Laser Hair Removal

In Denver, Colorado
The Art of Compassion    The Science of Beauty

Laser hair removal is an individualized procedure. We all have a different combination of skin color, hair color and hair quality. The first pre-requisite is having pigmented hair shafts, rather than very pale ones. Coarse, dark hair responds the most easily to laser removal.

To permanently remove hair, the hair follicle itself, from which the hair shaft grows, must be destroyed.

Who is a candidate?

You may be a candidate for laser hair removal if you have:

  • Hair that’s darker than your skin color, and
  • Preferably not reddish in color.

However, if you have

  • Tanned skin and dark hair, or
  • Very darkly pigmented skin,

you could get a laser hair removal treatment only from a highly specialized laser, such as our Sciton high-speed laser.

  • If you have tanned skin and fair hair, you would not be a candidate, unless you let the tan fade, and then you might be able to get a successful treatment from a highly specialized laser
  • Fair and reddish hair don’t absorb the laser light very easily, and therefore don’t respond well

Laser hair removal is much less expensive than electrolysis but does require several treatments. Any area of the body can be treated except close to the eyes.

Why must I have several treatments?

Hair growth goes in a cycle lasting 6 to 8 weeks. The cycle has 3 stages, only one of which is a growth stage (called the anagen stage). And all our hair are not in lockstep. So at any given time, only some hair are in the growth part of the cycle.

That means that a laser hair removal treatment only reaches those hair. So we have to return when other hair are in the growth stage, until all the hair has been treated.

Preparing for the procedure

  • Avoid any skin tanning
  • Leave a short stubble for the laser beam to work on; so don’t shave the area(s) for about 3 days before your treatment date
  • Don’t wax, tweeze or bleach the treatment area(s) for about 2 weeks before your treatment date

The procedure

  • No anesthetic needs to be used, as there’s only mild discomfort
  • To protect your eyes, you’ll be wearing goggles
  • It’s normal to notice an odor of singed hair
  • The treatment time depends on how big an area is treated, where on the body it is, and on the type of hair

Recovery

  • You may have some temporary redness and swelling, but usually there are no other after-effects.
  • After about 6 months of regularly spaced treatments, anywhere from 60% to 95% of hair will have been removed.
  • There may still be some regrowth, but it will probably be hair that’s finer and lighter in color

If you’re interested in learning more about eyelid surgery, cosmetic surgery, eyelid lift, facelift, eyelid tuck, necklift, puffy eyelid, brow lift, plastic surgery, blepharoplasty, or any other cosmetic surgery, in Denver or Boulder, Colorado, contact Dr. Fante for an initial consultation.