LASER HAIR REMOVAL FAQS

Laser hair removal treatment gives you either long-lasting or permanent hair removal. Long-lasting hair removal can be achieved with one treatment. Permanent hair removal requires more than one treatment, as some of the hair will grow back. This is because the hair must be in the anagen phase of the growth cycle in order for the laser to destroy it. Hair that is not in the anagen phase of growth (usually, about 20% of the hair at any given time) during the laser treatment may fall out, but will grow back within 12 weeks.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) classifies laser hair removal as a permanent hair removal method, although it is not guaranteed to produce permanent results for everyone. Due to certain factors, such as pregnancy and other hormonal changes, the FDA and Health Canada have approved laser hair removal claims for 95% permanency. No method of hair removal is proven to be 100% permanent.

The average number of treatments is 6 to 8, but this varies between individuals.

How does it feel?LCI uses a special device that cools the top layer of skin to reduce discomfort. Ice is applied on the skin before and after treatments, and cool air is blown on the skin during the treatment to ensure that clients are comfortable.

Normal side effects include redness and swelling on the treated areas. These side effects usually fade within one to three hours after a treatment.

Lasers for hair removal emit light energy that is attracted to the dark pigment in the hair shaft. Ideally, most of the laser’s energy is absorbed by the hair shaft instead of the surrounding tissue. If the hair shaft absorbs enough energy, it will not grow back.

The success of the laser treatment to remove unwanted hair depends on the laser's ability to transmit its energy to the hair shaft while sparing the surrounding skin tissue. The narrowness of the laser’s bandwidth focuses its energy, enabling it to selectively target the melanin, or dark pigment, in the hair shaft. Less expensive technologies, such as IPL (Intense Pulse Light), are sometimes used for hair removal. IPL is not a laser treatment, and is not as effective as laser treatment for hair removal. An IPL system uses traditional light, and does not produce energy with a narrow enough bandwidth to adequately target the hair shaft. As a result, IPL treatment is less likely to produce permanent hair loss, and more likely to damage skin tissue than is treatment with a real laser.

When you select a clinic for laser hair removal, be sure to ask what kind of technology the clinic uses for the treatment. Some clinics use less-expensive IPL machines for hair removal in order to cut costs. At LCI, we use only real laser technology for laser hair removal because your safety and satisfaction are important to us.

LCI offers laser hair removal for all skin types. However, the effectiveness of the treatment depends on both the color of your hair and skin, and the skill of the laser technician.

There are six general skin types used for laser treatment assessment, ranging from very fair skin that never tans, to very dark skin that never burns. The best candidates for hair removal are people with dark-colored hair and light-colored skin. Certain kinds of lasers, such as the Nd:YAG lasers, are specifically designed for darker skins.

Choosing a laser technician with good training and experience is necessary for getting the most out of your treatment sessions and preventing skin injury.

Yes. There are three commonly-used kinds of lasers designed for hair removal:

Diode lasers are recommended for fair to medium skin types. LCI uses the Lumenus LightSheer™ diode laser.

Nd:YAG lasers are long pulse lasers designed for treating all skin types, and are the most-recommended laser type for dark skin. LCI uses the Candela GentleYAG™ Nd:YAG laser from Candela Corporation.

You will need to protect the area to be treated from sun exposure and tanning bed lamps. Laser hair removal treatments work best on healthy, non-tanned skin. You should also shave the treatment area 1 day before or the same day as your treatment. Laser hair removal is not effective on skin that has been recently waxed, tweezed, sugared, or threaded, as there needs to be a root of hair in the hair shaft for the laser to target.

Ice packs may be applied to the treated area if swelling occurs. You can also apply soothing gels or topical creams, such as pure Aloe vera extract, natural vitamin E creams, or Polysporin™. Do not shave areas that are swollen or crusting. Avoid exposing the treated area to sun, hot water, or excessive irritation.