Introduction
Men and women alike are plagued by coarse, dark, and unwanted excess facial and body hair that seems to grow back faster than it can be removed. Plucking, shaving, waxing, chemical depilatories, and electrolysis can be painful and messy. Except for electrolysis, all are only temporary. Now there’s an effective long-term solution – laser hair removal. After completing a series of laser hair removal treatments, you will have much less hair on the treatment site.
At our practice in Rhode Island, laser hair removal is performed with the Lumenis LightSheer® Laser, one of the safest and most successful lasers for this treatment. The LightSheer® Laser features a patented sapphire “ChillTip” handpiece that actively cools the skin before, during, and after treatment to minimize patient discomfort.
Lasers designed for hair removal emit near-infrared light that is preferentially absorbed by melanin, the pigment in hair follicles. The laser is pulsed for a fraction of a second to emit the laser light. When the melanin in the hair follicle absorbs the laser light, the pigment is vaporized, thereby damaging the hair shaft and follicle without damaging the surrounding skin. This damage eliminates or significantly impedes the hair’s ability for re-growth.
Laser hair removal is a safe, effective, and long-term way to control excess unwanted hair on the face or body. Electrolysis, which is also effective for long-term hair removal, is a slow and painful treatment that requires numerous sessions. In comparison, the lasers used in our office provide significantly greater comfort and reliability, and the average patient requires only 3 to 6 treatment sessions. We can treat large areas during a single visit, such as legs or the back. Additionally, there is only mild to moderate discomfort during laser hair removal treatments – much more comfortable than electrolysis. For larger treatment areas, we use a topical anesthesia cream to reduce discomfort.
We recommend that all patients undergoing laser hair removal commit to between 4 and 6 treatments to achieve the best possible results. The number of treatments needed depends on your skin color, hair color, the area you wish to treat, hair density, and hair growth cycle. Other factors, such as age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication, and metabolism, all play a part in your hair’s thickness and resilience, therefore playing a part in determining how many treatments you will need.
Immediately after the procedure, the treated area will appear slightly swollen and red, and will feel like a mild sunburn. This reaction will usually subside within a couple of hours or may take one to two days, depending on your skin type. Ice compresses and topical corticosteroid creams will help to alleviate these symptoms. We also recommend applying sunscreen to any treated areas exposed to the sun, as the skin is more sensitive to the sun’s rays after treatment. Most patients return to their normal activities right away after laser hair removal.
The two biggest factors in determining candidacy for laser hair removal are skin color and hair color. Patients with dark hair and light skin will benefit most from laser hair removal because their skin contains the least melanin, and the hair to be treated contains the most. This combination allows the laser light to be absorbed by the hair follicle to the greatest extent, therefore producing the best results.
Other factors, such as sun exposure and a history of scarring, also play a role in determining whether laser hair removal is right for you. It is important to discuss your health history with Dr. Yoash Enzer and his staff before the procedure to ensure an optimal outcome.
The standard areas on the face that can be treated are the upper lip, chin, between the eyebrows, and sideburn area. Standard areas on the body, such as the underarms, bikini line, thighs, lower legs, and back, can also be treated. Our staff can also put together a customized plan for non-standard treatment areas if there is an area not listed that you would like to have considered for treatment.
The cost of laser hair removal in Rhode Island varies by treatment area. Since this is a personalized procedure, the cost is dependent on the desired goal. During your consultation, the highly-trained team at Enzer & Associates will meet with you, answer your questions, and provide you with all associated costs.
Dr. Yoash Enzer was born in New York City and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University and his medical degree with honors in 1986 from the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine. Dr. Enzer then trained in Internal Medicine and Ophthalmology at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. From 1991 to 1992, he received fellowship training in Oculofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UCLA’s prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute.
Schedule a consultation
Enzer & Associates is widely considered by their patients to offer the best laser hair removal in Rhode Island. If you have questions, please feel free to contact our office to schedule your consultation. We look forward to meeting you!
