| Laser Hair Removal |
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How laser treatments work: By targeting the pigment in the hair, the laser damages/destroys the hair follicle, preventing hair regrowth. Each pulse of the laser works on many hairs at once.
Expected results:
Most people experience a permanent reduction of hair. A small amount of regrowth of fine hair can be expected. Laser treatments will also greatly reduce ingrown hairs and improve smoothness of the skin.
Amount of treatments needed:
Because of the hair growth cycles, a series of 6-10 treatments is usually needed to achieve optimal results.
Frequency of treatments:
Most areas require treatments every 4-6 weeks and some areas are best between 6-8 weeks.
Comfort during treatments:
Depending on each person's pain tolerance, most find treatments very managable.
Skin irritation after treatment:
Usually the skin will have a very mild redness lasting a couple of hours or less. Very heavy growth areas could have redness/irritation/scaling up to a few days.
Time needed for each treatment:
For smaller areas like the underarms or chins, treatments take about 15 minutes. For larger areas like the back, treatments can take longer.
Contraindications for treatment:
Sun Exposure and/or tanning beds do not mix with laser treatments! Treatments cannot be performed on pregnant women or anyone taking Accutane. Some other medical conditions and/or treatments may also be contraindicated. The laser targets pigment, so treatments are not effective on white, blond or gray hair. The hair must contain some color (pigment) to attract the laser.
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The most valuable lock of hair was taken from Elvis Presley. It was sold by his personal barber for $115,120 to an anonymous buyer during an online auction on the 15th of November 2002. |
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Rejuvenation
Nd:YAG |
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The Short-pulsed YAG 1064 nm laser penetrates relatively deeply - all the way to the lower dermis. As a result, it is effective in treating larger and deeper telangiectatic vessels (spider veins) compared to the shorter wavelength lasers. It is also effective in treating rosacea and facial flushing, especially the cases where deep dermal capillaries play a major role (such cases may be resistant to shorter wavelength lasers). Also, since this laser penetrates throughout the dermis (the layer of skin where wrinkles reside) it is useful for treating fine wrinkles and depressed scars. Similarly to a number of other directed energy treatments, it triggers new collagen formation by producing controlled heat-damage in the dermis
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Vein Therapy |
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Laser can safely & effectively treat both superficial face veins and some deeper blue and purple leg veins on clients with any skin tone. Laser has been shown to be effective in treating superficial vascular lesions (e.g., rosacea telangiectasia, and port wine stains). The laser delivers pulses of light energy which cause the blood within the vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessel which is later reabsorbed by your body. The discomfort is managable and you can resume most routine activities immediately. Three to six treatments are usually needed.
Do the treatments hurt?
Most patients experience a stinging sensation as the pulses of energy are delivered through the hand piece. Following treatment, pain is minimal to nonexistent.
What happens after treatment?
Following treatment, some redness or in other cases, bruising may occur. When larger veins are treated, a tan or browninsh pigment may persist for a few weeks or months following treatment.
What are possible side effects?
Few, if any, side effects are reported. Those most commonly noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin. These effects typically last for less than 24 hours. Some may experience brusing, in some instances blistering may occur.
What can I do after treatment?You can generally resume most normal activites after treatment. It is recommended to avoid strenuous activities such as exercise for 24 hours after treatment. Sunscreen use is advised .
What results can I expect?
Most find that the majority of the treated veins show improvement within 2 to 6 weeks of treatment. Final results may not be apparent for several months. Over time, new veins may appear, but they canbe treated. |
Worry and stress affect circulation, heart, glands, whole nervous system, and profoundly affects heart action.
-Charles W. Mayo.
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Understanding tattoos Tattoos are created by embedding ink (colored pigments) in cells in the dermis, the layer of skin below the top layer of skin. In the past, if you had a tattoo, you had it for life. Then along came dermabrasion, cryosurgery, and other techniques, and tattoos could be removed, but they left a burn-like scar or a visible white, unpigmented area. Laser removal is another option.
Understanding laser treatment A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colors of light. The color of light produced by a particular laser is the key to the laser's effect on tattoo ink. Particular colors of light are absorbed by specific colors of tattoo ink; for example, green light is absorbed by red ink. The laser's light energy vaporizes or fragments the targeted ink. The body then absorbs the tiny particles of ink, and the color fades.
What kinds of tattoos can be treated? A tattoo's color, depth, and the chemical composition of the ink all affect how it responds to laser light. Black, red, dark orange and dark blue tattoos will usually respond relatively quickly. However, green, purple, brown, light orange, and light blue colors may require more treatments. In general, most tattoos can be successfully treated, given a sufficient number of treatments.
Does it Hurt? When the laser pulse is triggered, it may cause various degrees of discomfort. Some describe the sensations as a stinging while others liken it to a rubber band snap. A burning sensation may last up to an hour after treatment. Most are able to tolerate the discomfort, but some may require a topical anesthetic. In preparation for a laser procedure you may wish to take non-aspirin products, like Tylenol. Aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as Ibuprofen can produce pronounced bruising after treatment. Further pre-treatment steps might include the application of a prescription anesthetic cream two hours before the laser session. It is wiped off just before laser treatment begins.
What happens after treatment? Immediately after laser exposure, the treated areas may become whitish-colored, a crust may form and the area may swell slightly. The swelling may last longer, but can be reduced by cooling the skin with an ice pack. The area will heal in 5 – 10 days. The pulses of light from the laser are directed onto the tattoo, breaking up the pigment. Over the next few weeks, the body's scavenger cells remove pigment residues. The tattoo or pigmented lesion will fade over the next few weeks.
How long does it take? Depending on the size and location of the tattoo or lesion, each treatment usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes. Some faint tattoos and pigmented lesions will fade completely after only one treatment, though most may require six to eight treatments or more. Treatments are spaced six to eight weeks apart to give your body sufficient time to fully eliminate loosened particles of ink or pigment.
What happens after treatment and are there any side effects? When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and confined to the treatment target. Following treatment, there will be application of an antibacterial ointment and dressing to the area, which should be kept clean with continued application of ointment. Improper care of the site could lead to long term textural changes in the skin. A shower or bath the day after treatment is okay, but the treatment area should not be scrubbed. Your skin might feel slightly sunburned for a couple of days and the treated area may remain red for a few weeks. The site might also form a scab, which should be handled gently. After healing, the sites will gradually and continually fade.
Side effects of laser procedures may include hyper-pigmentation, or an abundance of color in the skin at the treatment site, and hypo pigmentation, where the treated area lacks normal skin color. Changes in pigment usually fade in 3-6 months, but in some cases, can be permanent. Other possible side effects include infection of the site, lack of complete pigment removal and a chance of permanent scarring, such as enlarged hypertropic scar or in very rare cases, abnormal, large keloid scars. This happens mainly in those predisposed to these scars.
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