Ready to cut back on shaving and shaving? Hair has a tendency to grow where it isn’t wanted, returning time and again after it has been cut or plucked. From the upper lip to the bikini line to the entire back, managing unwanted hair can be a major nuisance. Laser hair removal gives anyone tired of razors, tweezers, and waxing a break from the hassle of their frequent attempts to keep skin smooth and hair-free. Laser hair removal uses controlled energy to target the hair follicle. The heat eventually damages the hair follicles, preventing new hairs from growing in the future. Laser hair removal can remove hair from virtually anywhere on the body, including:
At the #1 laser hair removal provider in South Carolina, performed by our specialized technicians, laser hair removal effectively destroys a follicle’s ability to produce hair, leading to long-term results that can be enjoyed on the face and all over the body.
The technicians at Germain Dermatology use fast, safe, and high-performing lasers for laser hair removal. A single wavelength of controlled light energy delivered into the skin is absorbed as heat by pigmented elements in the follicles. The heat eventually reaches a point that damages the follicle, preventing it from properly growing new hairs in the future.
Because of the way pigmented cells absorb light energy, some lasers are suitable only for use on light-skinned patients with dark hair. The GentleYAG® and GentleLASE® lasers at Germain Dermatology are appropriate for both light-skinned and dark-skinned individuals.
Laser hair removal patients should stop plucking and waxing about six weeks before their appointment and should also refrain from tanning and all unprotected sun exposure for the same amount of time. Tanning creams and other sunless tanning options should stop two weeks before the session to prevent fresh pigment in the skin from absorbing the laser energy intended for the follicles.
Patients should shave the area to be treated about 24 hours before their appointment.
People who choose laser hair removal often describe the feeling they experience during the treatment as a brief, slight “snap,” similar to a rubber band striking the skin. They may experience some swelling and redness, similar to a sunburn, for about a day after their session. Discomfort can be alleviated with the application of ice packs.
Some results will be apparent shortly after the first treatment, though the area will continue to improve in the following weeks, especially as subsequent sessions are completed. Hair may grow back in the treated areas, but the hair-free window will be much longer than allowed by shaving, plucking, or waxing. Even when hairs do grow in, they will appear finer and lighter in color than the previous growth.
Multiple treatments spaced roughly a month or more apart will typically clear an entire area of unwanted hair. Treatments for larger regions may be spaced six weeks to two months apart. Only follicles in the active growth phase absorb the heat generated as the laser light penetrates the skin, so a single laser hair removal treatment will impact about 85 percent of the hairs in a target area. Once your ideal results are achieved, you may return for periodic maintenance visits to ensure lasting hair-free results.
Germain Dermatology uses three main types of lasers for laser hair removal: Candela GentleMax Pro®, GentleYAG®, and GentleLASE®. Medical aesthetics industry pioneer Syneron Candela’s Gentle Pro series consists of several highly versatile, powerful laser hair removal products. In addition to laser hair removal, Syneron Candela provides devices that yield fast results for wrinkles, vascular lesions, port wine stains, redness, pigmented lesions, nail fungus, and more. The machines also have a dynamic air-cooling feature for optimal patient comfort during laser hair removal.
Germain Dermatology technicians have the training and experience to help you choose the best laser hair removal option for your skin tone, hair texture, and hair color.
Germain Dermatology uses lasers for a variety of cosmetic services aside from laser hair removal, including skin resurfacing and acne treatments. There are also intense pulsed light treatments, which are different from lasers in that they use bursts of broad-spectrum light to target pigment in the skin. IPL can be used for hair removal, as well as to reduce the appearance of age spots, redness, and visible veins. Talk to the technicians during your consultation to discover what options are available for you.