Frequently Asked Questions

How does Candela GentleLASE Plus® hair removal work?

The Candela GentleLASE Plus laser is a non-invasive light therapy device specifically designed to eliminate unwanted hair from all parts of the body. The Candela GentleLASE Plus generates a pulse of intense, concentrated light which is directed through a small handpiece when it is applied to the treatment site.

This laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by pigment in the hair and hair follicle, causing selective damage to the hair root without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. The laser is pulsed, or "turned on", for only a fraction of a second. The duration of the pulses is carefully calibrated so that laser energy will be absorbed by the hair follicle without transferring excessive heat to the surrounding skin.

Some of the hair which was in the treated follicles is ejected during treatment, and the rest is shed over the next 2-3 weeks. The surface of the skin is protected by the Dynamic Cooling Device. This device sprays a short burst of cryogen, a cooling substance, to the skin before each laser pulse to cool and protect the epidermis. The spray is computer calibrated to work with your skin type. This protects the skin while effectively treating the unwanted hair.

Unlike "hair-by-hair" treatments with electrolysis, the laser uses a wide beam which treats many hairs at once. It is possible to treat larger areas quickly such as the back, shoulders, arms, legs and face. Even sensitive areas such as around the nipples, upper lip and bikini line can be treated easily. The laser's design allows us to customize treatment according to your hair and skin color, hair texture, and location on the body. Candela GentleLASE Plus treatment is a safe, fast, gentle and effective method for hair removal.

What areas of the body can be treated?

Almost all parts of the body can be treated with the Candela GentleLASE Plus. In women, the most common areas for treatment are upper lip, chin, cheeks, bikini area, arms, legs, and underarms. In men, the most common areas for treatment are beard, back, shoulders, chest, stomach, buttocks, groin.

What are the benefits of laser hair removal vs to alternative treatments?

The primary benefits of laser hair removal include:

• Larger areas may be treated with less discomfort than with electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
• The Candela GentleLASE Plus combines speed, comfort and long lasting results.
• The Candela GentleLASE Plus is safe for use on pregnant women. They respond well because their hair is often thicker and darker during pregnancy. We can treat any area of the body on pregnant women except the lower abdominal area. We do not believe there is a danger to the fetus but we choose to be cautious.

Shaving, waxing,depilatory creams, and sugaring remove the hairs but leave the hair follicles intact, so hair reappears within one to four weeks in most cases. These methods may actually stimulate hair growth. This happens because blood rushes to the area to heal the damaged tissue, and hair also receives its nourishment through the blood, thus strengthening the hair by the increase of blood flow.

Candela GentleLASE Plus hair removal offers long lasting results, and even if hair does eventually grow back it is usually finer in texture and lighter in color than the original hair, and much less of a cosmetic problem.

How does electrolysis differ from laser?

Removing hair by electrolysis is a slow process; one hair at a time. The operator inserts a needle (probe) to the bottom of a hair follicle, then heats and cauterizes the hair root with a small amount of electrical current. The hair is then lifted out with tweezers.

Electrolysis can be an excellent technique for the removal of small numbers of hairs, from areas where it is difficult to use the laser (under the eyebrows, near the eyes, and in the ears and nose.)
and white and very pale blonde hair which does not absorb laser light efficiently.

How much does laser hair removal cost?

Laser hair removal can be surprisingly affordable. Laser can produce fast results ultimately at a fraction of the cost of electrolysis. The cost is determined by the area to be treated. Our prices have been determined with you, our client, in mind. We want laser to be affordable not for a few but for the majority of people. We offer a FREE consultation in which we explain the process of laser hair removal. We will evaluate your needs and we will answer all of your questions. We accept cash, most debit and check cards, and most credit cards.

Is laser hair removal covered by insurance?

Most private insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for "cosmetic" hair removal, however, consult your insurance carrier for more information. The removal of unwanted terminal hair for the management of hirsutism, congenital or drug-related hypertrichosis, pseudofolliculitis, transsexual states, and some skin grafts may be covered by some private insurance plans. We do not file for insurance reimbursement.

Is the cost of laser hair removal a tax deductible medical expense?

Laser hair removal is not a tax deductible medical expenditure UNLESS the hair is part of a genetic or hormonal condition where laser hair removal is prescribed by a doctor. Please check with your accountant or with the IRS for more information.

What are the risks of laser hair removal?

Short-term side effects may include a slight reddening of the skin or local swelling which typically lasts less than an hour, although it may infrequently last a few days. Rarely, (perhaps 2-4 cases out of a hundred) there can be lightening or darkening pigment in the treated area. This is seldom a major cosmetic problem, and generally resolves after a few months. Even a single blister, rather like a tiny sunburn, is very rare (less than one in a hundred).

Is laser hair removal permanent?

