Laser Hair Removal

We use the Cutera CoolGlide™ laser and the Lumenis Lightsheer laser for hair removal. Although we have 3 IPL lasers, we do not use them for hair removal since the results are not as good as those seen with the Coolglide and Lightsheer. IPL laser hair removal is temporary.

How does laser hair removal work?

Both of our lasers are noninvasive light therapy devices specifically designed to eliminate undesired hair from all parts of the body. The Coolglide and Lightsheer lasers generate a pulse of intense, concentrated light which is directed through a small, cooled hand piece which is gently applied to the treatment site.

This laser energy passes through the skin to the hair follicle, where the energy is absorbed by pigment in the hair and hair follicle, causing selective damage to the hair root without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. The lasers are pulsed, or "turned on", for only a fraction of a second. The duration of the pulse is carefully determined so that laser energy will be absorbed by the hair follicle without transferring excessive heat to the surrounding skin.

Some of the hair which was in the treated follicles is wiped off immediately after treatment and the rest is shed over the next 2-3 weeks. The hair roots which have been destroyed are reabsorbed by the body.The surface of the skin is protected by cooling gel pads applied immediately before and after treatment and by a gold plated cooling head which glides over the skin (CoolGlide™) along with a crystal (Lightsheer) half a second before the laser beam. This selectivity helps to protect the skin, while effectively treating the unwanted hair.

Unlike "hair-by-hair" treatments like electrolysis, the laser uses a wide beam which treats many hairs at once. Because lasers can treat dozens of hairs with each pulse, it is possible to treat larger areas such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs and face. Both of our lasers can be used just about anywhere on the body, and usually require no anesthesia or other treatment. Even sensitive areas such as the breasts, upper lip and bikini line can be treated easily and with minimal discomfort.

The systems' unique design allows us to customize treatments according to your hair and skin color, hair texture, and location on the body.

Laser treatment is a safe, fast, gentle and effective method for hair removal. In just a few treatment sessions using the gentle power of lasers, you can greatly improve the appearance of skin which is disfigured by unwanted hair.

How does the Altus CoolGlide™ differ from older laser systems?

Other laser and intense pulsed light systems include:

• Intense pulsed light - these systems are flash lamps producing a spectrum of light energy rather than laser light. Intense pulsed light systems tend to stun rather than kill hair follicles, so that there is often an unacceptable amount of hair regrowth, even after many "intense pulsed light" treatments.
• First generation Ruby 694 nanometer (Epilaser™, Epitouch™, Chromos™)
• Second generation Alexandrite 755 nanometer (Epitouch ALEX™, Photogenica LIPR™, GentleLASE™)
• Third generation Diode 800-810 nanometer (LightSheer™, Apex™).

These relatively short wavelength lasers can produce good results in some circumstances, but because they produce light which has a shorter wavelength, their laser energy both scatters more in the skin, and is mostly absorbed in the top few millimeters of the skin, above many of the hair roots. This means that sometimes not enough energy reaches the hair roots, where it is needed. They may only stun rather than destroy many of the hair roots and therefore sometimes cause temporary rather than permanent hair reduction. Short wavelength lasers can be difficult or impossible to safely use on people with dark, tanned or black skin. The cooling system in 800 nm lasers usually relies on a sapphire window, which is only 1/10 as efficient as the gold plated copper cooling head in the Altus CoolGlide™. Because the sapphire window of the 800 nm lasers has to be pressed on the skin while the laser is triggered, there is a risk that stray hairs will be burned into the skin. By comparison, there is no contact between the laser aperture and the skin when the Altus CoolGlide™ laser beam is applied to your skin.

By contrast, the Fourth Generation Altus CoolGlide™ laser uses the longest available, deeper penetrating 1064 nanometer wavelength. Altus CoolGlide™ reaches even the deepest hair roots, which can be 4-6 mm below the skin surface in some cases.

