated?
ALL parts of the body CAN be treated (and ARE treated) with the Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ hair removing laser. In women, the most common areas for treatment are upper lip, chin, bikini line, arms and legs, and underarms. In men, the most common areas for treatment are shoulders and back, and the beard area. While it is technically possible to treat even the eyelashes and eyebrows, we do not treat those areas at the present time. The top of the eyebrows can be treated when the forehead is treated.
What are the benefits of laser hair removal compared to alternative treatments?
The primary
benefits of laser hair removal include:
• Larger areas may be treated with less discomfort than with
electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
• The CoolGlide Xeo™ combines speed, comfort and long
lasting results.
• The CoolGlide Xeo™ works on any area of the body where a
hair-free appearance is desired.
• The CoolGlide Xeo™ is safe for use on pregnant women --
who respond well because their hair is often thicker and
darker during pregnancy.
Shaving, waxing and depilatory creams remove the hair but
leave the hair follicles intact, so the hair re-grows within
one to four weeks in most cases. CoolGlide Xeo™ laser hair
removal offers you a long-term reduction in both the amount
of hair, and also in many cases a reduction in thickness and
color of hair shafts which do grow back.
Hair removal methods like plucking, waxing or sugaring which
cause irritation may actually stimulate hair growth. This
happens because one way the body defends itself against
having hair pulled out is to produce thicker, stronger hairs
which are harder to pull out next time.
Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser hair removal offers long lasting
results, and even if hair does eventually grow back it is
usually finer in texture and lighter in color than the
original hair, and much less of a cosmetic problem.
What are the advantages over electrolysis?
It has been said that:
"Removing hair by electrolysis is like mowing grass -- one
blade at a time!"
With electrolysis, the operator inserts a needle into the
hair follicle and tries to have the needle tip reach the
hair root. The operator then triggers a small electrical
charge to disable the hair root. The hair from that follicle
is then removed with tweezers.
Electrolysis can be an excellent technique for the removal
of:
• small numbers of hairs
• hairs from areas where it is difficult to use the laser
(under the eyebrows, near the eyes, and in the ears and
nose.)
• white and very pale blonde hair (which does not absorb
laser light efficiently).
I sometimes refer patients for electrolysis, and
electrolysis operators sometimes refer patients to me,
depending on the needs and wishes of the patient. For
example, electrolysis can be useful for white or light
colored hairs which do not respond to laser treatment, or if
there are only a few dark hairs which need to be removed.
Some people who have a mixture of dark and white hairs will
have laser treatment to remove as many of the dark hairs as
possible, then have electrolysis to remove any leftover
white hairs.
There can be considerable variation in the results between
electrolysis therapists, and the rate of permanent hair loss
has been reported to be from 15 to 50%. Electrolysis can be
a tedious process and is an difficult undertaking for some
patients. Even a small area like the face, for example, in
the case of a woman with heavy facial hair, could require
electrolysis for 2 –3 hours per week for 2 years, with
further treatments over an undetermined period of time, for
a total treatment time exceeding 210 hours. Despite its
popularity over the past two decades and its use for over
100 years, there is little in the medical and scientific
literature about electrolysis.
Is laser hair reduction covered by insurance?
Most private insurance companies do not offer reimbursement
for "cosmetic" procedures like laser hair removal; however,
consult your insurance carrier for more information.
The removal of unwanted terminal hair for the management of
hirsutism, congenital or drug-relate hypertrichosis,
pseudofolliculitis, trans-sexual states, and some skin
grafts may be covered by some private insurance plans. There
will be an additional charge for any paperwork we have to do
if your are trying to get reimbursed by your private
insurance plan.
Is laser hair removal "permanent"?
Permanent hair removal" means: "ALL the hair is gone,
FOREVER!"
There is NO hair removal method (including laser) which can
guarantee anybody "permanent hair removal".
The most realistic description of the results after laser
treatment is: "long-term hair REDUCTION". This means: "After
four to six treatments the total amount of hair is greatly
reduced -- generally by 70% to 90% -- and hair which does
grow is often much finer and lighter in color." Most people
are very pleased with this degree of improvement, as long as
they know that this is what to expect before they have laser
hair removal treatment.
It is important for you to realize that after having between
four and six treatment sessions it is VERY LIKELY that there
WILL BE a very substantial reduction in both the amount of
hair and also a reduction in the thickness and color of the
hair in the treated areas. You should expect that this
reduction in hair may last for many years.
