You may be familiar with the basics of laser hair removal—we point a laser at your skin, and the hair falls out, right? But that basic understanding doesn’t answer some essential-yet-common questions like “how long does it last?”, “Is it painful?”, etc.
At Vive Aesthetics & Wellness, we do more than just cover the basics. Here, we’ll explain everything you should know about laser hair removal near Moorestown, NJ, and how our team makes laser hair removal a comfortable and personalized process.
What It Is & How It Works
Laser hair removal is an aesthetic treatment that removes unwanted hair from certain areas of the body, including legs, back, arms, face, and the bikini area. It converts laser light energy into heat, targets the hair follicle, and damages it. This causes the entire hair to fall out, and the follicle will grow a new hair that is lighter and thinner than before.
The light kills the follicle by targeting the melanin in the hair. Melanin is a natural substance in your body that creates the color in your skin, eyes, and hair. There are 4 stages of a hair’s life cycle, and each one produces different levels of melanin, making treatment more or less effective.
1) Anagen (The Growing Phase)
The length of the anagen phase is different for each type of hair. For example, the anagen phase for leg hair is only 4 to 8 weeks, whereas for head hair, it can last 2 to 8 years. This is the phase when your body actively makes and pushes out hair from your skin, which can then be cut or removed. At any given time, about 85% to 90% of the hair on your body is in the anagen phase.
The anagen phase is when your hair follicle has the most melanin. Since the follicle is building new hair, it produces plenty of melanin to add color to your hair, making it perfect for laser hair removal in Moorestown, NJ.
2) Catagen (The Transition Phase)
The catagen phase is when the growth of the hair follicle slows down; the hairs themselves actually shrink as it transitions from the growth phase to the resting phase, which takes about 2 weeks. During this period, melanin production decreases, making any laser hair removal treatment less effective.
3) Telogen (The Resting Phase)
The telogen phase lasts about 2 to 3 months, during which time your hair completely stops growing and simply rests in the pore. At this point, the hair has detached from the follicle, and while it rests, the follicle starts to produce new hair. However, since the hair appearing on the surface of your skin is not connected to the follicle, laser hair removal will not have any effect on the follicle itself. It will simply remove the already detached hair.
4) Exogen (The Shedding Phase)
Sometimes overlapping the transition phase, Exogen is when the hair finally falls out on its own. As the new hair continues to push upwards, the old hair naturally falls out, being aided by washing and brushing. It’s normal to shed anywhere between 50 and 100 hairs a day during the Exogen phase.
The Risk of Melanin and Laser Light
Laser hair removal has been popular in treating unwanted hair for many years, but older lasers were only able to treat those with fair skin and darker hair—essentially, those with plenty of melanin in their hair and very little melanin in their skin.
Those with more melanin in their skin (darker skin tones) would risk having the melanin in their skin removed along with melanin in their hair, creating pigmentation concerns. Those with lighter hair have very little melanin in their hair follicles, meaning that the laser doesn’t “see” their hair, and can’t effectively target it.
Thankfully, recent advancements in aesthetic technology mean we can provide effective treatment to all our patients. At Vive Aesthetics & Wellness, we use Candela’s GentleMax Pro Plus to deliver laser hair removal in Moorestown, NJ. This laser uses two different wavelengths of light to target all skin tones and various hair colors and types. By using the latest technology, the GentleMax Pro Plus delivers high-quality results with a treatment that prioritizes comfort.
The Technology
The Candela GentleMax Pro Plus does more than laser hair removal. While our team uses it for just laser hair removal, it can also help improve skin concerns like wrinkles, scars, and other texture issues. While some lasers are considered “versatile,” Candela is one of the very few that delivers optimal care for laser hair removal and skin rejuvenation.
Efficient Care
For over two decades, Candela has focused on improving energy and time efficiency, and the GentleMax Pro Plus exemplifies these advancements. This includes faster repetition rates for higher throughput.
Prioritizes Comfort
As the leader for laser treatments in the aesthetic world, the Candela’s GentleMax Pro Plus
prioritizes comfort. That means it has technological advancements to treat larger areas in less time, including DCD cooling technology for optimal epidermal protection.
Advanced Technology
This revolutionary laser uses some of the most advanced technology a laser has. Its intuitive controls, preset parameters, and seamless navigation make the device easy to use for providers, so they can focus on delivering the highest quality of care.
The Laser Hair Removal Process
We customize our care to each individual patient, but here are the general steps you can expect when it comes to receiving laser hair removal in Moorestown, NJ.
Consultation
Your first appointment with our team will be an initial consultation with one of our expert providers. They’ll sit and listen to your concerns and your goals, and then talk with you about your treatment options. Together, you’ll create a personalized care plan that fits your needs.
Treatment
During your first appointment, your provider will first cleanse the treatment area to remove any oil or sweat from your skin. This ensures your laser hair removal session is extremely effective.
Then, your provider will use the handheld laser device to administer treatment, making sure to move evenly across your skin. The laser hair removal device prioritizes comfort, so you should not need any topical numbing treatment. Once your appointment is over, your provider will help you schedule the follow-up laser sessions. Multiple sessions are required to achieve long-lasting results.
Results
Once your full treatment series is complete, you and your provider will look over your results and determine if you need more treatment sessions. Laser hair removal does not offer permanent results, but significantly reduces hair growth long-term.
Hormonal changes, medical conditions, medications, and other factors can cause the follicles to start growing hair again. If this occurs after you’ve completed your full treatment series of laser hair removal in Moorestown, NJ, we can always schedule maintenance sessions to stop the growth again. Our typical treatment series of laser hair removal is at least 6 sessions spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, but it does vary from patient to patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that you may still have a few questions about laser hair removal, but we’re here to give you all the information you need to make an educated decision about your care. Below are the most common questions we answer for patients about laser hair removal.
What does laser hair removal feel like?
Laser hair removal technology is designed with comfort in mind. Most patients describe the sensation as a quick snap or a mild stinging, similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin. If pain or discomfort is a concern, your provider can discuss ways to enhance your comfort during the treatment.
How often will laser hair removal sessions be?
We typically schedule laser hair removal sessions 4 to 6 weeks apart. Maintaining this schedule is essential to effectively target hair follicles during their growth stages. Once your first session is complete, it will take about 4 to 6 weeks for the follicle to start producing new hair, entering the growth stage.
This is the ideal time to target the hair with laser hair removal in Moorestown, NJ. By scheduling your appointments during this time frame, we can deliver effective treatment with long-lasting results.
How much does laser hair removal cost?
The cost of laser hair removal is based on how many sessions you need, how many areas you are addressing, and how large those areas are. The best way to get an accurate cost is to schedule a consultation with one of our providers, who will assess your individual needs and provide you with a price that fits you.
It’s Your Time To Shine
You can easily achieve smooth, hair-free skin with laser hair removal in Moorestown, NJ. Start improving your confidence by using our complimentary treatment planning tool or booking an appointment with one of our expert providers today.
Our experienced team members at Vive Aesthetics & Wellness will make sure you have all the knowledge, tools, and resources to make an educated decision about your beauty and wellness, and help you create a plan that is just right for you.