The long 1064 nanometer wavelength of the Altus CoolGlide™ makes it possible to safely and effectively treat all people -- even those with tanned, very dark or black skin. Like all lasers, the CoolGlide works more efficiently on light colored skin -- so to minimize the number of treatments you need, try not to have a fresh suntan when you come in for treatment.

CoolGlide™ also allows the operator to adjust the duration of the pulse of laser energy to best suit the thickness of the hair shafts on different parts of your body. Some older laser systems lack this degree of fine control.

The gold plated ClearView™ cooling head on the CoolGlide™ laser provides an extra margin of safety and comfort, allows the operator a clear view of the area to be treated, and does not require pressure on your skin.

What areas of the body can be treated?

ALL parts of the body CAN be treated (and ARE treated) with the Altus CoolGlide™ hair removing laser. In women, the most common areas for treatment are upper lip, chin, bikini line, arms and legs, and underarms. In men, the most common areas for treatment are shoulders and back, and the beard area.

What are the benefits of laser hair removal compared to alternative treatments?

The primary benefits of laser hair removal include:

• Larger areas may be treated with less discomfort than with electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
• The CoolGlide™ combines speed, comfort and long lasting results.
• The CoolGlide™ works on any area of the body where a hair-free appearance is desired.

Shaving, waxing and depilatory creams remove the hair but leave the hair follicles intact, so the hair re-grows within one to four weeks in most cases. CoolGlide™ laser hair removal offers you a long-term reduction in both the amount of hair, and also in many cases a reduction in thickness and color of hair shafts which do grow back.

Hair removal methods like plucking, waxing or sugaring which cause irritation may actually stimulate hair growth. This happens because one way the body defends itself against having hair pulled out is to produce thicker, stronger hairs which are harder to pull out next time. Another advantage of CoolGlide™ laser treatment is that your skin can be kept nice and smooth between treatments by shaving -- you will never again have to grow your hair out long enough to be waxed or sugared. Occasional waxing can be useful to temporarily get rid of white hairs and fine peach fuzz hairs after you have completed a course of Altus CoolGlide™ laser treatment.

Altus CoolGlide™ laser hair removal offers long lasting results, and even if hair does eventually grow back it is usually finer in texture and lighter in color than the original hair, and much less of a cosmetic problem.

What are the advantages over electrolysis?

With electrolysis, the operator inserts a needle into the hair follicle and tries to have the needle tip reach the hair root. The operator then triggers a small electrical charge to disable the hair root. The hair from that follicle is then removed with tweezers.

Electrolysis can be an excellent technique for the removal of:

• small numbers of hairs.
• hairs from areas where it is difficult to use the laser (under the eyebrows, near the eyes, and in the ears and nose.)
• white and very pale blonde hair (which does not absorb laser light efficiently).

There can be considerable variation in the results between electrolysis therapists, and the rate of permanent hair loss has been reported to be from 15 to 50%. Electrolysis can be a tedious process and is a difficult undertaking for some patients. Even a small area like the face, for example, in the case of a woman with heavy facial hair, could require electrolysis for 2 –3 hours per week for 2 years, with further treatments over an undetermined period of time, for a total treatment time exceeding 210 hours. Despite its popularity over the past two decades and its use for over 100 years, there is little in the medical and scientific literature about electrolysis.

Hair removal is much faster with a laser because each "pulse" of laser light disables a large number of hair follicles and pulses can be delivered as often as twice every second. Electrolysis operators can only treat those hairs that they can see and which they can reach the follicle through the hair shaft. The Altus CoolGlide™ laser treats all "active" follicles, even if the hair has not yet reached the surface of the skin, is "ingrown", or if the hair shaft is not straight.

What are the risks of laser hair removal?

Short-term side effects may include a slight reddening of the skin or local swelling which typically lasts less than an hour, although it may infrequently last a few days. Fourth generation, long wavelength 1064 lasers like CoolGlide™ are less likely than older lasers to cause prolonged irritation, pigment changes or blistering. Rarely (perhaps 2-4 cases out of a hundred) there can be increased or decreased pigment in the treated area. This is seldom a major cosmetic problem, and generally resolves after several months. Even a single blister (rather like tiny sunburn) is very rare (less than one in a hundred). The light from the Altus CoolGlide™ Laser does not cause skin cancer.