This long-term hair reduction is exactly what most people
want, but could be an issue, for example, in men who have
their armpits lasered. If hairy armpits come back into
fashion 5 years from now, people who have had CoolGlide Xeo™
treatments on their armpits will be probably be out of
fashion!
Because lasers have been used for hair removal for only the
last seven years, we can't know if the results will continue
to be felt in 10 or 20 years. However, we do know that
stable, long-term hair reduction commonly lasts for at least
two years, and some patients who had their last treatment
six or seven years ago are still enjoying a high degree of
hair reduction.
How much hair will grow back, and how fast will it grow
back?
The Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser (and other lasers) work by
destroying hair roots which are active at the time of
treatment, and which have enough pigment to absorb
sufficient laser energy. The hair shafts in the treated hair
follicles will fall out, or be "shed" 1-3 weeks after
treatment.
After the first treatment, hair regrowth may resume within a
few weeks or it may be anywhere from 2-4 months before any
true hair growth is observed, as previously dormant hair
follicles become active, and hair follicles which were
stunned but not killed recover and start to produce hair
shafts again. Some people find that there is not much extra
hair reduction after the second treatment, then they notice
a substantial further reduction after the third or more
commonly the fourth treatment. After four to six treatments
there may be little or no regrowth for many years. In other
cases you may wish to have additional treatment after a
period of time.
Hair fibers that regrow after laser treatment generally are
finer and lighter in color, and so are much less of a
cosmetic problem. Reductions in coarseness and color can
occur independently of each other.
New terminal hair appearing in androgen-sensitive sites
(mainly the face, axillae and genital area) after successful
laser epilation could result from androgen-stimulated
conversion of previously dormant vellus hairs, which are not
affected by the laser as long as they remain dormant and
unpigmented. The Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser (and other lasers) work by
destroying hair roots which are active at the time of
treatment, and which have enough pigment to absorb
sufficient laser energy. The hair shafts in the treated hair
follicles will fall out, or be "shed" 1-3 weeks after
treatment.
After the first treatment, hair regrowth may resume within a
few weeks or it may be anywhere from 2-4 months before any
true hair growth is observed, as previously dormant hair
follicles become active, and hair follicles which were
stunned but not killed recover and start to produce hair
shafts again. Some people find that there is not much extra
hair reduction after the second treatment, then they notice
a substantial further reduction after the third or more
commonly the fourth treatment. After four to six treatments
there may be little or no regrowth for many years. In other
cases you may wish to have additional treatment after a
period of time.
Hair fibers that regrow after laser treatment generally are
finer and lighter in color, and so are much less of a
cosmetic problem. Reductions in coarseness and color can
occur independently of each other.
New terminal hair appearing in androgen-sensitive sites
(mainly the face, axillae and genital area) after successful
laser epilation could result from androgen-stimulated
conversion of previously dormant vellus hairs, which are not
affected by the laser as long as they remain dormant and
unpigmented.
What are Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis?
Hirsutism is excessive growth of hair in androgen
(testosterone)-dependent areas of a woman’s body where
terminal hair is not normally found, including the face,
neck, chest or medial thighs.
o Hypertrichosis is excessive growth of hair in non-androgen
dependent parts of the body (ie. Areas other than the face,
neck, chest and medial thighs).
How can I get the best value from each treatment?
To get the best results with the smallest number of treatment sessions, please pay attention to the following guidelines as you work with us:
A. Avoid waxing / sugaring /
plucking / EpiLady and electrolysis
Because the laser beam seeks out and destroys ACTIVELY
GROWING hair roots, it is important (if you want to get the
best value from your treatment) NOT to wax / pluck / sugar /
use EpiLady-type pluckers or have electrolysis for at least
SIX WEEKS before laser treatment. These things temporarily
remove the pigmented part of the hair follicle which the
laser needs to use as a target when it destroys the hair
follicle.
B. Tanning should be
avoided!
CoolGlide Xeo™ is the safest and most effective laser for
ALL types of skin, even people of dark skin who cannot be
safely treated with other hair removing lasers. Many
Italian, Greek, and East Asian have been successfully
treated with the CoolGlide Xeo™ laser.
BUT: the lighter your skin color at the time of treatment,
the better the laser beam can get through the skin to the
hair roots, where it is needed.
SO: tanning
is not a BIG deal, but if you avoid tanning and stop using
artificial "tanning" creams for six weeks before treatment,
you will get the maximum possible benefit from each
treatment session. People with very dark skin (and people
who are really into tanning) sometimes need one or two extra
sessions to reach their desired degree of long-term hair
reduction.
