A : The short version about the laser process.
B: The detailed version about the laser process:
- Pre and post treatment
- Growth cycles of hair
- What skin type are you?
- Fitzpatrick Skin Scale
- Why do I need 8-10 treatments?
A: The Short Version
- Permanent laser hair reduction/removal
- Black or dark brown hair on any part of the body can be treated (except close to and around the eyes)
- It is best of your skin is not too tanned
- Remove all makeup prior to treatment
- Ensure all hair is properly and cleanly shaven
- The laser is a high energy beam targeted at the skin at a set wave length and energy setting
- The laser works on the dark colour of the hair pigment, stopping its ability to re-grow
- The laser only targets the hair in the anagen (growing phase) cycle of the hair. This is why 8 to 10 treatments are required
- Ideally, the first 4 treatments should be carried out once every 4 – 5 weeks
- The hair will take 7 -14 days after the treatment to fall out
- Avoid the sun a few days after your treatment
- Shaving may be carried out after and between every laser treatment (no plucking or waxing)
B: The Detailed Version
1. Protective eyewear is placed on both client and technician.
2. The shaved area is cleaned, cooling gel is applied and the area is cooled prior to the treatment.
3. The technician moves the laser hand piece over the skin, pulsing as it covers the target area. A flashing light and mild sensation occurs, similar to an elastic band snapping on the skin. ALL SKIN COLOURS can be treated with Cynosure Laser because of its 2 wavelengths: Alexandrite Laser (755nm) for lighter skin tones that burn in the sun and the Nd:YAG Laser (1064nm) for darker skins that tan in the sun. Each pulse will send a beam of laser which penetrates into the skin at a precise point, to the depth of the hair shaft or follicle, targeting a surface area of about the size of a dime or 10 cent piece.
4. The laser beam is conducted through the black / dark colour (melanin) pigment of the hair shaft, thus destroying the hair. The laser targets the hair and bulb at the base of the hair follicle, as long as the hair has some color pigment. Laser does not work very well on white, red, or light gray hair.
5. Coarse dark hair works most effectively with the laser and the biggest results can be seen. Thinner and finer hair is able to be treated by adjusting our settings to the thickness of the hair.
6. The skin is protected with cooling gel and the cold air before the laser pulsed, thereby reducing the risk of damaging the skin.
7. The laser is pulsed or “turned on” for a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is long enough to damage the hair follicle but not to injure the skin.
8. Everyone is a little different but on average between 8 and 10 will be required for the full reduction/removal of body hair. There is one area that requires more treatments and that is the FACE. Between 6 and 8 treatments will be required to thin and reduce the hair and not get rid of the hair completely.
9. Hair grows in 3 different phases. The laser only targets the hair in the growing or anagen phase. Esentially we are only lasering 1/3 of the hair at every session. Dark skinned people may need more than 8 or 10 treatments because the energy level is set lower to protect the skin.
10. Which hair is in which phase? Carrying out the first 4 treatments once every 4 weeks enables the maximum number of hairs to be targeted in the anagen or growing phase to achieve long term results. Hair can take 7 to 14 days (and sometimes up to 21 days) or more to fall out.
Pre – Treatment
1. It is best if your skin is not (too) tanned. Although we can still carry out the treatment, we will need to reduce your settings.
2. You must shave or use a depilatory cream on the area of the body you are going to treat with laser. If you do not want to shave then clip the hair short and close to the skin. WHY SHAVE ? Thick overlying hair absorbs the energy of the laser. The laser needs to target the bulb/root of hair and not the surface hair. Therefore shaving must be carried out the night before or the day of treatment.
2. Application of local anesthetic cream (Zensa, Dr. Numb (5% Lidocane) or Emla (2.5% Lidocane) can be purchased at our clinic, your pharmacy or Shopper’s Drugmart). This must be applied to the skin 1.5 hours before the treatment. Spread the cream like “butter” onto your skin and then cover with cling wrap, this prevents the cream from rubbing off on your clothing and allows for maximum absorption into the skin.
3. The cling wrap will be removed by your technician before the laser treatment.
4. For very thick facial hair, in particular, an antihistamine (Benadryl or Reactine) may be taken for two consecutive days before the treatment. This helps with any swelling or bumpiness. (Please adhere to directions on the medication been taken)
Post – Treatment
1. A warm (not hot) shower/bath may be taken the same evening of the treatment.
2. If the lasered area feels warm, use Ice packs to help reduce redness or bumps. Redness can last 1 to 24 hours.
3. Moisturize treated area with organic coconut oil.
4. If needed, polyisporon can be used for at least 4 days.
5. Makeup may be applied after treatment.
6. Deodorant can be applied after 12 hours. You may want to try a small test area first.
7. A high SPF (30+) Sunscreen (UVA/UVB) MUST be applied every 3 to 4 hours if you are in the sun. This prevents change in colour of the skin (pigmentation). Re-apply sunscreen after swimming.
8. Do not use tanning beds while doing laser – discuss with technician.
9. Do not sauna or use a hot tub for 12 to 48 hours after laser treatment.
10. If you are using any light-sensitive medication, any laser treatments must be discussed with your doctor
11. Exercise may be done 12 to 48 hours after treatment.
12. Treated hair can take anywhere from 7 to 14 days to fall out. If necessary shave or use depilatory cream between treatments – no waxing, threading or plucking.
Why do you need 8 – 10 treatments?
1. Only hair that is in the anagen growth phase is targeted because there are 3 growth cycles of hair we are actually only lasering 1/3 of the hair at every treatment session.
2. 8 – 10 treatments are necessary for almost complete hair removal. Maintenance will be required once every 1 or 2 years. This is to treat a few dormant hairs that may have started growing.
3. THE FACE REQUIRES MORE TREATMENTS, this is because hair can be finer and hormones play a huge role in hair growth.
4. Four to five treatments will however, thin out the hair giving you less hair to manage.
