[ Laser Hair Removal Procedure ] 

'LASER BEAMED' Imagine a hair-removal treatment that doesn't involve regular battles with razors, hot wax, or lotions that smell like a chemical plant. Laser hair removal may sound like something out of star wars but, believe me, its the greatest beauty breakthrough since the invention of the blow-dryer.

I was initially skeptical when I set off to investigate this futuristic sounding miracle.

Anyone who passed O level physics will be pleased to hear that the laser works with low energy. Those who failed the exam should content themselves with the knowledge that it's gentler than other laser treatments and suitable for all skin colors.

How does laser hair removal work?  Lasers have been used for many years for a variety of medical cosmetic procedures including treatment of facial and leg veins, age spots and smoothing fine lines on the face. The laser energy is transformed into heat, which can disable the follicle leaving the surrounding skin unchanged.

Why is laser preferred for hair removal?  Traditional hair removal techniques, such as shaving, plucking and waxing, provide only temporary relief. Until now, the only long-lasting hair removal solution has been by electrolysis - which can be time-consuming and is usually limited to small areas, because each hair is treated individually. Laser hair removal is non-invasive, and safely removes unwanted body hair without damaging the delicate pores and structures of the skin. Facial and bikini areas are usually completed in under 45 minutes; legs and larger areas can take longer.

What does the treatment include?  Depending on the amount of hair and area treated, the procedure varies from patient to patient. Generally, the treatment will include:  Safety eyewear to protect the patient's eyes during the procedure from the laser light. A small handpiece will be used to deliver the laser light. Most experience little discomfort at the treatment site. The sensation and the degree of discomfort varies with each person. In some cases, topical anesthesia is an option. Your laser specialist will discuss this before laser treatment. Depending on the size or number of areas treated, the time will vary in length from minutes to hours. Patients can return to work or resume their normal activities immediately following treatment. The area may become slightly red and may last from a few minutes to several days depending on the area and skin sensitivity.

What precautions should be taken before and after treatment?  If you are tan or have a darker skin type, a bleaching cream should be started 4-6 weeks before treatment for our melanin absorption lasers.

How many treatments will I need?  Hair grows in cycles. The laser is only effective on hair in its actively growing cycle. At any one time there will only be certain hairs in that growing phase. This means that consistent treatments at appropriate intervals are absolutely necessary for the best possible results. The number of treatments required depends upon your skin, hair coloring, coarseness of the hair and density per treated area. Everyone will require at least 2-3 treatments as the process is only effective on hairs during their growing cycle. Additional treatment will be necessary to treat other follicles when they re-enter the growth phase and produce new growth.

The most efficient wavelength required to achieve results by laser is in the 670 to 890 nm (nanometer) range. This particular frequency allows for the greatest tissue penetration without loss of photon intensity through the dermis(2). This range is also highly selective (as well as reactive) with follicle melanin and carbon dye.

The advent of this new technology has created enormous excitement in the field of epilation cosmetology, and with good reason. Laser hair removal is simply the fastest way to remove unwanted hair currently available. It is very easy and highly effective. The laser can completely clear the leg hair growth on an average woman in under one hour.  The same area would require more than 40 hours of needle electrolysis.

Discussion
In this study the laser treatments given every six weeks yielded better long-term clinical results than the treatments given every two weeks. Previous studies [1-5] have demonstrated good to excellent results for treatment intervals between four and eight weeks. An earlier study done by the investigators [6] demonstrated excellent long-term hair reduction using three-week treatment intervals. Mathematical modeling showed that better laser penetration was achievable at the hair bulb and bulge in the absence of terminal hair shafts extending to the skin surface. It was recognized that the success of a hair removal treatment at a shortened treatment interval was dependent on the regeneration of melanized target structures for the follow-up treatments [6]

The poor long-term results seen with the shortened treatment interval would suggest that the laser treatment given only two weeks following the initial treatment did not yet have an adequate target to absorb the laser's energy.  It is hypothesized that the hair bulb has not yet regenerated at two weeks and hence the laser treatment was ineffective.  The six-week interval allowed adequate time for the hair bulb and follicle to regenerate therefore providing an adequate target for the laser and hence, a more effective long-term result.
Conclusions
The treatment intervals chosen for laser hair removal strongly affect the efficacy of long-term results. This study demonstrates better efficacy at the six-week treatment interval compared with the two-week treatment interval.
References
1. Bjerring P, Cramers M, Egekvist H, Christiansen K, Troilius A. Hair reduction using a new intense pulsed light irradiator and a normal mode ruby laser. J Cutan Laser Ther  2000; 2: 63-71.
2. Kauvar AN. Treatment of pseudofolliculitis with a pulsed infrared laser. Arch Dermatol 2000; 136:1343-6.
3. Eremia S, Li C, Newman N. Laser hair removal with alexandrite versus diode laser using four treatment sessions: 1-year results. Dermatol Surg  2001; 27: 925-9.
4. Gorgu M, Aslan G, Akoz T, Erdogan B. Comparison of alexandrite laser and electrolysis for hair removal. Dermatol Surg  2000; 26:37-41.
5. Bencini PL, Luci A, Galimberti M, Ferranti G. Long-term epilation with long-pulsed neodimium:YAG laser. Dermatol Surg  1999; 25:175-8.
6. Lloyd JR, Mirkov M. Long-term evaluation of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser for the removal of bikini hair at shortened treatment intervals. Dermatol Surg  2000; 26:633-7

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