Are you embarrassed by unwanted facial hair? Is there more hair growing on your back than on your head?
Or maybe you just want to clean up the bikini area so you never have to suffer from the after-shave pimples. Whatever your
reason, we have the technology to provide you with permanent hair reduction.
Shaving, plucking, waxing and
depilatory creams only provide temporary relief from unwanted hair. The advent of electrolysis brought excitement but was
soon found to be tedious, time-consuming and uncomfortable.
Now there is a safe and simple way to rid yourself of unwanted
hair. Unlike electrolysis which kills one hair follicle at a time, our Cutera Laser treats hundreds of hair follicles.
It is suitable for a wide range of skin types, but works best on dark, coarse hair.
How Does it Work?
There are three stages of hair growth. The active growth phase is called Anagen. Catagen
is the regression phase when the lower part of the hair stops growing but is not shed and the final stage is called Telogen.
This is the resting phase when the hair falls out in preparation of new hair growth. The most effective treatment occurs during
the Anagen phase when the hair contains an abundance of melanin. The Cutera Laser we use focuses on this melanin. Precisely
controlled pulses of energy is applied to the hair follicle and the root is destroyed without damaging surrounding tissue
or skin.
Because hair grows in cycles, more than one treatment is required. It will depend on skin
color and coarseness of the hair as well.
During your first treatment, some of the hair will be in the "resting" (Telogen) phase.
As the energy focuses on the melanin in the actively growing hair, the follicle in the Telogen phase has no melanin and thus,
remains active until subsequent treatment. Each treatment will result in less hair coming back, as well as hair growing progressively
lighter in color, finer and slower-growing.
LASER PRICES
BEFORE EACH LASER TREATMENT
- Do not wax, pluck, bleach, or use depilatories
(“Nair” Etc…) three weeks prior to first treatment. After that, the use of wax, tweezers, bleach or Nair
is strictly prohibited. In the meantime, shaving or trimming with scissors
is allowed.
- The hair should grow for 1-2 days prior to your
treatment session. It is important that hair show 1/16” to 1/18 of an inch to maximize the treatment effectiveness.
Longer growth may contribute to increased discomfort during treatments.
- Treatments will not be performed if you have sunburn
on the area to be treated.
- Areas with permanent discoloration (tattoos) can
not be treated. (If you have tattoos, please, inform the nurse/ nurse practitioner so that she may cover the area(s) with
occlusive dressing.)
- Avoid any irritants to the skin: Microdermabrasion,
Retin-A, Renova, Benzoyl Peroxide, or glycolic products for at least 72 hours prior to each treatment.
- Remove all makeup from area to be treated. You will given time at each appointment to do so.
DURING TREATMENTS
- Photographs will be taken at each visit to gauge
the distribution and quantity of your existing hair.
- No sun exposure/tanning beds 72 hours before treatment.
- Frozen gel packs will be applied to the skin to
reduce discomfort and to help protect the pigmented top layer of the skin from absorbing the laser light.
- Clients must wear occlusive goggles during the
procedure to prevent accidental eye damage from laser light radiation.
- The laser light pulses during the treatments. Each
pulse may feel like the snap of a rubber band hitting the skin followed by a sensation of heat at the sight. Both of these
sensations stop immediately.
- Cortisone cream is applied to control swelling
at the base of the hairs and to decrease post-procedure redness and irritation.
AFTER TREATMENTS
Side effects are rare but may include redness, blisters, swelling, crusting, pigment change
(darker or lighter) or scarring. Please call the office so that we may follow up but in the meantime, keep the area(s) covered
with an over-the-counter Triple antibiotic ointment. Failure to obtain a chemical barrier over the area will result in scarring.
- Transient swelling is common and may occur in the
treated areas.
- Use a gentle soap to cleanse the treated site twice
daily. If there is evidence of increased redness, tenderness, or swelling, please call our office.
- Avoid direct sun exposure for 7 days. If you cannot
avoid the sun, protect the area with a sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater, reapply frequently.
- If you have any initial irritation,
avoid very hot water. Moisturizers with aloe vera are soothing. We recommend the use of a non-prescription hydrocortisone
cream, twice daily for 2 days post laser if swelling occurs at the site of affected hair.
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