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Laser Hair Removal : The Process |
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Laser hair removal is the modern method of removing unwanted hair. The laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colours of light. The colour of the light produced by a particular laser and its method of delivery is the key to its ability to damage the hair follicle.
The pigment located in the hair follicles preferentially absorbs the near-infrared laser light. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to heat up and vaporize the pigment, disabling several follicles at a time to eliminate or substantially impede the hair's re-growth. At the same time the system's unique cooling device helps protect the skin by cooling it during the treatment process. In this way, the laser energy is directed to the hair root while protecting and cooling the surrounding skin.
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. Because the lasers tend to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, more than one treatment is required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase. |
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Each follicle in human skin maintains an independent growth rhythm from the other follicles. At any given time, a proportion of hair follicles are at some point of the anagen (active growth) phase. The remaining follicles are either in the catagen (regression) or telogen (resting) phase.
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Anagen Phase - Hair's active growth phase is called anagen. During anagen, the hair contains an abundunce of melanin and can be treated by the laser. |
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Catagen Phase - Catagen is the regression phase when the lower part of the hair stops growing but is not shed, and the follicle is reabsorbed. Treatment in this phase is only partially effective. |
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Telogen Phase - The resting phase is called telogen, during which the old hair falls out in preparation for the development of new hair. |
The proportions of hair in the different phases vary with each area of the body, with the scalp having the highest percentage of hairs in the active growth phase. Hairs in the regression and resting phases appear to be less susceptible to the treatment effects of laser light. However, after initial treatment with the laser, the hairs that re-grow, appear to be synchronized in the early anagen active growth phase, where they are most vulnerable to treatment with laser light. For this reason, repeated treatments should be performed as soon as possible after the hairs begin to re-grow.
State of the Art Laser Systems
The LightSheer™ Diode and GentleLase™ Plus laser systems have been the gold standards and work horses of the hair removal industry. They provide the most effective and permanent hair reduction technology. The LightSheer has a unique chilled laser tip and the GentleLase uses a cryogen spray to cool and protect the skin during the hair removal process. Both lasers provide the same degree of effectiveness. The difference is that the LightSheer treats all skin types, and is especially useful for darker skin types. The GentleLase has a larger spot size for more speedy treatments, but is limited to the fairer skinned typed individuals.
The Sciton™ ClearScan laser is capable of treating very dark skin types with black hair, like those of East Indian and African decent. The ClearScan YAG’s 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelength and pulse duration are unmatched for permanent hair reduction and it also treats vascular lesions from telangiectasias to leg and facial veins. The selective 1064 nm wavelength has strong absorption in hemoglobin and melanin, resulting in selective heating of veins and hair follicles, which produces excellent clinical results. The powerful contact cooling system enables treatments to be safe and effective for all skin types and tanned skin.
The GentleLase is used to treat lighter skin types. Your skin type will be determined by Dr. Cole or the nurses during your consultation to determine which laser is best suited for you.
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