Laser Hair Reduction

Removing unwanted body hair is of major importance to most women and many men, who invest considerable time, energy, and money in the pursuit of smooth, hairless areas of the body. Over 80 million women in this country use depilatories, epilators, shaving or waxing kits on a regular basis, and an additional three million men and women undergo electrolysis or professional salon waxing.

Dr. Revis now offers the latest laser technology for reducing hair growth that is more permanent, less painful, and less expensive than traditional over the counter or salon methods. After working with multiple hair reduction systems, Dr. Revis has selected the laser he feels is the most effective for long-term hair reduction and now offers this to his patients. This system uses laser energy applied to the surface of the skin to gently remove unwanted hair and put an end to routine shaving or waxing. This laser energy is selectively absorbed by the pigment in the hair and the hair follicle, causing destruction of the follicle and preventing future hair growth.   

How does laser hair reduction work?

Each hair follicle goes through a natural growth cycle. This cycle progresses from an active growth phase (anagen) to a transitional phase (catagen) to a resting phase (telogen) and back again. At any one time, a proportion of your hair follicles in each region of your body are in different phases of this cycle. The active growth phase is when the follicle is most sensitive to the effects of laser energy. Laser treatment is less effective at eliminating follicles that are resting or in the transitional phase, which is why more than one treatment may be necessary to achieve the degree of hair reduction you desire.

Am I a candidate for laser hair reduction?

In the past, laser technology was much less advanced, and there existed a very real possibility of changing the color of your skin with laser hair reduction, particularly if you have darker skin. With the newest instrumentation, however, this risk has virtually been eliminated. If you have unwanted hair, you are most likely a candidate for laser hair reduction.

What areas of the body may be treated?

There is no area of the body that cannot be treated, but some areas are more popular than others. Women typically request laser hair reduction of the face, upper lip, chin, arms, legs, and bikini areas. Men typically request treatment of the beard area, back of the neck, back and chest.

How do I prepare for laser hair reduction?

Laser energy targets the pigment in the hair and the hair follicle. Therefore, you should not bleach or pluck your hairs for one month prior to your treatment. If you regularly shave the area, stop shaving one day prior to your treatment. Also, avoid direct sun exposure to the area for two weeks prior to your treatment, as treatments should not be performed on sunburned or deeply tanned skin.

On the day of your appointment, do not apply any cosmetics, perfume, moisturizers, sunscreens or deodorants to the area(s) to be treated. These must be removed prior to your treatment, because they may prevent even penetration of the laser energy through the skin.

What can I expect during the treatment?

Because the laser produces an intense burst of light, you and Dr. Revis and his staff will wear protective eyewear during the procedure. During the treatment, Dr. Revis passes a small hand piece over the skin that fires repeated bursts of laser energy. These have been described as feeling like a snapping rubber band that lasts for a fraction of a second. After this sensation has passed, there is no further discomfort associated with the procedure.

What can I expect after the treatment?

The treated site may appear pink and slightly swollen following the treatment, resembling a mild sunburn. This appearance should subside within one hour of the treatment. It is safe to apply sunscreen, moisturizer or makeup following the procedure, and you may resume your normal daily activities immediately.

Following your treatment, you should avoid sun tanning beds or direct sun exposure to the treated area for two to three days, because the area is initially more sensitive to harmful ultraviolet rays.

How many treatments will be required to achieve complete hair reduction?

Since only the active growth phase follicles are eliminated during each treatment, you may require more than one treatment to be satisfied with the degree of hair reduction in any one area. Most patients undergo three to four treatments at monthly intervals followed by a maintenance touchup six months later. After that treatment, you may never again require another treatment.

Why are treatments performed at monthly intervals?

Repeated treatments are meant to treat the follicles that were not actively growing during a previous treatment. By spacing treatments out by four to five weeks, this allows the time necessary for resting phase or transitional phase follicles to re-enter the active growth phase and become sensitive to the effects of the laser energy.

Is there a limit to the number of treatments or the number of areas I have treated?

No. Laser hair reduction is safer than ever before. Using state of the art technology, laser hair reduction has become a relatively minor procedure with essentially no down time. There is no limit to the number of areas or the number of treatments you may undergo.

What is the cost of laser hair reduction?

The cost of laser hair reduction varies depending on the areas of the body to be treated. In general, however, these costs are more than an individual waxing session, but less than you would spend over the course of a year on waxing. Better yet, waxing is not permanent and the costs and pain associated with waxing continue into the future.

Please call (954) 630-2009 for further information or email Dr. Revis.

Email: DrRevis@SouthFloridaPlasticSurgery.com