After having between four and six treatments you will MOST LIKELY see a substantial reduction in hair growth and also a reduction in the thickness and color of the hairs remaining in the treated areas. People have experienced 70% to 90% hair reduction. Because lasers have been used for hair removal for only the last seven years, we can't know if the results will continue to be felt in 10 or 20 years. Laser technology is continually improving it's performance.Some patients who had their last treatment six or seven years ago are still enjoying a high degree of hair reduction. HOWEVER, you must be aware that there is the possibility of new hairs growing from formerly non-producing hair follicles that become stimulated by hormones, stress, or medications.

The other group of hair follicles which could produce dark terminal hair in the future are the fine vellus "peach fuzz" follicles which have no pigment and so are not affected by laser treatment. If some of these fine little "peach fuzz" follicles mature into terminal hair follicles, they can be treated with laser at that time.

Why are at least 3-6 treatments usually needed?

All lasers work by disabling follicles that have active growing hair at the time of treatment. Hair follicles in their "dormant" phase have no hair shaft in them and so will not be affected by the laser. Because hair follicles cycle through "active" and "dormant" phases, a series of treatments are necessary to 'catch' the hairs in their active stage. As the amount of hair declines, some people become very enthusiastic and want even LESS hair than they had originally planned on.

Am I a good candidate for laser hair removal?

The unique design of the Candela GentleLASE Plus allows treatment of people with most skin colors, and treatment of even light brown hair. Fewer treatments are needed when the hair is dark and the skin is light colored - so to get maximum effect from each session, avoid tanning.

Children can be treated if they have a congenital nevus or other problem with excessive hair, but the children must be old enough (for example, 12 years old) to understand and cooperate with treatment. We frequently treat young, preteen girls who have developed dark hair on the upper lip.

Laser hair removal is not just for "cosmetic" problems. Patients with excess hair because of medications (i.e., organ transplant patients who are taking cyclosporine) can benefit from laser hair removal; as can patients who have problems with ingrown hair and folliculitis under prosthetic devices.

What are Hirsutism and Hypertrichosis?

Hirsutism is excessive growth of hair in androgen (testosterone) dependent areas of a woman's body where terminal hair is not normally found, including the face, neck, chest or medial thighs.

Hypertrichosis is excessive growth of hair in non-androgen dependent parts of the body (i.e., areas other than the face, neck, chest and medial thighs).

How can I get the best value from each treatment?

1. Because the laser beam seeks out and destroys ACTIVELY GROWING hair roots, it is important to stop waxing, tweezing, sugaring, and any other temporary methods of hair removal.

2.Tanning should be avoided! The Candela GentleLASE Plus is a safe and effective laser for most types of skin. Many Italian, Greek, and East Asian have been successfully treated with the Candela GentleLASE Plus. People with darker skin need extra sessions to reach their desired degree of long-term hair reduction. The lighter your skin color at the time of treatment, the better the laser beam can get through the skin to the hair roots, where it is needed. If you avoid sun tanning, tanning creams and tanning beds for six weeks before treatment, you will get the maximum possible benefit from each treatment session. Protect yourself by using a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on all areas to be treated before, during, and after treatments, or keep the areas covered with clothing. It is also a good idea to minimize tanning for a few weeks after laser treatments have ended to reduce the chance that your tan will be somewhat uneven.

3. Shaving or clipping the area to be treated is not a problem. Excess hair must be removed from the treatment area before treatment because hair ABOVE the surface of the skin will simply absorb and waste laser energy and keep it from getting to the hair roots where it is needed. If you are unable to shave the area, we can do it for you. However, it will save time if you can have it shaved before your appointment, and some people's skin may be more sensitive if the hair has just been shaven. Contrary to popular belief, shaving DOES NOT make hair grow back thicker, faster, darker or more profusely! So go ahead and shave before treatment, and between treatments!

4. Bleaching - Because the laser beam only acts on the hair ROOTS, it is OK to bleach hair in the areas to be treated because bleaching will not affect the color of the roots. We do prefer that you stop bleaching before your first visit so that we can see the hair color at the level of the skin and give you an accurate evaluation.

5. Timing - It takes 4-6 weeks for the next crop of hair roots to become active and develop pigment which is the target for the laser. So, to get the best value from your treatments, your treatments will be scheduled at 4-6 week intervals. There is no harm in having treatments MORE FREQUENTLY than every 4-6 weeks, or having treatments less than 4 weeks after waxing, plucking, etc. - but this could increase the total number of treatments needed to get a good result. Also, while there is no harm in waiting more than 4-6 weeks between treatments; for example, if there has not been much regrowth since your last treatment. Waiting longer for other reasons may place the hairs in a dormant phase.

