FAQ

If you have laser hair removal on the legs or larger areas, such as the back, the results last about 2 years. You usually will need maintenance treatments, for example, to keep the legs smooth and hair-free. If you have a much smaller area treated, the results may be more permanent, and, in some instances, you can remain hair-free forever.

The cost of the treatment depends on the area being treated and where you live. Prices can range from $400-$1000 per area, depending on what site is being treated and the average pricing in your demographic area. Most clinics or practitioners base the price on the size of the treatment area. Also, some clinics or dermatological facilities offer bundles or special treatment prices to help patients save on the cost of the procedure.

According to statistics, 3 laser hair removal treatments are less than one-third the price paid for waxing over a period of 30 years

We use the standard of care which is a 810 nm diode-based system.

An ablative laser removes the think epidermal or outer layer of skin while heating the secondary or dermal layer. In turn, the process stimulates the growth of collagen. As the outer layer, or epidermis, heals, it starts to look tighter and smoother. Types of ablative lasers include the CO2 laser, the erbium laser, or a combination to these two therapies. Because the skin must heal after the laser is used, an ablative laser is known as a “wounding” laser.

A non-ablative laser stimulates the growth a collagen, but does not wound the skin. This type of laser is less invasive than an ablative laser and therefore requires less recovery time. Because this technology is gentler, it is also less effective than a non-ablative laser. Non-ablative skin resurfacing is often performed using yellow laser, picosecond laser or IPL.

Both non-ablative and ablative therapies can be delivered with a fractional laser – a laser that leaves microscopic columns of untreated tissue. As a result, a fractional laser, when used, shortens recovery times and reduces the risk of side effects.

Laser resurfacing can be used to reduce or eliminate the appearance of facial lines and treat dull skin or skin that displays sun damage or scars. However, you cannot use laser resurfacing to eliminate sagging skin. Usually, a cosmetic surgeon or another skin care professional will recommend a face lift if a patient has noticeable sagging.

The side effects from ablative and non-ablative treatments differ and therefore can result in separate and varying reactions. For example, side effects from using an ablative laser may include the following:

• Swelling, itching, and redness may be experienced. Sometimes the redness may last several months.
• Milia, or tiny white bumps, may appear on the skin if you apply a thick cream after treatment. If you have acne, the condition can worsen.
• Ablative procedures may trigger bacterial or viral infections, such as a flare-up of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) – or a strain of the virus that produces cold sores.
• Changes in skin color can result from ablative resurfacing, which causes the treated area to darken (hyperpigmentation) or lighten (hypopigmentation). Permanent changes in skin color are more likely to occur to people with darker skin.
• In rare instances, ablative skin resurfacing may lead to permanent scarring.
• In some very rare instances, ablative therapy, when performed close to the lower eyelid, can lead to the condition of ectropion – causing the eyelid to turn out and expose the eye’s inner surface.

Because non-ablative laser treatments are less aggressive, the side effects, when they happen, are less severe. Following are some of the major side effects.

• Like ablative laser resurfacing, non-ablative therapy can cause a flare-up of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), or cause cold sores to emerge.
• Hyperpigmentation may result from non-ablative laser treatments.
• Patients experience mild redness and swelling, which lasts a few hours to a couple days.