It is also a good idea to minimize tanning for a few weeks
after laser treatment, to reduce the chance that your tan
will be somewhat uneven.
Recommended Obagi Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35 sold in our
office.
C. Shaving or clipping the hair?
Good idea!
Shaving or clipping the area to be treated is not a problem.
In fact, we like the areas to be shaved the day of treatment
or the day before. Some people find that the skin is less
sensitive if it is shaved at least a few hours before
treatment. Another advantage of shaving the area to be
treated BEFORE you come in is that YOU can shape the area to
be treated exactly the way YOU want it to be. This is of
particular importance in areas like the sideburns, temples,
and bikini line / bikini area.
Excess hair should be removed from the treatment area before
CoolGlide Xeo™ treatment, because hair ABOVE the surface of
the skin will simply absorb and waste laser energy and keep
it from getting to the hair roots, where it is needed. There
may be a small extra charge if we have to shave extensive
areas before starting laser treatment.
Contrary to popular belief, shaving DOES NOT make hair grow
back thicker, faster, darker or more profusely! So go ahead
and shave before treatment, and between treatments!
D. Hair Dye and Bleaching? No problem!
Because the laser beam only acts on the hair ROOTS, it is OK
to dye and/or perm hair in the areas to be treated.
Likewise, it is OK to bleach hair in the areas to be treated
because bleaching will not affect the color of the roots.
E. Timing
It takes 6 to 12 weeks for the next crop of hair roots to
become active and develop pigment which is the target for
the laser. So, to get the best value from your CoolGlide Xeo™
treatments, you should wait 6-12 weeks between treatments.
There is no harm in having CoolGlide Xeo™ treatments MORE
FREQUENTLY than every 6 weeks, or having CoolGlide Xeo™
treatments less than 6 weeks after waxing, plucking, etc. --
but this is less efficient, and could increase the total
number of treatments needed to get a good result.
Also, while there is no harm in waiting MORE THAN 6-8 weeks
between treatments (for example, if there has not been much
regrowth after your last CoolGlide Xeo™ laser treatment),
there is usually no extra BENEFIT to waiting longer than 12
weeks between treatments.
F. Medications?
We are not aware of any medications which should not be
taken while you are getting CoolGlide Xeo™ laser treatment.
Anabolic steroids should certainly NOT be taken unless
medically necessary, because these can increase male-pattern
hair growth in some cases. Women to take injections of
testosterone & estradiol as part of therapy for menopause
and to increase libido often experience unwanted hair
growth, which can be treated with Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser
hair removal.
Medicines which inhibit hair growth (for example,
spironolactone, certain birth control pills, Euflex,
Androcur and Vaniqa cream) might slightly reduce the pigment
in hair roots and make laser treatment less efficient, but
this seldom interferes with the effectiveness of laser
treatment. Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser hair removal can
certainly be done WHILE you are on those medicines, if you
wish. These "anti-androgenic" medicines produce gradual but
temporary effects, and will not remove unwanted hair from
areas that are independent of androgen regulation.
Pre-treatment with medicines like Zovirax, Valtrex or Famvir
is NOT necessary, unless you tend to get a lot of cold sores
in the area to be treated.
What is a "test area", and why is it sometimes performed?
Test areas" are small areas of skin that are treated at various laser energy levels prior to treatment of large surface areas on darker skin types. "Test areas" are done on darker skin types to determine the level of energy that is best for that individual, and checked up to one week later to make sure there was no burning or pigment change. Light skin types generally don't have to have test areas done. This may be done at the same time as your consultation,
Moles, freckles and tattoos in the area to be treated?
Small moles and freckles do not require any special precautions. Large, dark moles and freckles which are to be treated may require a reduction in the intensity of the laser light, the same way that the intensity would be reduced when treating a dark-skinned or tanned person. Tattoos might require a "test area" to make sure that they will not absorb an excessive amount of laser energy, which could cause fading of the tattoo, discomfort, or even a burn. We generally prefer not to treat tattoos, but this is seldom a problem because quite often there is not much hair growth in tattoos. Be sure to tell your nurse practioner if you have permanent lip liner or permanent eyebrow liner, because these are tattoos and special precautions may be needed if there will be laser treatment in those areas.
Why does the hair sometimes look like it's “growing” for 1-3
weeks after laser treatment?
Lasers destroy hair roots which are active at the time of
treatment, but do not remove hair shafts instantly. Hair
shafts in the treated hair follicles will fall out, or be
"shed" mostly in the first week after treatment, with all of
the treated hairs falling out within 2-3 weeks.