Unlike plucking, waxing and sugaring, laser hair removal does not run the risk of making hair grow back thicker, darker or quicker.

After Altus CoolGlide™ laser treatment hair growth will frequently be delayed, AND when hair does grow back, it is often lighter, finer and less dense.

Is laser hair removal "permanent"?

There is NO hair removal method (including laser) which can guarantee anybody "permanent hair removal".

The most realistic description of the results after laser treatment is: "long-term hair REDUCTION". This means: "After four to six treatments the total amount of hair is greatly reduced -- generally by 70% to 90% -- and hair which does grow is often much finer and lighter in color." Most people are very pleased with this degree of improvement, as long as they know that this is what to expect before they have laser hair removal treatment.

It is important for you to realize that after having between four and six treatment sessions it is VERY LIKELY that there WILL BE a very substantial reduction in both the amount of hair and also a reduction in the thickness and color of the hair in the treated areas. You should expect that this reduction in hair may last for many years.

This long-term hair reduction is exactly what most people want, but could be an issue, for example, in men who have their armpits lasered. If hairy armpits come back into fashion 5 years from now, people who have had CoolGlide™ treatments on their armpits will be probably be out of fashion!

Because lasers have been used for hair removal for only the last seven years, we can't know if the results will continue to be felt in 10 or 20 years. However, we do know that stable, long-term hair reduction commonly lasts for at least two years, and some patients who had their last treatment six or seven years ago are still enjoying a high degree of hair reduction.

Should I expect to be "hair free" in the treated area after the series of treatments?

No, most patients experience an 70-90% reduction in the amount of hair in a given area, and a reduction in the thickness and color of the remaining hair, but should not expect to be "hair free".

It has been suggested that a 6 month follow-up may be sufficient to assess final outcome after the final laser hair removal session, because once regrowth had stabilized (usually within 6 months), there is usually little or no change in hair counts at 6,12, and 24 months.

How much hair will grow back, and how fast will it grow back?

The Altus CoolGlide™ laser works by destroying hair roots which are active at the time of treatment, and which have enough pigment to absorb sufficient laser energy. The hair shafts in the treated hair follicles will fall out, or be "shed" 1-3 weeks after treatment.

After the first treatment, hair regrowth may resume within a few weeks or it may be anywhere from 2-4 months before any true hair growth is observed, as previously dormant hair follicles become active, and hair follicles which were stunned but not killed recover and start to produce hair shafts again. Some people find that there is not much extra hair reduction after the second treatment, but after the third or more commonly the fourth treatment, they notice a substantial further reduction. After four to six treatments there may be little or no regrowth for many years. In other cases you may wish to have additional treatment after a period of time.

Hair fibers that regrow after laser treatment generally are finer and lighter in color, and so are much less of a cosmetic problem. Reductions in coarseness and color can occur independently of each other.

How many treatments will I need?

The treatment results are often subtle. On average, you may require four to six treatments in order to achieve the results you are looking for: Every patient’s condition and needs vary.

Why are at least 4 treatment sessions usually needed?

All lasers work by disabling hairs that are in their active growth cycle at the time of treatment. Hair follicles in their "dormant" phase have no hair shaft in them and so will not be affected by the laser. Because hair follicles cycle through "active" and "dormant" phases, additional sessions are usually desired once the "dormant" follicles become "active", and also to deal with hair follicles which were stunned but not killed by previous treatment.

The other group of hair follicles which could produce dark terminal hair in the future are the fine vellus peach fuzz follicles which have no pigment and so are not affected by laser treatment. If some of these fine little peach fuzz follicles mature into terminal hair follicles, they can be treated with laser at that time.

