Laser Hair Removal FAQ's

Laser Body Hair Removal
Los Angeles and Orange County, California

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995. The idea of using a laser to removal unwanted body hair was first pondered in the early 1980's. Laser hair removal is the process of destroying hair follicles using very specific and focused beams of light energy that selectively target the melanin in a hair follicle. When the laser light is absorbed at the root of a follicle during that anagen stage it converts to a heat source and the heat source destroys the anatomical structure of the hair follicle.

How long has South Coast MedSpa been doing laser hair removal?

Since 2004. We have performed over 200,000 thousand treatments.

Will laser hair removal work for me?

Laser hair removal can and should work for you if you choose an experienced and qualified laser hair removal center. Make sure that the center has a medical doctor who oversees all of the patient charts and that all of the laser hair removal treatments are performed by a licensed medical professional. If you are a skin type 4 through 6 you may require a few additional treatments to get to your desired end point.

How many treatments will I need for Laser Hair Removal?

Our laser hair removal packages consist of six treatments. The length of each treatment depends on the amount of hair to be removed and the number of areas to be treated.

How much does laser hair removal cost?

Laser hair removal cost can vary depending on several factors, however the most important questions to consider as a consumer when seeking laser hair removal treatments are:

Q: How reputable is the laser hair removal center?
A: Be sure that the clinic you select is a medical practice, with direct supervison from a medical doctor for all laser hair removal patients.
Q: How long has the clinic been performing laser hair removal treatments?
A: We recommend that the clinic is not a start up center that has limited experience treating laser hair removal patients. Be certain that the clinic has performed a minimum of at least 10,000 laser hair removal treatments. Also, ask what type of experience the laser hair removal center has treating your skin type.
Q: Does the laser hair removal center offer package pricing or are they offering single treatment prices? How many laser hair removal treatments are in the package price?
A: The most effective laser hair removal results usually require between 5 and 7 laser hair removal treatments.

Is laser hair removal safe?

YES laser hair removal is safe…

Because the laser light pulses so briefly and is targeted so precisely, it destroys only the hair follicle. Your skin will not be affected. South Coast MedSpa's lasers are safe even for patients with dark complexions or tans.

Laser hair removal is a very safe and effective way to permanently reduce unwanted body hair from virtually any body part. The most effective way to remove unwanted body hair is by doing multiple laser hair removal treatments. Laser hair removal can best be explained by defining selective photothermolysis. The best way to understand how laser hair removal works is to explain selective photothermolysis in simple terms. Selective phototermolysis is when a laser source selectively destroys specific tissue while preserving the integrity of the surrounding tissue. Laser hair removal destroys the hair follicle but does not destroy the tissue surrounding the hair follicle.

Does laser hair removal hurt?

Laser hair removal is a medical treatment and like all medical treatments has certain risk and side effects. One of the most common side effects of laser hair removal is discomfort. Laser hair removal is more painful in areas of the body where the hair follicles are thick and dense. For female patients the bikini and the underarms is the most sensitive body parts. For male laser hair removal patients the chest and the back of the neck can be very sensitive.

Topical numbing cream can significantly reduce the discomfort associated with laser hair removal treatments. For best results when using topical anesthetic cream be sure to apply the cream 20 to 30 minutes prior to the laser hair removal treatment.

The SCMS diode is safe and effective for all skin types. Whether you're Indian, African American, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Caucasian, or Asian, the laser will treat your skin type safely and effectively. The diode lasers are equipped with a cooling Chill Tip^TM technology that cools the skin simultaneously while the laser is destroying the hair follicles. As the concentrated beam of light targets the melanin in hundreds of hair follicles at a time, the Chill Tip is cooling the skin and thus minimizing the risks of burns, irritation, scarring, and hyperpigmentation. This cooling technology also enables the practitioner to increase the energy settings and thus maximize the treatment results while maintaining the safety of the skin. As the chill tip technology cools the skin, it will also help minimize the pain level and thus make the laser hair removal process more tolerable.

Does laser hair removal cause scaring?

Laser hair removal is safe and effective when done by a qualified laser hair removal medical center. However since laser hair removal is a medical treatment it does have certain risk factors associated with the procedure. The good news is that although laser hair removal burns can happen, and hyperpigmentation can result, this side effect is rare. Darker skin types are more prone to hyperpigmentation issues. Laser hair removal technology has developed a great deal since the original FDA approval in 1995, however at this point in history no laser can differentiate between the melanin in the hair follicle and the melanin in the epidermis layers. Therefore darker skin types are more likely to experience laser hair removal burns. Over the past several years their has been reports of inexperienced laser hair removal centers in the San Francisco area that have been documented burning African American patients. In these cases the laser hair removal center was not experienced and under-trained. The nurse performing the treatment on the face of a skin type 6 made the critical mistake of double passing on the beard area of a male patient. Since African American Patients have 100% melanin in their skin double passing should never ever be attempted with laser hair removal.

What is melanin and how does it affect laser hair removal?

Melanin is the black and brown color that gives skin and hair its color. The chromophores that comprise melanin are found in the epidermis as well as the hair follicle it self. A Yale Dermatologist, Dr. Fitzpatrick, developed the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale to better categorize patients based on their ethnic origin and skin color. The more melanin an individual has in their skin the darker the skins tone. Skin Types range from 1 to 6. An albino patient would be a skin type 1 and an African patient would be considered a skin type 6.

Laser hair removal targets the melanin in the hair follicle. Once it is absorbed at the root of the hair follicle it converts to heat and the heat source destroys anatomical structure of the follicle. The ideal laser hair removal patient is someone with light skin and dark thick hair, however certain lasers are approved by the FDA to treat all skin types.

Is it really permanent? Does the hair grow back?

The Lumenis® lasers we use at South Coast MedSpa are the gold standard in the industry. However, no laser treatment is guaranteed to remove absolutely every hair on the body. The average laser hair removal treatment yields a 15 to 20% reduction per treatment. After 6 treatments, 85% to 95% reduction is usually achieved. Some patients results may vary.

All Hair Follicles have 3 stages of growth know in the medical community as Anagen, Categon and Telogen growth stages. Anagen is the active growth stage and therefore the most important stage for laser hair removal. Categen is the intermediate stage when the the follicle is not connected to the matirx of the bulb. Telogen is the shedding phase of the growth cycle. The average person has roughly 15 to 20 % of their hair follicles in the Anagen growth stage at any given time. This is why most laser hair removal patients observe 15- 20% hair reduction per treatment.

The FDA defines permanent hair reduction as achieving 85% or greater elimination. Generally, the laser disables most of the remaining hair follicles to such a degree that only fine, light colored hair returns.

What is home laser hair removal?

Home laser hair removal is a waste of time and money. Do not waste either resource on this bogus claim.

Contact us today of you would like to schedule an initial laser hair removal consultation. Our professional consultants will answer all your laser hair removal questions.

Locations

	South Coast MedSpa San Diego 4520 Executive Drive, Suite 325  San Diego CA 92121 United States 858-346-2065 Location Info
	South Coast MedSpa Newport Beach 2901 W. Coast Hwy Suite 150 Newport Beach, CA 92663 949-650-7267 Location Info
	South Coast MedSpa Los Angeles 11645 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1120 Los Angeles, CA 90025 310-268-7979 Location Info
Or call toll-free: 877-650-7267