| Laser or Intense
Pulsed Light may be used to destroy hair follicles beneath
the surface of the skin. The treatment may be performed
on any area of the body and on any skin type if the
correct source of light is used. The procedure is usually
performed by an aesthetician, preferably under the supervision
of a physician, and the treatments are spaced several
weeks apart. Common areas of treatment for men and women
include the legs, chest, face, abdomen, back, bikini
line and underarms. |
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| HOW DOES IT WORK? |
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Because of the
varying sizes of treatment areas, one session of laser
or IPL hair removal can take anywhere from about 15
to 90 minutes to perform. Patients often report a
mild stinging sensation during treatment, but various
methods of cooling may be used during treatment to
help reduce this. Anethesia is generally not needed.
The light, which is directed at the hair follicles
in the area of treatment, penetrates the skin and
is absorbed by the follicle beneath the hair. As the
light is absorbed, it is converted to heat, destroying
the follicles's ability to grow new hair.
Laser or IPL hair removal needs to be performed in
stages because hair grows in stages. It is only in
its active stage of growth that hair can be removed
successfully. |
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| WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER
TREATMENT? |
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| Patients can continue
on with normal daily routines immediately following
treatment, but do need to keep the treated areas out
of the sun. Some redness may be existent, but should
only last several hours, or occasionally up to a couple
days. This is easily camouflaged by clothing or makeup. |
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Is hair removal
temporary or permanent? How many treatments will it
take? |
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Hair removal
is both temporary and permanent. During a short series
of treatments 3-4 weeks apart, patients will rarely
have to shave, tweeze, or pluck. However, if the treatments
stop, some of the hair will return in a few months which
will be finer and lighter than before. The more treatments,
the less hair will ultimately come back. |
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What are the worst things that
can happen with laser or intense pulse light treatment? |
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Rare complications
include burning, blistering, and extra pigmentation.
All of which will usually resolve in a few days to a
few weeks |
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Do laser or IPL treatments cause
cancer? |
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No, the
light is in the visible range and has never to shown
to produce cancers of the skin or any other organ. |
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* ALL FAQs ARE REAL QUESTIONS BY OUR PATIENTS AND
DR. GOODMAN'S ANSWERS |
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