It is normal that some hairs in the treated area may not
fall out within 2-3 weeks. These will treated in the next
session.
These hairs which are being shed will come out on their own.
It is best not to shave the treated area or to wash it with
anything but mild soap like Dove or Cetaphil and your bare
hand (no Buf-Pufs, washcloths or Body Washes) for 3-4 days
after laser treatment, because some people find that their
skin is irritated by these things.
Are there any restrictions on my activity after treatment?
Since the laser does not burn or cut the skin in any way, no
bandages are necessary. You can return to work the same day
and resume all your regular activities. To reduce the chance
of uneven tanning in the treated areas, you should minimize
sun exposure and tanning for a week or two after treatment.
It is OK to resume shaving or clipping hair in the treated
area after 3-4 days. You should NOT have waxing / sugaring /
plucking or electrolysis, because these things will
temporarily remove pigmented hairs from the hair roots and
reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment.
Sometimes after plucking, waxing or sugaring the hair will
become thicker and darker, because one of the ways that the
body defends itself from chronic irritation is to produce
thicker, darker hairs.
Shaving really is the BEST temporary way to remove unwanted
hair before laser treatment, and between laser treatments.
Shaving leaves the hair SHAFT in the hair follicle, so the
hair shaft can be a target for laser energy, heat up and
KILL the hair follicle.
You can shave as often as you want. It has been shown in
scientific studies that:
Shaving does NOT make hair grow faster.
Shaving does NOT make hair grow thicker.
Shaving does NOT make hair grow darker.
Shaving does NOT make hair grow more profusely.
Pre-treatment instructions?
1. Please do not do any waxing, plucking or sugaring for 6
weeks before treatment, because hair follicles which do not
have hair shafts in them to absorb laser energy will not be
killed by the laser energy.
2. Please try to minimize tanning for a week or two before
treatment: a fresh tan can interfere a bit with the
effectiveness of the CoolGlide Laser treatment, though this
is less of a problem than with older, short wavelength
lasers.
3. Please do not wear makeup on the areas to be treated, or
at least wear makeup that is easy to remove. If makeup
absorbs laser energy, less energy will reach your hair
follicles and hair shafts, and if the makeup heats up it
could irritate or burn your skin. Makeup can be re-applied
immediately after Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser treatment, if
you wish.
4. Please shave or clip the areas to be treated the day
before treatment or on the morning of treatment. This way,
the skin will be less sensitive. Shaving before you come in
also allows you to shape the exact area you want treated --
this is sometimes very useful in areas like the hairline and
sideburns, and in the bikini area. Excess hair above the
surface of the skin absorbs and wastes laser energy, and
reduces the amount of energy that reaches the hair root,
where it is really needed. Excess hair above the surface of
the skin also increases the chance of burning or irritating
the skin.
5. Some people find it helpful to simply take two or three
plain Tylenol and/or Advil 2 hours before coming in for
treatment. Some women who find that they are less sensitive
after their menses prefer to schedule their treatment
sessions to avoid the premenstrual and menstrual time.
During the treatment, remember that: “We want to be doing
this FOR you, not doing it TO you.” Unexpected discomfort is
nature’s way of telling us something is wrong, so please
tell us and we will go slower, apply more cooling, or adjust
the power of the laser for you.
Post-treatment instructions?
1. Redness often has faded greatly by the time you get home.
It would not be uncommon for the skin to be slightly drier
that evening and to require more of your favorite
moisturizer, for example, DCL Anti-Itch Lotion. The hair
follicles may appear slightly more obvious or a bit pink for
the next day or two, but this is seldom a cosmetic problem,
and generally much less obvious than after waxing or
sugaring.
2. Try to avoid tanning for a week or two after treatment,
because occasionally the tan could be somewhat irregular
(lighter and/or darker in the treated areas.) Obagi Healthy
skin Protection is an excellent sunscreen.
3. Hair shafts will be released from hair follicles in the
treated area for a week or two after treatment. You do not
need to do anything, but you may gently exfoliate or shave
the areas if you wish.
4. Shaving, depilatory creams like Nair or Neet, or
bleaching are OK between laser treatments. Plucking, waxing
and sugaring should be avoided because these things could
reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment.
5. Blistering or scaling after Altus CoolGlide Xeo™ laser
hair removal is very uncommon, but usually resolves over a
few days or a week with a bit of Polysporin cream several
times a day. Please call us if this happens, or if you have
any other problems or questions.