• Looking for a gentle, effective way to get rid of unwanted hair?
• Tired of shaving, tweezing, waxing, electrolysis or
  chemical depilatories?

Laser hair reduction offers men and women a quick, safe and comfortable choice for hair removal.

What areas of the body can laser hair reduction treat?

Laser hair reduction is safe for any area of the body where there is excess hair, except areas adjacent to the eyes. The most popular treatment areas are:

• Face
• Upper lip
• Neck
• Chest
• Periareolar (the area surrounding the nipples)
• Underarms
• Back
• Abdomen
• Bikini line
• Legs

What is laser hair reduction?

Laser hair reduction is an electronic technique that quickly treats large areas of the body at a time. The method works by removing hair at the follicle level and impairing its regrowth. Parungao Plastic Surgery uses Lumenis One's LightSheer Diode Laser System for laser hair reduction.

How does the LightSheer Diode Laser System work?

This system emits near-infrared laser light that is attracted to and absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed on for only a fraction of a second—just long enough to slightly damage the follicle—while the contact-cooling handpiece helps protect the skin during the laser energy delivery.

The light penetrates below the skin's surface just deep enough to target only the bulb of the hair follicle. Because the laser is attracted to pigment, laser hair removal is most effective on targeting hair follicles if your hair is brown or black.

The lighter your skin and the darker your hair, the faster laser hair reduction will work for you.

Who are the best candidates for laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal will work quickly for you if you have:

• Hair darker than the surrounding skin
• Coarse, dark hair

Who is not an ideal laser hair removal candidate?

Laser hair removal will require more treatments if you have:

• Tanned skin with light hair
• Very dark skin
• Blonde or red hair

If you have tanned skin with dark hair, you should wait until your tan fades before undergoing treatment.

What advantages does the LightSheer have over
other systems?

• Minimal skin irritation
• Non-invasive treatment—no needles penetrate the skin
• Works quickly

The LightSheer treats hundreds of hair follicles at one time. In a few minutes, an area that would take more than an hour to treat with electrolysis can be treated.

The LightSheer Diode Laser System was designed exclusively for laser hair removal, so it has the wavelength, pulse width and skin-cooling system ideally suited for this purpose.

Does the LightSheer work on tanned or different skin colors?

The LightSheer Diode Laser System safely and effectively treats all skin types (see Fitzpatrick Skin-Typing Chart), as well as
tanned skin.

If you have darker skin or a tan, we will use slower light-pulsing rates and longer pulse widths to prevent damage to the top skin layer, or epidermis. With this more conservative approach, however, you will need more treatments than someone with lighter skin and dark hair.

Are the results permanent?

The LightSheer laser has been approved by the FDA for hair removal and permanent hair reduction on all skin types and tanned skin.

How much hair reduction can you expect?

You can expect a 70% to 90% permanent reduction in hair growth in the treated areas. The hair left behind after a series of laser hair reduction treatments will either be very fine, vellous hairs or very light in color.

How is new hair growth prevented?

Hair grows in three stages. The laser is effective only in the anagen, or growth stage. At the time of each laser hair removal treatment, 10% to 15% of your hair follicles will be at this phase.

When you leave the office after a treatment, you will still have the same number of active hair follicles you had when you came in. However, in the next seven to 14 days, you will shed the hairs from the follicles that were in the anagen phase at the time of your treatment. The laser will stop those follicles from producing any new hair. Additional treatment sessions are needed to catch the remaining hairs during their anagen phase.

How many treatments are needed?

To achieve a satisfactory level of hair removal, five to seven treatments are typically required. The darker your skin and the lighter your hair, the more treatments you will likely need. We will advise you on how many treatments you will need for best results before beginning your treatment series.

It's usually best to start a series of treatments in the spring or fall, when you're not going to be out in the sun—unless the area to be treated is not exposed to sunlight.

How often should you have a treatment?

• For facial hair, once every four to six weeks
• For body hair, once every eight to 10 weeks

Timing of treatments is very important. If your treatments are too close together, there will be no benefit, as the subsequent treatment will treat the same anagen-phase hair follicles that were treated the last time. Yes, a laser hair reduction series does take time—but it's worth it, and it works!

Laser hair reduction FAQ

Q.	Does laser hair reduction hurt?
A.	When the pulse of light is delivered to the hair, you may feel a mild sting or pinch similar to the snap of a rubber band. No local anesthesia or pain medication is required.
Q.	Are there any side effects?
A.	Possible short-term side effects include: Slight reddening of the skin Local swelling which goes away within a few days. Rarely, some blistering
Q.	Are there any restrictions on my activities?
A.	You can return to work the same day and resume all regular activities. You should limit exposure to the sun following a treatment.
Q.	What about special care before a treatment?
A.	For best results, it's best to follow these recommendations before a treatment: Do not tan the skin before, immediately after or between treatments. Moisturize areas to be treated daily. Avoid any products that cause skin irritation. Do not shave the area to be treated. Do not take Accutane.
Q.	How should I care for my skin after a treatment?
A.	It's best to: Moisturize treated areas and wear sun screen. Avoid using ice on the treated area. Apply a cold, wet compress to treated areas several times a day. Avoid waxing, tanning or shaving the treated area for four to five days. Keep regularly scheduled appointments for maximum results.