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LASER HAIR REDUCTION
DO YOU HAVE HAIR ANYWHERE ON
YOUR BODY THAT YOU WISH COULD BE MINIMIZED OR REMOVED, POSSIBLY PERMANENTLY?
WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP!
How can I get started with Laser Hair Reduction?
Just call our office at (212) 557-2600 or
e-mail us anytime and set up a Laser Hair Reduction Consultation. If
time permits and you qualify for Laser Hair Reduction, we may be able
to begin treatment on the day of your consultation. Please do not pluck,
wax or otherwise remove your hair by the root for 4 weeks before your
consultation; shaving, bleaching or the use of depilatories is acceptable.
Consultations can generally be performed within one week of your contacting
us, so call or e-mail today.
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What causes extra hair in different parts of your body?
Most hair is normal, but many people just do not like
to have hair in certain areas, whether for social, cultural or personal
reasons. Sometimes hair in a particular area is increased because of
genetics or hormones. Many people spend a great deal of time and money,
as well as suffer discomfort from other hair reduction techniques such
as waxing, shaving and electrolysis.
There has never been as satisfactory a solution to these problems until
Laser Hair Reduction. After you have been treated with the laser a sufficient
number of times, most hair in many areas can be lessened, and sometimes
even be removed permanently. Often, even if some hair is still present,
it is thinner and finer, and thereby less of a cosmetic nuisance.
How does Laser Hair Reduction work?
The laser has been specially designed to damage the
hair root or follicle, though the exact target is unknown. Because the
laser's effectiveness depends upon how much pigment is present, in general,
the darker the hair and the lighter your skin, the better the result.
The laser is not effective on light or blonde hair. Please avoid getting a tan as you may not be able to be treated if you are tanned. Unlike many older lasers, our laser has a cooling system to
protect the surrounding skin and lessen the chance that your surrounding
skin will be damaged. Our laser can therefore treat patients of any color.
Instead of treating just a single, solitary hair at a time as with electrolysis,
the laser, because of its wide beam, can remove much more hair during
one visit.
Why is Laser Hair Reduction generally better than the alternatives? Laser
Hair Reduction is generally less uncomfortable than the alternatives.
In the long run, Laser Hair Reduction is less costly and expensive than
other techniques. A larger area can be treated on each visit. Also, the
laser can be used on most parts of the body.
What are the alternative treatments?
Electrolysis can also permanently reduce hair, but the technician has to place a needle into every single hair follicle and use an electric current to destroy it. Electrolysis can be painful. Even treating a small area of skin such as your chin can takes dozens of sessions and even years. And just like with any treatment, hair can regrow back in that area. While few scientific studies have been performed regarding electrolysis, it does seem to be effective. Electrolysis, though, can be helpful for individual hairs and for lightly colored hairs.
Shaving only temporarily removes hair. The same for depilatories. Ditto for waxing which can be painful. Very painful. The hair comes back. Sugaring and plucking give the same results and can also cause skin discoloration.
Bleaching temporarily lightens hair, but does not,
of course, reduce the number of hairs present.
What are the most common risks and complications of Laser Hair Reduction?
Most side effects such as redness and irritation are
generally temporary and often last no more than an hour to a few days.
Occasionally blistering can occur which can persist up to a week or longer.
Sometimes you can get discoloration of your skin, which may last weeks
to months and even occur weeks to months after the treatments. If a wound
occurs, it may take some weeks to recover, and the skin may be pink or
sensitive for a while longer, and possibly even permanently. Some discomfort
may occur during treatment. In nearly all patients, this change of your
skin's color resolves with time, but it may remain permanently, and may
not be treatable. Rarely, the laser may cause additional hair to grow,
often peach fuzz type hair which is of less cosmetic concern. Scarring
is rare but can occur. To prevent eye damage, we have our patients wear
eye shields during any laser treatment. The hair reduction laser is approved
by the FDA for permanent hair reduction, but we do stress that you should
not expect all of your hair to go away and never return, though this can
occur.
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What can one expect during and immediately after the procedure?
Laser Hair Reduction is not shaving. We do not expect
all of the hair being treated to go away, but often hair can be shed in
the first few weeks of treatment. Soreness, redness
and irritation may occur at the treatment sites. Usually there is virtually
no sign of treatment within about an hour of the treatment. Makeup may
be used directly after treatment. For most patients, the discomfort is
minimal; sometimes topical or deeper anesthetics are necessary.
When will Laser Hair Reduction take effect?
Most patients see results within a few weeks of the
2nd treatment, though it may take additional treatments in some patients.
How long does Laser Hair Reduction last?
The hair follicles and roots that Laser Hair Reduction
removes go away forever. But since some hair is always at rest, when
these resting hairs start to grow, you will need to come in for additional
treatments, at roughly four to six-week intervals. In addition, hair
can grow back from any procedure as your body and your hormones can change.
We aim for a 70 to 80% improvement, but results can be variable and are
not guaranteed.
Who should not use Laser Hair Reduction? Are there any areas where Laser Hair Reduction is not recommended?
We do not recommend you have Laser Hair Reduction performed
if you are pregnant. We also do not treat patients who have photosensitivity,
diabetes, and cancer. We also do not treat the eyebrows at this time;
or people with light hair. Otherwise, almost any part of your skin can
be treated. The most common areas of treatment for women are the chin,
lip, underarms, bikini area, arms and legs. For men, the most common
areas are the chest and back.
How can I get started with Laser Hair Reduction?
Just call our office at (212) 557-2600 or e-mail us anytime and set up a Laser Hair Reduction Consultation. If time permits and you qualify for Laser Hair Reduction, we may be able to begin treatment on the day of your consultation. Please do not pluck, wax or otherwise remove your hair by the root for 4 weeks before your consultation; shaving, bleaching or the use of depilatories is acceptable. Consultations can generally be performed within one week of your contacting us, so call or e-mail today.