Laser hair removal is a procedure that uses various wavelengths of light to target hair follicles and impair their ability to grow. It is a fast and nearly pain-free method to reduce unwanted hair for people with a wide variety of skin types and hair colour.

Excess and unwanted hair is a common problem. Women frequently experience this condition on the face, especially the upper lip, in the bikini area, under the arms or on the legs. Men often wish to rid themselves of hair on their back, chest or other parts of their face. Advanced technology lasers and light sources are rapidly changing hair removal treatment, providing gentle, non-invasive and long-lasting solutions to unwanted hair. Laser solutions provide safe, superior results and patient satisfaction.

Lasers are used to remove and reduce unwanted hair through a process called selective photothermolysis. The laser is pulsed or turned on for a millisecond, and emits a high energy flash of light that passes safely through the skin to the hair follicle. The follicle absorbs the light, and converts it into heat. This disables the follicle and impairs the hair's ability to grow.

During the treatment, a cool gel is applied to the area to be treated. The laser is placed next to your skin and the light pulses begin. The LightsheerTM laser system has a cooling tip on the application head to help reduce the surface temperature of your skin and to prevent thermal injury. It is also more comfortable and lets you undergo the treatment under less painful conditions.

The follicle is where hair originates - it is a cavity in the skin that holds and protects the active or living cells that become your hair. Because each hair follicle is independent of the others, each hair may be in a different stage of growth at any one time.

There are three phases of hair growth. The first is the anagen phase where the hair is in an active growth phase. The catagen or transition phase is next, where hair is no longer growing and part of the hair root is destroyed. In the last phase, the telogen or resting phase, the hair remains connected to the follicle, but doesn't grow. Old hair usually falls out near the end of the resting phase or is pushed out by the incoming hair starting a new cycle.

Lasers are only effective for hair removal during the active growth, or anagen, phase. This means that more than one session is usually required in order to get all the hairs not in the active growth stage at the time.

The results and effectiveness of this treatment do vary, especially depending on skin colour and colour of hair. In the early days of this treatment, lasers seemed to work best on those with dark hair and light skin. Now, new lasers are being created that can treat all six of the Fitzpatrick skin types. The LightSheerTM Laser product line is one group of laser products that can be used on most skin types. Generally, the darker your skin, the more difficult it is to get good results. More sessions are usually required.

Your Laser Hair Removal appointment will vary in time, depending on the number of treatment areas. If you have unwanted hair on your face and bikini area, a typical appointment will last less than 30 minutes. However, if you require treatment on larger areas, such as your legs or back, your appointment will take more time. For example, to receive this treatment on your back will typically take over 1 hour. Most areas require 4-6 treatments, but the number of treatments you may require for optimal long-term benefits depends on various factors such as your hair's thickness, the area treated, and your hair's growth cycle.

Many people do not consider this treatment painful, especially compared to many other hair removal techniques. The feeling is often described as a tingling or stinging sensation or like the snap of a rubber band. Some areas of your body are more sensitive than others and, if necessary, a topical anesthetic can be applied to lessen the discomfort. Almost any area of the body that has excess hair can be treated, including your face, arms, underarms, chest, back, bikini area and legs.

After the treatment, your skin might turn pink or red. Most people find that this sunburned-like effect subsides within a day or so. Many people return to work after having laser hair removal. Other cautions to be aware of include the use of Alpha Hydroxy Acids, glycolic acids and astringents. You must also avoid the sun for four to six weeks before and after the treatment and avoid plucking, bleaching and waxing hair for six weeks before the treatment. Shaving is acceptable.