HOW DO OUR LASERS WORK?

Our Candela™ lasers effectively remove unwanted body hair. Traditional hair removal techniques such as shaving, plucking and waxing, provide only temporary relief and may actually stimulate hair growth. Electrolysis, while effective, often requires years of ongoing treatments. At Candela, we believe that the technology used in our GentleLASE Plus™ hair removal laser may make all other methods of hair removal obsolete. Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment inside the hair follicle without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. Because hair cycles through "growth" and "dormant" phases, and because during the "dormant" phase the follicle has no pigment, at least 6 or 8 treatments will be needed.

WHAT DOES THE TREATMENT INVOLVE?

The client is asked to wear eye protection consisting of an opaque covering or goggles. The area to be treated is then shaved. A small hand piece or "wand" is then placed over the area to be treated and the laser is "pulsed" emitting a beam of laser light destroying the hairs within the spot on the hand piece (8mm, 12mm, 15mm, or 18mm).

HOW MANY SESSIONS ARE NEEDED?

The number of sessions will vary for each individual. This is dependant upon age, gender, hormone levels, etc. During the initial visit, the laser light disables those follicles in the "active" phase of the growth cycle. Follicles in the "dormant" phase will not be affected. Since follicles cycle through "active" and "dormant" phases, additional sessions may be desired once the "dormant" follicles become "active". For this reason, a series of treatments will be necessary.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE AFFECTS?

Immediately after the treatment the skin will look pink and slightly swollen, similar to a sunburn. This will subside within an hour or two and the skin will return to normal. Occasionally, a patient will have temporary pigment changes, blistering, or scabbing. As with electrolysis, cases of scarring have been reported with laser hair removal, but these are extremely rare. A test spot is the best determinant of how each individual's skin will react.

WHY IS MY HAIR COMING BACK AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS?

This is not new hair. It is a process called "shedding". The laser destroys the hair above the skin line and at the root, or papilla. There remains a middle section of the hair shaft (middle hair) which reaches the surface, usually,  within 10 - 14 days after treatment. They can be pulled out with a tweezer and will offer no resistance.

      
Diagram ©2001 Marcelle C. Kutun Electrolysis & Laser Specialists, Inc. 

I JUST CAME BACK FROM VACATION OR VISITING A TANNING SALON. CAN I HAVE A LASER TREATMENT?

NO! You have to wait, at least, 8 weeks after sun exposure for a treatment because the laser is attracted to the melanin in the hair follicle. It cannot distinguish between that and the melanin in tanned skin.