How does the Laser remove hair?

The laser works by a principle called Selective Photothermolysis. The laser is pulsed (turned on) for a millisecond emitting a gentle beam of light on to the skin. The light energy passes harmlessly through the skin, but is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft. By absorbing this laser energy, the hair follicles are disabled, impairing their ability to grow. The laser is effective on hair follicles in the active or “anagen” growth phase.

What is the active growth phase?

The active growth phase is or Anagen cycle is part of the complete growth cycle. The AGP is when the hair is actively growing and contains bulge (link) and papilla (link) not present during any other growth phase. It is in this phase that the laser is most effective during treatment, therefore it is important to remain within your prescribed treatment schedule

What is a hair follicle?

The hair follicle is the complete hair structure which includes the bulge, papilla and hair shaft. This is the area beneath the skin which the lasers energy is focused on in order to achieve hair reduction and removal.

What is the difference between laser and electrolysis?

Laser hair removal is non-invasive, nothing pierces the skin during the course of treatment. Unlike electrolysis where the hair has to be visible in order for the technician to perform the treatment, Laser Hair removal does not require hair growth above the skin surface The efficiency of the laser permits us to treat an entire body area unlike electrolysis, which treats a single hair at a time. This means the treatments with Sedona MedSpa are much shorter less frequent and more comfortable. One of the most exciting benefits is that in between treatments you will experience long periods of being virtually hair free!

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. 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 treatment consultant and nurse will discuss this before laser treatment. Depending on the size or number of areas treated, the time will vary in length from minutes to an hour or more. 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 should I expect?

Around 3-10 days after treatment hairs will begin to surface. Most of these hairs were treated and are "falling out" it is not re-growth. The hair follicles need to purge the hairs that remained under the skin. Please refrain from waxing, plucking, or bleaching between treatments, you may however shave the treated area after.

Is it safe?

Yes. The laser was developed from years of research. The laser parameters were carefully defined to inhibit re-growth by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and matching the laser light and pulse duration to the follicle size, depth, and location to safely and effectively remove hair.

Will laser hair removal hurt?

It is very difficult to describe what the treatment feels like because everybody is different! Clients who have waxed in the past feel that their laser treatment was much more comfortable. For those clients who may feel sensitivity to the treatment, we offer a topical anesthetic which helps to decrease the any sensitivity or discomfort.

Can the doctor prescribe pain medications for me?

No. Unfortunately the doctor cannot prescribe pain medication for you. We do have a topical anesthetic available if you feel that you may need it. After your first treatment you may observe less sensitivity that originally anticipated.

May I use my own topical anesthetic?

Yes you may request that your personal physician prescribe a topical anesthetic. We will need to know the ingredients of the topical anesthetic and we would prefer that the client bring in the prescription so that the nurse can check the ingredients.

Who performs the treatment? May I have a doctor perform the treatment?

It is not necessary for a doctor to perform the treatments. Laser hair removal is a very simple and non-invasive procedure. Sedona MedSpa chooses to have licensed nurses perform their treatments rather than technicians or aestheticians to achieve the highest level of patient safety and treatment efficacy. All our licensed nurses are highly trained and supervised by our medical director.

Will shaving make the hair grow back thicker and darker?

This is a common misconception. Shaving does not disrupt the hair at the follicle level and therefore will not change the texture or color of the hair. Sometimes the angle at which the razor cuts the hair can make the hair appear somewhat coarser. Remember that you will experience long periods of being virtually hair free and each treatment there will be progressively less hair for you to be concerned about.

What is the possibility of burning?

Rest assured every precaution is taken to avoid any adverse effects. Your visit will begin with you filling out a  health history that will list any medications that you may be taking and any prior medical history to allow our nurses to treat you effectively and safely.

What is the difference between pulsed light and lasers?

Pulsed light is not considered laser. While it may be effective and can be used in other services, it is our belief that laser treatment for hair removal is more successful. Sedona MedSpa uses the Candela family of lasers, all of which are state of the art and FDA approved for permanent hair reduction.