What is laser hair removal? How is laser hair removal performed? How does laser hair removal work? What areas are commonly treated? Is laser hair removal permanent? How should I prepare for laser hair removal? Are there any risks with laser hair removal? I have naturally dark skin, can I still have the treatment? My skin is sun tanned, do I have to wait for a treatment? Is there any hair colour the treatment does not work on? How long does the procedure take? Is it painful? How can you claim permanency when laser hair removal is so new? Is there a doctor involved? Who performs the treatment? I am or may be pregnant, can I still have the treatment? I have heard that my hair is continuously changing, what does that mean? How many treatments will I need and how often?

What is laser hair removal? Laser hair removal is the non-invasive removal of unwanted facial and body hair with the assistance of a laser. How is laser hair removal performed? Laser hair removal is performed as an in office procedure without the need for anesthesia and with immediate return to sedentary activities. Most patients experience only a slight stinging or feel nothing at all as the laser pulses are applied. How does laser hair removal work? The laser targets the pigment within the hair follicle (melanin), PERMANENTLY disabling the follicle. The laser is designed to selectively target the follicle without damaging the surrounding skin. What areas are commonly treated? For women, facial areas are the most common, followed by the bikini line, legs and axilla (underarms). For men, the back, shoulders and upper arms are the most popular areas. Other than facial hair, it is possible to treat most areas of the male body. Is laser hair removal permanent? Yes. It is important to note that LightSheer is the only diode laser permitted by the FDA to make this claim. How should I prepare for laser hair removal? You should not wax or pluck for about three weeks prior to treatment. Depilatory creams may be used or shaving may be done to remove surface hair. Bleaching to lighten the colour is also permitted. It is also best to avoid sun tanning 6-8 weeks prior to treatment. If your skin is sun tanned, see My skin is sun tanned, do I have to wait for a treatment? Are there any risks involved? As with any medical or surgical procedure there are risks, although with laser hair removal they are minimal. We will review all potential risks with you at the time of your consultation. I have naturally dark skin, can I still have the treatment? Yes, however the laser's power must be adjusted to suit your skin type. Patients with slightly darker skin may require 5-6 treatments, moderately dark skin may require 6-7 treatments and darker skin may require 7-8 treatments. My skin is sun tanned, do I have to wait for a treatment? Yes. We cannot laser an area that has been recently tanned. A patient must wait approximately eight weeks from the last time the area was tanned. At that time it becomes an old tan which we can treat. Patients must refrain from extended sun exposure for the duration of the treatments. To insure the area does not become sun tanned, we recommend a SPF #30 sun block. Is there any hair colour the treatment will not work on? Yes, white hair. White hair is absent of pigment, therefore it will not attract the laser. Patients with blonde or gray hair will only experience a temporary reduction, generally 1-3 months. How long does the procedure take? As little as 10 minutes for upper lip, and up to 3.5 hours for full legs. Is it painful? The laser produces a feeling that has been described by many as a tingling sensation, by most, the snap of a rubber band. Some areas are more sensitive. During consultation, depending on the area we are doing, we may recommend that you apply a topical anesthetic 1-2 hours before treatment. Emla Cream works well and is available at any drugstore over-the-counter. How can you claim permanency when laser hair removal is so new? The FDA required biopsies be taken between the 12th and 17th month following treatments, to prove the hair follicles were incapable of producing new growth. We have documented evidence showing that patients treated in December 1997, have no regrowth. All patients receive a written guarantee that we will permanently remove unwanted hair. Is there a doctor involved? Yes, you will be required to fill out a medical history. We want to be sure you are not taking a medication that will conflict with the treatment. Who performs the treatment? A female staff nurse. I am or may be pregnant, can I still have the treatment? Sorry, we prefer not to do pregnant women. I have heard that my hair is continuously changing, what does that mean? The hair on our body is continuously cycling (see natural hair cycle on FAQ). It actually travels through three distinctive stages. When the hair is growing, it is in the Anagen stage. The actual growing time is dependant on the area of the body. When the hair bulb begins to shrink, it is in the Catagen stage. The last stage is the Telogen, this is when the hair leaves the body. The purpose of the laser treatment is to permanently stop the growth when the hair is in the Anagen stage. How many treatments will I need and how often? When hair is in the Anagen stage, it contains the maximum amount of pigment. It is at this point that it is most vulnerable to the laser. Catagen and Telogen hair has less pigment and will not be affected. Generally, a patient will see a 20%-25% permanent reduction from their first treatment. It is then necessary to wait until the unaffected Catagen and Telogen hair changes cycles. This wait can take up to 6 weeks for facial areas and up to 4 months for other body hair. When the patient sees new growth, they simply make their next appointment. Patients with light skin may require 4-5 treatments, slightly darker skin may require 5-6 treatments, moderately dark skin may require 6-7 treatments and darker skin may require 7-8 treatments. For patients simply wanting less hair, a single treatment may be sufficient