What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal sends a strong beam of laser light to a group of hair follicles with enough heat and power to disable or destroy the root, but not enough power to harm the surrounding skin.  This process is called selective photothermolysis.  It targets only the hair and not the skin.  Photo means light and thermolysis means destroying with heat, hence the name photothermolysis. The surrounding skin is usually cooled to keep discomfort minimal.  Some methods include a gel, a spray, or a cooling tip.

The Laser beam finds the hair follicles by targeting melanin, the substance that gives skin and hair dark color.  The ideal candidate for laser has dark hair and light skin.  The laser will not work on people with red, white, gray or true blond hair as well.  The hot laser light will also be attracted to the melanin in the skin, so people with suntans, or dark skin types are at more of a risk for discoloration of pigment and other side effects.

Permanent Hair Removal by Laser is NOT ELECTROLYSIS nor is it similar.  Electrolysis removes individual hairs one-at-a-time by directing an electric current into each hair follicle.  Results are patchy, sometimes painful and the process very slow. Laser hair removal is the high tech method of destroying massive amounts of hair follicles with a simple trigger pull, the laser beam.

Hair in its active growth phase, the anagen phase, is then destroyed by the laser.  This phase lasts several years, and up to 85% of our hair is in that phase at time.  The good thing is that during this phase, the hair has an abundance of melanin and the hair follicle is easily targeted.

Types of lasers

There are three different kinds of laser light that are commonly used for hair removal:

• Alexandrite
• IPL/ELOS
• LP ND Gentle Yag

These are all effective, fast, comfortable and safe for permanent hair removal.

There are several factors that a laser technician can often control to customize a treatment for efficacy, safety and comfort:

• Pulse length- long pulsed lasers are considered safest.
• Fluence- Selection of energy levels can be varied for skin type.
• Delay- The time in between pulses of light affects how much the skin and hair follicle are allowed to cool off
• Spot Size – Affects the speed and penetration of the laser. A larger spot penetrates deeper.  A good selection of spot sizes helps the technician reach the hair at the depth at which it grows.
• Cooling- The surrounding skin may be protected by a gel, spray or cooled tip pressed against the skin.

Areas most requested by male and female patients seeking permanent hair removal:

• Full Face
• Top Lip
• Chin
• Top Lip and Chin
• Cheeks
• Chest
• Back of Neck
• Front of Neck
• Full Neck
• Back
• Shoulders
• Underarms
• Stomach
• Top Half Arms
• Full Arms
• Hands
• Bikini
• G-String
• Brazilian
• Pubic Hair
• Lower Legs
• Upper Legs
• Full Legs
• Feet

At TopSurgeons we offer the largest laser surgical center in the world with only the very best and most advanced lasers available.

Patients fly into Los Angeles to be treated at TopSurgeons from New York, NY and rest of the United States because they want the best treatment from the best doctors.

Am I A Candidate?

Laser hair removal can remove unwanted hair in anyone who has unwanted hair growth. Blond, gray and red hair do not respond as well to laser hair removal.

What Can I Expect With The Laser Hair Removal Procedure?

The laser and light source will be set with parameters which take into consideration your skin color, the hair color, the thickness of the hair, the location of the hair and the amount of energy needed for the treatment to be performed. The area to be treated should be clean and dry. The laser has a special cooling device this is used to protect the outer layers of the skin. This also helps the laser light penetrate further into the skin. You will feel the gentle cold air when the laser is applied to the skin. When the procedure is finished, it is common for the area treated to have some redness and some accentuation of the hair follicles themselves which usually resolves in a few hours.

What Are The Advantages Of Laser Hair Removal?

• Laser hair removal can treat much larger areas in a much shorter time than electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
• Laser hair removal combines the speed of shaving with the lasting results promised by electrolysis.
• Laser hair removal is effective on almost any area of the body where smoother, younger, hair-free skin is desired

How Long Does It Take?

We use one of the fastest and most effective lasers available. Treatments last from a few seconds for the lip to about 20 minutes for the back.

How Many Treatments Are Required?

Generally 4-7 treatments. Treatments are performed every 3-6 weeks depending on the area treated.

Will I Have Pain?

Most patients are essentially pain free during this procedure. We use the latest technology to minimize any discomfort. We also apply our especially formulated highly effective pre-treatment topical anesthetic cream. This is sufficient for most patients. As an additional measure, we use the Zimmer cold air device, which gently blows cold air against the skin, to facilitate comfort. As every person has a different threshold for pain, for those especially sensitive patients, we have developed other protocols to ensure that the treatment is extremely comfortable and tolerable allowing you to fully enjoy the results without pain.

When Can I Go Back To Work Or School?

The treatment is so gentle that most patients resume activities right away. There may be some redness which may last a few hours.

Can I Be Treated If I Have Dark Skin?

This treatment can be used effectively on dark skin. You may be given a special skin treatment regimen by our office.

Who Will Perform My Treatment?

All treatments are performed/supervised by our skilled board certified dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

How Much Will It Cost?

The cost for this procedure may vary from patient to patient depending on various factors; however, we guarantee that our pricing will always be competitive with that of other local providers furnishing equivalent services.

We provide excellent financing options, and discounts for multiple procedures are available.

Call 1-800-506-8084 for more details.

What Are My Alternatives?

Tweezing, shaving, waxing and depilatories are temporary measures. Electrolysis is permanent but extremely time-consuming and painful.

Is It FDA Approved?

All laser and intense pulsed light equipment used at TopSurgeons are state of the art and FDA approved.