6. Medications - There are a few medications which should not be taken while you are getting laser treatment. Anabolic steroids should certainly NOT be taken unless medically necessary, because these can increase male-pattern hair growth in some cases. We cannot treat you if you are presently or have recently used Accutane or Bactrim. Women who take injections of Climacteron (testosterone & estradiol) as part of therapy for menopause and to increase libido often experience unwanted hair growth, but CAN BE TREATED with laser hair removal.

Medicines which inhibit hair growth (for example, spironolactone, Diane-35 birth control pills, Euflex, Androcur and Vaniqa cream) might slightly reduce the pigment in hair roots and make laser treatment less efficient, but this seldom interferes with the effectiveness of laser treatment. Laser hair removal can certainly be done while you are on these medicines if you wish. These "anti-androgenic" medicines produce gradual but temporary effects, and will not remove unwanted hair from areas that are independent of androgen regulation.

Pretreatment with medicines like Acyclovir, Valtrex or Famvir may be necessary if you tend to get a lot of cold sores in the area to be treated.

What is a "test area", and why is it performed?

"Test areas" are small areas of skin that are treated at various laser energy levels prior to treatment. "Test areas" are to determine the level of energy that is best for that individual. On darker skin types, these tests are reviewed several days to a week later to make sure there was no burning or pigment change. Light skin types generally don't have to wait because test results are fairly rapid. This may be done at the same time as your consultation.

Moles, freckles and tattoos in the area to be treated?

Small moles and freckles do not require special precautions. Large, dark moles and freckles which are to be treated will require a reduction in the intensity of the laser light, the same way that the intensity would be reduced when treating a dark-skinned or tanned person. We do not treat tattoos, but this is seldom a problem because quite often there is not much hair growth in tattoos. BE SURE TO TELL US IF YOU HAVE PERMANENT LIP LINER OR PERMANENT EYEBROWS because these are tattoos and special precautions are needed if there will be laser treatment near those areas.

What should I do on the day of treatment?

Lasting hair removal has never been this easy! Other than your regular skin care routine, there is no standard "prep" for this procedure. Please do not wear makeup on the areas to be treated because some kinds of makeup can absorb and waste laser energy or even heat up to the point where your skin would be irritated. Makeup will need to be removed before treatment, and may be reapplied after two hours. Do not apply vaseline, lip balm or other heavy petroleum based products on the area to be treated. There are no restrictions on what you eat or drink prior to your appointment

Please do not shave the area to be treated on the day of your treatment. We like to see a small amount of hair to determine regrowth patterns.

After all of your last minute questions have been answered and paperwork handled, the areas you wish to have treated will be cleansed and pretreatment photos may be taken.

Everyone in the treatment room must wear protective goggles when the laser is used. The Candela GentleLASE Plus is a high powered laser system, and can cause eye injury if proper eye wear is not worn.

What does the laser feel like?

The laser emits only light. You may feel a tingling or snapping sensation like a rubber band. There is no bleeding and no open wound is created. Some people find the FIRST laser treatment more uncomfortable than subsequent treatments. This is because there are more hair roots which are destroyed during the first treatment; and perhaps also because some people are more apprehensive during the first treatment because they are not sure of what to expect.

While some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, most patients report little or no discomfort.

The Candela GentleLASE Plus features the Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD). This device sprays a short burst of cryogen to the skin a split second prior to pulsing. This coolant protects the skin and makes the treatment more comfortable for you. The cooling spray can be adjusted to suit your skin type and hair type and is computer calibrated for carefully controlled delivery.

What will happen after treatment?

Generalized redness and edema (swelling) are quite common after treatment. These symptoms usually subside within an hour or so. Some patients report redness lasting for up to 48 hours which is still within acceptable norms. In most cases, redness has faded greatly by the time you get home. It would not be uncommon for the skin to be slightly drier that evening. Using Aloe Vera Gel will sooth the skin. There are no limitations to your activities, however, we ask that you do not take a hot shower or bath for the first day. We ask you not to workout or engage in any physical activity that may cause sweating for the first 24 hours. Our experience has shown that better results are achieved with less irritation when you do not reheat the skin with hot water or exercise.

Why does the hair look like it's "growing" for 1-3 weeks after treatment?

Lasers destroy hair roots which are active at the time of treatment, but do not remove hair shafts instantly. Hair in the treated follicles will fall out, or be "shed", mostly in the first week after treatment, with the rest of the treated hairs falling out within 2-3 weeks. The hairs may appear to be growing but that is the body pushing the dead hairs from the follicles. It is normal that some hairs in the treated area may not fall out within 2-3 weeks. These will be treated in the next session.

It is best not to shave the treated area for a few days. If the skin is irritated, use only soft wash clothes and mild soap and moisturizing creams. You may use exfoliating gloves in the treated area but it is not really necessary.