There is NO treatment which will kill 100% of the hair follicles, 100% of the time. Altus CoolGlide™ uses the longest, most deeply penetrating wavelength, and special cooling, to maximize the number of killed hair follicles and minimize the numbers that are stunned during each treatment session.

At any one time, 50 to 85% of your hair follicles are in the active (anagen) phase but only 1/4 to 1/3 of your hairs have enough of the pigment in their ROOTS to absorb the laser beam which destroys the hair root. So, about 1/4 to 1/3 of your hair roots are good targets for the laser beam, and can be damaged or destroyed in a single laser session.

Because 1/4 to 1/3 of the actively growing pigmented hair roots are damaged or destroyed in any one session, almost all people will want a minimum of four CoolGlide™ treatments to reach a satisfactory degree of hair reduction, and many people will wish to have more than four treatments, most commonly 5 to 8 treatments; and in some cases another session in six to twelve months to eliminate any terminal hairs which have developed when vellus hair follicles mature into terminal hair follicles.

This will depend on:

• the desired degree of hair reduction (as the amount of hair declines, some people become very enthusiastic and want even LESS hair than they had originally planned on).
• hair color (people with naturally light colored hair sometimes need more treatments).
• ethnic and genetic background (people with dark skin sometimes need more treatments).
• hormonal status
• area being treated
• hair density
• age
• weight (obesity can increase hair growth)
• medication (for example medicines like Dilantin and cyclosporine can increase hair growth)

Additional "touch up" treatments on small troublesome areas can be arranged at relatively low cost. There is no safety limit on the number of treatments a person can have. People who have been partially treated with other types of hair removing laser might in some cases need less than 3 CoolGlide™ laser treatments to reach a satisfactory degree of long-term hair reduction.

Previous laser treatment or electrolysis? No problem!

CoolGlide™ has been successfully used on many people who were not able to tolerate -- or did not obtain satisfactory results with -- electrolysis, or with older laser and "high intensity light" systems, including ruby laser, alexandrite laser, 800 nm lasers, and Epilight™ systems.

In fact, depending on how much hair is left, people who have been partially treated with other lasers may need only one or two treatments with the Altus CoolGlide™ to "finish the job".

Am I a good candidate for laser hair removal?

The unique design of the CoolGlide™ laser, and the long wavelength, allows treatment of people with all skin colors, and treatment of even light brown hair. Because hair which is naturally blonde, light red or white does not have enough pigment in the roots, it cannot be reliably treated with any type of laser. We can provide the topical agent Meladyne which darkens the hair follicle without darkening the visible light colored hair. This makes the lighter hairs better targets for destruction by the laser. Fewer treatments are needed when the hair is dark and the skin is light colored -- so to get maximum effect from each session avoid tanning. However, even people who have black skin can be successfully treated with the Altus CoolGlide™.

Children can be treated, for example, if they have a congenital nevus or other problem with excessive hair. Children must be old enough (for example, 12 years old) to understand and cooperate with treatment.

CoolGlide™ laser hair removal is not just for "cosmetic" problems. Patients with excess hair because of medications (for example, organ transplant patients who are taking cyclosporine) can benefit from CoolGlide™ laser hair removal, as can patients who have problems with ingrown hair and folliculitis under prosthetic devices.

Many people have fears and doubts prior to laser hair removal. A common concern is that they are being too vain. My experience has been that just about all patients who have laser hair removal are no vainer than anyone else. What does distinguish them is a desire to get the most out of life. Looking after our appearance is not a fault. The same degree of self-interest that prompts someone to exercise, be selective in what they eat and drink, and protect themselves from sun damage leads them to explore the benefits of laser hair removal. Our patients simply want to look their best. After all would you leave your house with broken gutters or peeling paint? Why do less for your body? I think you should feel proud of yourself for having the courage to want to change something that you find undesirable. I emphasize that you should only have laser hair removal if it is for you. It is a big mistake to have laser hair removal if you are only trying to please someone else.

Normal, reasonable people who have realistic expectations tend to be excellent candidates for Altus CoolGlide™ laser hair removal.

