FAQ's for Laser Hair Removal

FAQ's for Laser Hair Removal
Q: What does laser hair removal feel like? Is it painful?
A: Most people describe the feeling similar to a pinch of a rubber band. Although pain is an individual feeling, most clients
express the sensation as tolerable.
High Speed LightSheer® Duet™ offers you exciting treatment speed and amazing comfort combined with the safety and
results you desire and deserve.
The NEW High Speed LightSheer treatment option for hair removal is great news for both men and women, since backs and
legs can now be treated comfortably in about 15-20 minutes, with no need for topical anesthetics or messy treatment gel.
Q: What should I do before my treatment?
A: Try to avoid sun exposure. Hair can be more aggressively treated without a fresh tan. Having hair is essential to having a
successful treatment. You can not wax, tweeze, thread or have electrolysis for 4 weeks before a treatment. The best way to
manage hair before is to shave, trim, or use cream depilatories. The day of your treatment the hair will need to be freshly
shaved.
Q: What should I expect after a treatment?
A: After a treatment the skin may be red and bumpy. This is absolutely normal. Post treatment, we recommend protecting
the area from the sun to avoid any additional heat to the area, as well as avoiding activities such as exercise, saunas, and
other activities which may irritate the area or induce heat for 24-48 hours immediately after treatment. The area should be
moisturized with a soothing cream and cleansed with a mild soap as advised by our laser technicians.
Q: Is it permanent?
A: There is no laser that has received FDA clearance for a claim of permanent hair removal. However, the LightSheer ™ Diode
was the first to be cleared by the FDA for permanent hair reduction. That is defined by the FDA as 85% or greater hair reduction. It is possible that follicles in the treated area, while not being completely destroyed, will be sufficiently damaged to the
point where they produce only fine, light hairs that do not respond to further treatment. This is backed up by extensive
clinical studies and you should be wary of anyone who claims otherwise.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Hair grows in continuous cycles. The anagen or growth phase of hair contains the largest amounts of melanin and this
phase is the laser's target. From scientific studies we understand that any area contains a maximum of 20-30% of anagen
hairs at one time, thus, these anagen hairs are affected each treatment. Most clients will require a minimum of three treatments. Repeated sessions are necessary. Finer hair and dark skin clients may require 6-8 treatments. If you suffer from a
hormone imbalance your treatments may be ongoing. To have effective treatments it is imperative that they be sequenced.
Every client's expectations of hair loss are different. Some may be happy with 50-60% loss and may want to discontinue and
others will want to continue until they reach their maximum loss of 80-95%.
Q: How long should I wait between treatments?
A: Waiting time may vary with individuals. The general guideline is 4-6 weeks for neck and above areas and 8-12 weeks for
areas below the neck.
Q: What should I do to manage the hair between treatments?
A: You should not have much hair to manage. If you need to, shaving or trimming is the
most effective way to manage hair growth between treatments.
Q: Are the Results Permanent?
A: The LightSheer laser has been cleared by the FDA for hair removal and permanent hair reduction on all skin types and
tanned skin. To achieve a satisfactory level of clearance, 4-7 treatments are typically required. Anything after 6 is considered
maintenance and Absolutely Fabulous Urban Spa gives 50% off the regular price per session.
Q: Does laser hair removal create or treat ingrown hairs?
A: The laser will not create ingrown hairs. If you suffer from them the laser will produce an effective treatment to clear the
ingrown hairs.
Q: Does the LightSheer work on different skin colors?
A: The LightSheer diode laser system safely and effectively treats all skin types (Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI). For darker skin
types appropriate fluences are generally lower and appropriate pulse widths are generally longer to prevent damage to the
epidermis. Using the appropriate treatment parameters, however, people with all skin types can benefit from laser hair
removal with the LightSheer.
Q: Does the LightSheer work on tanned skins?
A: A tan is damage to the skin. When it is damaged it creates "tan" or colour. This is "melanin" deposits in the skin.
The laser is attracted to melanin. The technology in the Lightsheer allows the skin to be cooled effectively to not
traumatize the "tan" but the energy of the laser must be reduced to accommodate a tan. Therefore a client with a
tan may require more treatments than someone without a tan. To have a more effective and aggressive treatment
it would be better not have a tan.
Q: What advantages does the LightSheer DUET have over other laser hair removal systems?
A: LightSheer DUET Laser Hair Removal is comfortable, virtually painless treatment with proven results.
Another adventages are: no messy gels or topical anesthetic required, faster treatment times, less treatments
required and safe.
Q: Is the Lightsheer Diode FDA approved?
A: The laser was developed in 1994 and the first hair removal study began in July 1996. The FDA cleared the device
for treatments in December 1997. The FDA then granted it's claim for permanent hair reduction in April 1999 after
it demonstrated in a 3000 person study a better than 50% permanent hair loss after only 3 treatments.
Q: What are the major advantages of the LightSheer Duet, as compared to other hair removal devices?
A: Dore J. Gilbert, Medical Director Newport Dermatology and Laser Associates Newport Beach, CA, USA
– There are many reasons why the LightSheer Duet is a better device. The first has to do with the speed; we are
now able to perform a treatment on the back in 25 to 30 minutes instead of two hours, achieving the same
efficacy that we did with the previous LightSheer device. This represents a huge improvement.
There is also less pain with the LightSheer Duet compared to the other LightSheer devices that we have, so it’s
much more comfortable for the patient.
Mitchel P. Goldman, Medical Director Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates of La Jolla, Inc. La Jolla, CA, USA
– The LightSheer Duet is faster, less painful and more effective. It’s at least four to six times faster than other
systems so you can easily treat an entire back in 15 to 20 minutes. It’s the only laser hair removal technology that
does not require topical anesthetics. Although we have not performed detailed clinical studies at this time, it
appears to me that it is at least twice as effective as all other forms of laser hair removal devices.
Q: How have men, in particular, responded to the high speed LightSheer Duet?
A: Dr. Gilbert, Medical Director Newport Dermatology and Laser Associates Newport Beach, CA, USA
– Men love this device, because instead of being in our office for two hours, they are only being treated for
approximately thirty minutes. From the standpoint of convenience, this is a wonderful thing. They can get back to
work quickly and have a productive day; it’s not an entire day spent in the physician’s
office.
Dr. Goldman Medical Director Dermatology/Cosmetic Laser Associates of La Jolla, Inc. La Jolla, CA, USA
– We have observed an increase in the number of men we treat, especially in the number of male backs. Men
typically do not respond well to pain. So, this being a far more comfortable procedure, it elicits a far more positive
response from men.
Ms. Haney, FNP-C
– All of our patients have appreciated the shorter treatment time, especially the men. Instead of spending an hour
and a half, or an hour and forty five minutes getting their back treated (very painfully, I might add), they appreciate
being in and out of the office in twenty minutes and they appreciate the increased comfort. Wives send their
husbands in to get hair removal. Next thing you know, the wife has scheduled an appointment for hair removal, as
well. clinical roundtable | LightSheer Duet
Absolutely Fabulous Urban Spa
C-3 1500 Hornby Street (at Beach Ave.) Vancouver, BC V6Z 2P9 I tel: 604-738-6245 I email: treatme@myspa.ca