Laser Hair Removal

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure to remove unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is a long-lasting solution for people who are tired of temporary and often painful hair removal methods like plucking, shaving, waxing, sugaring, depilatories, epilators and electrolysis.

Advances in laser technology allow dermatologists to remove unwanted hair safely and effectively. However, laser hair removal requires a series of treatments because hair grows in cycles.  For laser hair removal to be effective the treated hair must be the active growth phase. But not all hair is in a growth phase at the same time. For this reason, 6-10 treatments spaced 4 weeks apart will be necessary to achieve hair-free results. To sustain results, annual maintenance treatments will be recommended.

Who is a good candidate?

Laser hair removal works best for people with dark hair and light skin because the laser targets the melanin in the hair. Melanin is the pigment that give hair its color. However, there are newer lasers that can safely and effectively remove unwanted hair in people with all skin tones, and lighter hair colors.

The best way to assure you are a good candidate is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zeena. Certain medications can cause adverse side effects, so tell your dermatologist about all your medicines and your medical history. If you suffer with herpes cold sores, you may be prescribed medication to prevent cold sores. In addition, you will receive complete pretreatment instructions that will help you achieve optimum results.

How does it work?

Before your treatment, the area(s) to be treated will be cleaned and numbing gel applied. It can take a half hour or more for the cream to work. You will wear protective eye gear during the procedure. The hand-held laser will be applied to the skin and you will feel a snapping rubber band or warm pinpricks while the laser vaporizes the hair.

After treatment

You can expect that the treated hair will fall out within 10-14 days. Gentle exfoliation of the treated area no sooner than 10 days after treatment can help remove hair. After treatment your skin will be sensitive and must be protected from the sun. You may have some temporary redness and swelling in the treated area, but there is no downtime involved. Also, after treatment you may notice temporary pigmentation changes. Dr. Zeena will provide you with specific post-treatment instructions. For best results, those instructions should be followed.

Results

After the prescribed number of treatments, most people will be 90% hair free for months to years. However, you can expect hair regrowth. When it does regrow, there will be less hair and the hair will be lighter and finer.

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Zeena in New Orleans, Louisiana for safe, professional and compassionate care.