Which hair colors respond best to treatment?

Because lasers target the PIGMENT in hair roots, lasers work best on black or brown hair. Naturally red hair may require 4-6 treatment sessions. Very light colored natural red or blonde hair may require 5 or 6 treatment sessions, and may respond only partially. Ask Dr. Stover or his staff about applying a topical solution called Meladyne before treatments to cause pigmentation of the hair follicles of very blonde hairs. Meladyne will make these hairs better targets for laser hair removal by darkening the deep follicle without causing darkening of the visible hair.

White hair does not respond to treatment - so get your hair lasered before your hair turns grey or white!

Questions to ask yourself when considering laser hair reduction:

• How much are you bothered by your facial hair? Hair on other areas?
• How much are you bothered by the time you spend removing, treating, or concealing your facial hair? Hair on other areas?
• How uncomfortable does your facial or other unwanted hair make you feel in exchanges of affection (such as intimate exchanges with your partner)?
• How uncomfortable does your unwanted hair make you feel when you meet new people?
• How uncomfortable does your unwanted hair make you feel when you go to social gatherings, dine out in a public restaurant, go to a supermarket or other public place?
• How uncomfortable does your unwanted hair make you feel when you go to work or class?

What are Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis?

Hirsutism is excessive growth of hair in androgen (testosterone)-dependent areas of a woman’s body where terminal hair is not normally found, including the face, neck, chest or medial thighs.

Hypertrichosis is excessive growth of hair in non-androgen dependent parts of the body (i.e. areas other than the face, neck, chest and medial thighs).

What is Unwanted Female Facial Hair?

Growth of hair on the face which is coarser, longer or more profuse than is "normal" for the age and race of the woman. Unwanted Facial Hair is a chronic problem for about 22 million American women who remove facial hair at least once a week.

How can I get the best value from each treatment?

To get the best results with the smallest number of treatment sessions, please pay attention to the following guidelines as you work with us:

Avoid waxing / sugaring / plucking / EpiLady and electrolysis

Because the laser beam seeks out and destroys ACTIVELY GROWING hair roots, it is important (if you want to get the best value from your treatment) NOT to wax / pluck / sugar / use EpiLady-type pluckers or have electrolysis for at least SIX WEEKS before laser treatment. These things temporarily remove the pigmented part of the hair follicle which the laser needs to use as a target when it destroys the hair follicle.

Tanning should be avoided!

CoolGlide™ is the safest and most effective laser for ALL types of skin, even black skin which cannot be safely treated with other hair removing lasers. Many Italian, Greek, and East Asian have been successfully treated with the CoolGlide™ laser.

BUT: the lighter your skin color at the time of treatment, the better the laser beam can get through the skin to the hair roots, where it is needed.

SO: tanning is not a BIG deal, but if you avoid tanning and stop using artificial "tanning" creams for six weeks before treatment, you will get the maximum possible benefit from each treatment session. People with very dark skin (and people who are really into tanning) sometimes need one or two extra sessions to reach their desired degree of long-term hair reduction.

It is also a good idea to minimize tanning for a few weeks after laser treatment, to reduce the chance that your tan will be somewhat uneven.

Dr. Stover or his staff can recommend one of several excellent sunscreens for your particular situation.

Shaving or clipping the hair? Good idea!

Shaving or clipping the area to be treated is not a problem. In fact, we like the areas to be shaved the day of treatment or the day before. Some people find that the skin is less sensitive if it is shaved at least a few hours before treatment. Another advantage of shaving the area to be treated BEFORE you come in is that YOU can shape the area to be treated exactly the way YOU want it to be. This is of particular importance in areas like the sideburns, temples, and bikini line / bikini area.

Excess hair should be removed from the treatment area before CoolGlide™ treatment, because hair above the surface of the skin will simply absorb and waste laser energy and keep it from getting to the hair roots, where it is needed. There may be a small extra charge if we have to shave extensive areas before starting laser treatment.

