Frequently Asked Questions
Can anybody get laser hair removal?
Just about everybody is a candidate for laser hair removal at Laser for Less. Because we use both
Alexandrite and YAG lasers, we can treat just about any skin type, light, dark, or tan. However, the lighter the skin is, the more effective the laser hair removal will be, so it is best to try to keep the body area being treated out of the sun while you are getting treatments. People with a tan or darker skin types can also use a bleaching regimen 4-6 weeks before treatment to increase the effectiveness of the laser.
Certain medications and hormones may react with the laser, so if you are taking any photosensitive medications, you will want to give us a call to see if it may cause a reaction to the laser.
Because the laser is attracted to the
melanin in the hair shaft, the treated hair must have color in order for the follicle to be destroyed by the laser. This means that light blonde, white, or light reddish-blonde hair will not be affected. We will let you know if your hair can be treated during your free initial consultation. In addition, there are some products that are designed to add melanin to the roots of lighter hairs, and we have these products available for interested customers.
Because hormones are the main predictor of hair growth, it would not be a good idea for a pre-teen to be lasered until they are through puberty. Pregnant women should wait to start laser hair removal until after your little bundles of joy have arrived.
Does it hurt?
Laser for Less uses the Candela GentleMax™ and Candela GentleMini™ lasers. They are the most gentle lasers available for hair removal, due to their patented cooling devices. Many people describe the sensation as being similar to a quick rubber band snap. After the procedure patients may experience slight redness. This typically subsides within minutes to one day after treatment. Cool aloe vera gel or cold towels are also available to minimize redness. You will be fine to carry on with your day immediately after treatment. Our lasers have been described as being almost pain-free when compared to the discomfort of other hair removal lasers. The unique cryogen and high powered air-flow cooling systems markedly reduce discomfort and promise you won't leave with any tears in your eyes.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
The FDA has stated that our lasers are effective for "permanent hair reduction". Laser hair removal effectively eliminates most of the hair with color, and hair that is in an active growth phase. As mentioned above, light blonde hair and other hair that is nearly colorless will not be heated enough by the laser to destroy the follicle. At Laser for Less we schedule your appointments in a way that targets different hair follicles while they are active in the growth cycle. The average customer at Laser for Less feels that they have successfully finished their hair removal process after 6-8 treatments. However, clients treated with our YAG Laser may find that for comparable results 8-12 treatments may be needed. To see the effectiveness of our lasers, you can view some before and after photos.
What body areas can be treated?
Because of the safe cooling features of our lasers, just about any body area can be treated. This includes such sensitive areas as the lip, ears, nose, and groin area. The only areas that cannot be treated are those covered with a tattoo or permanent makeup, and the eyelid, due to sensitivity of the eyes to laser light. To view illustrations of our body and face areas that are included in the treatments, click here.
Is there a difference between laser and IPL?
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment, which is very common around the Phoenix Valley, is generally referred to as laser hair removal, even though it does not use a true laser. IPL machines have a shorter wavelength than most lasers and are not as effective at targeting deeper, thicker hair; they are more successful when used to remove fine, thin hairs with shallow roots. Although it is not the best machine for hair removal, several med-spas choose IPL's because they are very versitle and can do many other types of skin treatments that the med-spas offer. At Laser for Less, you are not going to be treated with a machine that is ok for hair removal, but great at doing photofacials or leg veins. Our goal is hair removal only and we use the best state-of-the-art technology available for hair removal.
How many laser treatments will I need?
To remove the hair, you will most likely need at least 6 treatments. This is because hair grows in cycles, and only the follicles that are in an active growth stage at the time of the treatment are eliminated. When the next stage of hair becomes active (about 4-8 weeks later), you will come on back into Laser for Less to zap those hairs while they are in their active growth stage. Sometimes it takes up to about 8 treatments (8-12 treatments with the YAG Laser) to get most of the hair, depending on your personal hair growth characteristics. Many factors such as hormones, age, ethnicity, weight, metabolism, and medication all influence the body's hair growth. So, because each person's skin and hair are different, results may differ from person to person. Because of this, we've decided that if you do need more than 6 full treatments to effectively get rid of your hair, we'll give you 50% off the rest of your treatments for that body area. Swell!
Is laser hair removal safe?
The FDA has approved our lasers for safe and effective hair removal, and the treatments are noninvasive and can be customized to each person's individual skin type, making it very safe for just about everybody. You may experience some redness or swelling, but this is temporary and does not cause pain. In addition, all of our Certified Medical Laser Technicians have completed an extensive laser training course that has been approved by the Arizona Radiation Regulatory Agency and is in compliance with Arizona State law. You're in good hands at Laser for Less!
