The best candidate for laser hair removal has light skin and dark hair, but with Sciton’s Clear Scan system, effective laser hair removal can be done in ALL SKIN TYPES. During your consultation, our laser specialist will determine your skin-type based on the Fitzpatrick scale and develop a treatment plan that is specific to your skin type and hair color. Since the laser targets the melanin in the root of the hair, there must be some pigment in your hair for effective laser hair removal. For this reason, laser hair removal of light-colored hairs is very difficult.

The Clear Scan YAG laser targets the melanin in the root of the hair, bypassing the pigment in the skin, making for an effective treatment of dark skin types as well as for those who have tanned skin.

There is a huge difference between a laser and intense pulse light (IPL) for hair removal that most clients do not understand but really should. Intense pulse light is simply that, a powerful beam of light that has a broad spectrum of wavelength that delivers energy to anything it hits. With the appropriate filters, IPL can be very effective for treating unwanted hair, vascular lesions, age spots, rosacea, and a variety of other skin conditions. However, IPL is NOT a laser and anyone advertising laser hair removal using an IPL is simply misleading the public with false promises. For hair removal, some of the energy delivered by IPL is absorbed by the root of the hair, but much of it is absorbed by the skin and its structures, thus resulting in some discomfort and redness of the skin. While IPL can be effective for hair removal, it will take twice as long as a laser to achieve the desired results. On the other hand, a laser is a focused beam of light that has a single wavelength that specifically targets the melanin in the root of the hair, with far greater absorption than seen with IPL, generating the heat that is needed for effective destruction of the hair follicle. Since the laser only targets the melanin, virtually no energy is absorbed by the skin and its structures, thus it is virtually painless, very safe, and profoundly effective. A good analogy is that for hair removal, a laser is like a sniper rifle while IPL is like a grenade. Which one would you like to use for your hair removal?

Do not perform any plucking, threading, electrolysis, or waxing for 4 weeks prior to treatment, depending on the treatment area. In addition, the intended treatment area should not be exposed to sunlight, tanning booths, or spray-on tanning products for 4 weeks prior to treatments. If you have had a history of herpes simplex virus infection and are scheduled for facial hair treatment, a prophylactic antiviral medication may be prescribed. Prior to a laser hair removal treatment, all surface hair should be removed by shaving or snipping to prevent any damage to the skin.

What can I expect from my laser hair removal session?

Our laser hair removal specialist will assess the area(s) of concern, discuss all details of the treatment including expectations and pre-treatment protocols, while addressing any concerns and questions you may have. At this time, a patch test on the desired area may be performed at the appropriate laser parameters upon request. Prior to treatment, your skin will be thoroughly cleaned and dried, removing any makeup, creams, oils, topical anesthetics or skin tanning products before laser treatment. Protective goggles will be placed on your eyes to protect them from the laser light. During the treatment, the Sciton laser emits an amplified beam of light that is absorbed by the melanin in the root of the hair follicle. The absorption of light by melanin generates heat in the hair shaft, which diffuses to the stem cells and matrix targets to cause the desired damage. This manifests as redness and swelling at the hair follicles, called peri-follicular edema, which is the desired clinical endpoint of your treatment.

Some patients feel a slight discomfort during the treatment, but for most clients, the cold surface temperature of Sciton’s methanol-cooled sapphire chilling plate provides for maximum patient comfort. For those that do feel some discomfort, a topical anesthetic can be applied prior to your treatment.

A cool compress or gel pack may be applied for additional comfort after your treatment. Any redness or swelling should resolve within a few hours. Do no take any medications to treat this reaction before getting approval from our laser specialist. After your laser hair removal treatment, minimize sun exposure to the treated area and use sun block with an SPF of 30 or higher. In the first few days after treatment, don’t scrub or rinse the treated areas with any abrasive skin cleansers.

In order to understand the speed of hair reduction, it’s important to understand the stages of hair growth. Hair growth has 3 stages: Anagen (active hair growth), Catagen (regression), and Telogen (dormant stage). Laser hair removal is most effective on hairs in the Anagen stage of hair growth. Since only 10-20% of hairs are in this active growing stage at any given time, it take 5 to 7 laser treatments to achieve the best results. After maximum hair reduction, additional maintenance treatments may be needed. Other factors, such as hormonal stimulation, coarseness vs. fineness of hair, and skin pigmentation from UV light exposure, can affect the results of your laser hair removal.

Overall, your risks are minimal. Some of the reported side effects may include redness and swelling. Some of the more rare side effects include changes in skin pigmentation. Permanent side effects are rare. Please call us immediately if you have any concerns.