Contrary to popular belief, shaving does not make hair grow back thicker, faster, darker or more profusely! So go ahead and shave before treatment, and between treatments!

Hair Dye and Bleaching? No problem!

Because the laser beam only acts on the hair ROOTS, it is OK to dye and/or perm hair in the areas to be treated. Likewise, it is OK to bleach hair in the areas to be treated because bleaching will not affect the color of the roots.

Timing

It takes about 6 weeks for the next crop of hair roots to become active and develop pigment which is the target for the laser. So, to get the best value from your CoolGlide™ treatments, you should wait 6 weeks between treatments.

There is no harm in having CoolGlide™ treatments MORE FREQUENTLY than every 6 weeks, or having CoolGlide™ treatments less than 6 weeks after waxing, plucking, etc. -- but this is less efficient, and could increase the total number of treatments needed to get a good result.

Also, while there is no harm in waiting MORE THAN 6-8 weeks between treatments (for example, if there has not been much regrowth after your last CoolGlide™ laser treatment), there is usually no extra BENEFIT to waiting longer than 12 weeks between treatments.

Medications?

We are not aware of any medications which should not be taken while you are getting CoolGlide™ laser treatment. Anabolic steroids should certainly NOT be taken unless medically necessary, because these can increase male-pattern hair growth in some cases. Women who take injections of Climacteron (testosterone & estradiol) as part of therapy for menopause and to increase libido often experience unwanted hair growth, which can be treated with Altus CoolGlide™ laser hair removal.

Medicines which inhibit hair growth (for example, spironolactone, Diane-35™ birth control pills, Euflex™, Androcur™ and Vaniqa™ cream) might slightly reduce the pigment in hair roots and make laser treatment less efficient, but this seldom interferes with the effectiveness of laser treatment. Cutera CoolGlide™ laser hair removal can certainly be done WHILE you are on those medicines, if you wish. These "anti-androgenic" medicines produce gradual but temporary effects, and will not remove unwanted hair from areas that are independent of androgen regulation.

Pre-treatment with medicines like Zovirax™, Valtrex™ or Famvir™ is NOT necessary, unless you tend to get a lot of cold sores in the area to be treated.

What is a "test area", and why is it sometimes performed?

"Test areas" are small areas of skin that are treated at various laser energy levels prior to treatment of large surface areas on darker skin types. "Test areas" are done on darker skin types to determine the level of energy that is best for that individual, and checked up to one week later to make sure there was no burning or pigment change. Light skin types generally don't have to have test areas done. This may be done at the same time as your consultation, and no fee is required for this test.

Moles, freckles and tattoos in the area to be treated?

Small moles and freckles do not require any special precautions. Large, dark moles and freckles which are to be treated may require a reduction in the intensity of the laser light, the same way that the intensity would be reduced when treating a dark-skinned or tanned person. We generally prefer not to treat tattoos, but this is seldom a problem because quite often there is not much hair growth in tattoos. Be sure to mention if you have permanent lip liner or permanent eyebrow liner, because these are tattoos and special precautions may be needed for laser treatment in those areas.

What will happen on the treatment day?

Other than your regular skin care routine, there is no standard "prep" for this procedure. Please do not wear makeup on the areas to be treated, because some kinds of makeup can absorb and waste laser energy, or even heat up to the point where your skin would be irritated. Makeup will need to be removed before treatment, and may be re-applied immediately after treatment if you wish. There are no restrictions on what you may eat or drink prior to your appointment.

Please shave or clip the areas to be treated before you come in for treatment. Freshly shaved skin is more sensitive, and there is less discomfort if you wait at least an hour between shaving and having laser treatment. Shaving also allows you to shape the exact area you want treated -- this is sometimes very useful in the bikini area. Excess hair above the surface of the skin absorbs and wastes laser energy, and reduces the amount of energy that reaches the hair root, where it is really needed. Excess hair above the surface of the skin also increases the chance of burning or irritating the skin.

