How does laser treatment compare to electrolysis?

Electrolysis is one hair at a time, and the Electrologist can only get the hairs that they can see. The laser sees all of the hairs that are actively growing, even those beneath the skin. Electrolysis can be many years of regular treatments. Laser can treat large areas in a fraction of the time and requires much less treatments for better result.

How long do the results last?

The CoolGlide™ Laser System is cleared by the FDA for permanent hair reduction. In clinical studies, patients were followed for one year after completing two treatments. The reduction in hair growth proved to be stable for the duration of that time.

What You Can Expect?

The length of a laser session may be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Hair has active, resting and dormant growth phases. Because the hair follicles that are in the active growth phase are more susceptible to the laser light, multiple treatments are required to affect the majority of hair permanently.

How many treatments will I need?

In many cases, significant improvement is realized in as few as 4 to 5 treatments for legs, underarms and bikini. In our experience, the face usually requires 8 to 9 treatments to be hair free. For best results we schedule treatments 6-8 weeks apart.

What does it feel like?

Although many patients report little or no discomfort, some may experience a mild stinging sensation only when the laser pulse is delivered. The cold tip of the CoolGlide™ hand piece helps sooth the skin as the laser pulse is delivered. For those who are interested, a topical anesthetic is available.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Inform your provider if you have a history of sun/fever blisters, cold sores or herpes. If you are taking Tetracycline or Accutane and if you are using Hydroquinone or Retinoic acid we also need to know. These drugs will increase your sensitivity to the laser.

What happens after treatment?

Following your treatment you can return to normal activities immediately. Sunscreen is recommended on any areas exposed to the sun for the entire treatment time. We can treat tan skin but not sunburned skin. In the next two weeks you may experience what seems to be re growth of hair. Most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not re growing. In-between treatments you should not wax or tweeze the hair, only shaving will not harm your end results.

What complications may occur?

Redness and local swelling of the skin, similar to sunburn, may occur in some patients. These effects typically last for several hours or less. In rare instances, blistering may occur. Please inform us, as soon as possible, of any problems.

(Hair follicle: A hair follicle is part of the skin that grows hair by packing old cells together. Attached to the follicle is a sebaceous gland, a tiny sebum-producing gland found everywhere except on the palms, lips and soles of the feet. The thicker density of hair, the more sebaceous glands are found.)

Hair growth cycle times

* Scalp:

The time these phases last varys from person to person. Different hair colour and follicle shape effects the timings of these phases.

* Eyebrows etc: