Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal cost, length of treatment, and other details are determined by the area or areas being treated. In general, however, each treatment session runs in much the same way.

The laser is positioned over the area to be treated, then activated to send light energy into the skin. The sensation of the laser penetrating the surface has been described as similar to the snap of a rubber band against the skin—sharp, but quick. Many laser hair removal patients tolerate the feeling just fine, but anyone who wants to minimize sensation in the area can discuss options during the initial consultation.

Below the surface of the skin, pigmented cells in the follicles there absorb the laser energy, which causes them to heat up. They quickly grow so hot, they become damaged. This damage impedes their ability to grow new hairs in the future.

Treated follicles typically lie dormant for a significant amount of time. After the hair they currently hold falls out, they frequently do not produce a new hair for weeks or months after laser hair removal—and even then, the strands they produce tend to be thinner and lighter than the hairs they grew before the treatment. The result is an area clear and bare for long stretches of time.

Due to the nature of a hair’s life cycle, laser hair removal treatments work only on follicles that are in an active growing phase at the time of the laser application. In order to impact the maximum number of follicles, multiple treatments are required, with each session scheduled weeks apart to give untouched follicles a chance to transition to the active phase.

Skin in the treated area will be red and sensitive in the hours and days after a laser hair removal session. This condition, similar to a sunburn, will gradually fade on its own.

Cosmetic Surgery Institute also provides laser vein treatments and laser skin resurfacing, both of which make use of focused light to improve the look of the skin. Laser energy can also be paired with PRP-microneedling to further improve results.

Ultherapy, which uses ultrasound energy to tighten skin, is another option frequently chosen by men and women who want better definition of facial and other contours.