When you come for treatment, it is important not to wear any makeup -- or at least wear simple water-based makeup that can be easily removed -- because makeup can sometimes absorb laser energy. This could interfere with treatment, or even cause overheating of the skin surface and burning. Makeup can be re-applied immediately after Altus CoolGlide™ laser treatment, if you wish.

After all of your last minute questions have been answered and paperwork handled, the areas you wish to have treated will be cleansed and pre-treatment photos may be taken. Everyone in the treatment room must wear protective goggles when the laser is turned on. The Altus CoolGlide™ is a high powered laser system, and can cause eye injury if proper eye wear is not worn while the laser is used.

The length of the procedure itself can range from a few minutes for the upper lip to an hour or more (for example, a man’s chest and back). You may save considerable time, as you reduce or eliminate the need for shaving and other hair removal methods.

If you decide before coming in that you would like to have additional areas treated, please call ahead so that we can schedule enough time to accommodate your needs.

The process is very simple...

Cooling pads are applied to the skin for a few moments before the area is treated. Immediately before the laser is used on an area, the cooling pad is removed and a thin coat of clear gel is lightly smoothed over the skin, then the laser pulses are quickly and evenly applied by our carefully trained and supervised staff.

You can bring a friend or family member if you like -- quite often mothers and daughters will come in together for laser treatment. If you want to let the person with you watch your treatment, that person must wear the special laser goggles to prevent laser light from getting in the eyes.

Does it hurt?

The laser emits only light. You may feel a tingling or snapping sensation like a rubber band. There is no bleeding and no open wound is created. Some people find the FIRST laser treatment more uncomfortable than subsequent treatments. Maybe this is because there are more hair roots which are destroyed during the first treatment; and perhaps also because some people are more apprehensive during the first treatment, because they are not sure of what to expect.

Many patients find that they have less discomfort if they shave the area to be treated at least a couple of hours BEFORE coming in for treatment, because freshly shaved skin is often somewhat more sensitive. Shaving before coming in for treatment also allows you to shape the area to be treated exactly the way YOU want it. This is of particular importance in areas like the forehead, sideburns and bikini/pubic hair areas.

While some areas of the body like the upper lip and pubic hair area are more sensitive than others, many patients report little or no discomfort. If there is unusual discomfort, please let us know so that we can apply more cooling or adjust the settings on the laser.

People who have had waxing, sugaring, and/or electrolysis (or treatment with other lasers) usually report that CoolGlide™ causes less discomfort, and sometimes there is almost no discomfort.

Another possible explanation for reduced discomfort with the Altus CoolGlide™ compared with other lasers is that the long wavelength of the CoolGlide™ delivers more energy into the deeper part of the skin where the hair roots are -- and wastes less energy in the top 2 millimeters of the skin where many of the nerve endings are.

Cooling gel pads are usually applied immediately before and after treatment, and soothing gel is used during the procedure. In addition, the CoolGlide™ laser has the ability to reduce the frequency of pulses and increase the cooling time in sensitive areas, to maximize your comfort.

Anesthetic cream is occasionally used in very sensitive areas or by those who think they have a very low pain threshold. Most people do best with cooling gel packs, and do not bother with anesthetic cream.

Some people find it helpful to simply take two or three plain Tylenol and/or Advil a couple of hours before coming in for treatment. Some women who find that they are less sensitive after their menses prefer to schedule their treatment sessions to avoid the premenstrual and menstrual time.

What will happen after treatment?

Redness often has faded greatly by the time you get home. It would not be uncommon for the skin to be slightly drier that evening and to require more of your favorite moisturizer.

The hair follicles may appear slightly more obvious or a bit pink for the next day or two, but this is seldom a cosmetic problem, and generally much less obvious than after waxing or sugaring.

Why does the hair sometimes look like it's growing for 1-3 weeks after laser treatment?

Lasers destroy hair roots which are active at the time of treatment, but do not remove hair shafts instantly. Hair shafts in the treated hair follicles will fall out, or be "shed" mostly in the first week after treatment, with all of the treated hairs falling out within 2-3 weeks.

