Common Questions about Laser Hair Removal

What is the lightSheer laser?
The LightSheer is a diode array type of laser system approved for hair removal by the Food and Drug Administration. The LightSheer laser has an 810-nm wavelength light that specifically targets the pigment (melanin) contained in the hair follicle and shaft. In order to protect other pigment-containing structures in the outer layer of skin (epidermis), a Chill Tip cooling handpiece is applied to the skin, which decreases the surface temperature and prevents thermal injury. The cooling tip also provides a mild anesthetic sensation to the skin, making it more comfortable.

What Affects the Appearance of Body Hair?
Age, ethnicity, medication, hormone levels, and body site influence the length, coarseness and color of body hair. How much hair you have depends on how many hairs are in the active growth phases, and how long that phase lasts.

Are the Results Permanent?
The FDA discourages the use of the word "permanent" because lasers have only been used for hair removal for the last few years. We simply do not know if the results will persist in 10 or 20 years. We do know that the LightSheer laser causes delayed regrowth of the treated hair follicles. In some patients, this will last for 24 months or even longer after several treatments. Most patients will require some maintenance treatment as dormant hair follicles cycle into the growth phase. Although most patients will achieve prolonged hair removal in areas, this is not possible in all cases 100% of the time. Most patients, however, are very satisfied with the results of their treatment.

What Other Options Exist for Hair Removal?
Shaving: A simple method, it does not affect the coarseness, thickness, growth rate of cycle of hair. However, it is only a transient solution and requires a constant commitment to maintain a hair-free appearance. Tweezing: Tedious, painful, and impractical for large areas. Waxing: This procedure can cover a large area at a time and results may last a month or more, but it's painful and can often cause allergic reactions and inflammation of the hair follicle. Electrolysis: This involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Expertly used, it can be successful in eliminating hair permanently. However, because you can treat only one hair follicle at a time, it is a tedious, time-consuming process.

Why Use the LightSheer Over Other Laser Systems?
We have selected this laser because of the wide range of clinical use in laser hair removal. The long wavelength of this system allows even darker-skinned patients to be treated. This laser has been tested and proven to be effective for laser hair removal.

How Does the LightSheer System Remove Hair?
The pigment located in the hair follicle absorbs the light emitted by the LightSheer laser. The laser is pulsed, or turned on, for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to disrupt the hair follicle. The LightSheer's unique, cooling handpiece helps protect the skin by cooling during the laser energy delivery. The diode generated light at 810-nm is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and this energy is converted to heat which results in thermal damage to the hair follicle. This thermal damage causes delayed regrowth of the hair, and in some cases permanent destruction of the hair follicle.

Is It Safe?
Yes. The LightSheer System was developed from years of research at the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the worlds leading and most respected medical research institutions. The laser parameters were carefully defined to inhibit the regrowth of the hair by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser output to the size, depth, and location of the hair follicles. A unique component of the LightSheer System, the actively cooled handpiece was designed to conduct heat away from the skin before, during, and after each pulse.

Does It Hurt?
You may feel a tingling, stinging, or heat sensation, and some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, but most people tolerate the procedure well. If you find the initial treatment too uncomfortable, you can request a prescription for a topical anesthetic.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The LightSheer laser works by disrupting hairs that are in the active phase of growth at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments will be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually given at intervals of approximately 6-8 weeks, or whenever new hair growth is first noticed. Many patients are completely satisfied with their results after only one or two treatments, while others will have four to six treatments for maximum removal of all hair.

Who Is A Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
The perfect candidate has dark hair and light skin. Darker hair absorbs more of the laser light and lighter skin interferes less with the movement of the laser light into the hair follicle. Dark or tan skin runs a higher risk of pigmentation changes following the procedure. The unique longer wavelength of this laser allows darker-skinned patients to be treated. White hairs respond the least to laser therapy.

   

For more information on the LightSheer Diode Laser,
   please contact the us at (718) 715-1491.