It is normal that some hairs in the treated area may not fall out within 2-3 weeks. These will be treated in the next session.

These hairs which are being shed will come out on their own. It is best not to shave the treated area or to wash it with anything but mild soap and your bare hand (no Buf-Pufs, washcloths or Body Washes) for 3-4 days after laser treatment, because some people find that their skin is irritated by these things.

Are there any restrictions on my activity after treatment?

Since the laser does not burn or cut the skin in any way, no bandages are necessary. You can return to work the same day and resume all your regular activities. To reduce the chance of uneven tanning in the treated areas, you should minimize sun exposure and tanning for a week or two after treatment.

It is OK to resume shaving or clipping hair in the treated area after 3-4 days. You should NOT have waxing / sugaring / plucking or electrolysis, because these things will temporarily remove pigmented hairs from the hair roots and reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment. Sometimes after plucking, waxing or sugaring the hair will become thicker and darker, because one of the ways that the body defends itself from chronic irritation is to produce thicker, darker hairs.

Shaving really is the BEST temporary way to remove unwanted hair before laser treatment, and between laser treatments. Shaving leaves the hair SHAFT in the hair follicle, so the hair shaft can be a target for laser energy, heat up and KILL the hair follicle.

You can shave as often as you want. It has been shown in scientific studies that:

• Shaving does NOT make hair grow faster.
• Shaving does NOT make hair grow thicker.
• Shaving does NOT make hair grow darker.
• Shaving does NOT make hair grow more profusely.

Pre-treatment instructions:

1. Please do not do any waxing, plucking or sugaring for 6 weeks before treatment because hair follicles which do not have hair shafts in them to absorb laser energy will not be killed by the laser energy.

2. Please try to minimize tanning for a week or two before treatment; a fresh tan can interfere a bit with the effectiveness of the CoolGlide Laser treatment, though this is less of a problem than with older, short wavelength lasers.

3. Please do not wear makeup on the areas to be treated, or at least wear makeup that is easy to remove. If makeup absorbs laser energy, less energy will reach your hair follicles and hair shafts. Additionally, if the makeup heats up it could irritate or burn your skin. Makeup can be re-applied immediately after Altus CoolGlide™ laser treatment, if you wish.

4. Please shave or clip the areas to be treated the day before treatment or on the morning of treatment. This way, the skin will be less sensitive. Shaving before you come in also allows you to shape the exact area you want treated.  This is sometimes very useful in areas like the hairline, sideburns and at the bikini area. Excess hair above the surface of the skin absorbs and wastes laser energy, and reduces the amount of energy that reaches the hair root where it is really needed. Excess hair above the surface of the skin also increases the chance of burning or irritating the skin.

5. Some people find it helpful to simply take two or three plain Tylenol™ and/or Advil™ 2 hours before coming in for treatment. Some women who find that they are less sensitive after their menses prefer to schedule their treatment sessions to avoid the premenstrual and menstrual time.

Post-treatment instructions:

• Redness often has faded greatly by the time you get home. It would not be uncommon for the skin to be slightly drier that evening and to require more of your favorite moisturizer. The hair follicles may appear slightly more obvious or a bit pink for the next day or two, but this is seldom a cosmetic problem, and generally much less obvious than after waxing or sugaring.
• Try to avoid tanning for a week or two after treatment, because occasionally the tan could be somewhat irregular (lighter and/or darker in the treated areas.)
• Hair shafts will be released from hair follicles in the treated area for a week or two after treatment. You do not need to do anything, but you may gently exfoliate or shave the areas if you wish.
• Shaving, depilatory creams like Nair™ or Neet™, or bleaching are okay between laser treatments. Plucking, waxing and sugaring should be avoided because these things could reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment.
• Blistering or scaling after Altus CoolGlide™ laser hair removal is very uncommon, but usually resolves over a few days or a week with a bit of Polysporin™ cream several times a day. Please call us if this happens, or if you have any other problems or questions.