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Q: How does the LightSheer™ Diode Laser System work?

A: The system emits near-infrared laser light that is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or turned on, for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to damage the follicle, while the system's unique, patented contact-cooling handpiece, the ChillTip TM , helps protect the skin by conductive cooling during the laser energy delivery.

Q: Why should I use the LightSheer Diode Laser System rather than the methods I've been using for years?

A: The LightSheer Diode Laser System's design provides for enhanced comfort during treatment, minimal risk of infection, speed and accuracy. Since the system uses a unique cooling handpiece, it minimizes skin irritation that other methods may create. Since it is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced. Because the system is fast, it allows for larger areas to be treated, considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process, which allows more patients to be treated during a typical day. Finally, the LightSheer Diode Laser is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to damage only the hair follicle while minimally affecting the surrounding skin.

Q: Does the LightSheer work on tanned or different skin colors?

A: The LightSheer diode laser system safely and effectively treats all skin types (Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI) as well as tanned skin. For darker skin types and people with tans, appropriate fluences are generally lower and appropriate pulse widths are generally longer to prevent damage to the epidermis. Using the correct treatment parameters, people with all skin types can benefit from laser hair removal with the LightSheer.

Q: How does hair grow?

A: Hairs develop from a complex series of interactions between different skin elements. Hair growth is divided into three distinct phases - growth (anagen), regression (catagen) and a resting state (telogen). The location on the body determines what percentage of the hairs present are actively growing at a given time. Typically, anywhere from 33 - 90 percent of the hair on the body is in the anagen stage at a given time.

Q: What affects the appearance of body hair?

A: Body hair is affected by numerous factors including body location, age, hormone levels, ethnicity and medication use. These factors influence the color, length and coarseness of body hair as well as the actual number of hairs in the active growth phase.

Q: What other options exist for hair removal?

A: Shaving doesn't affect the coarseness, thickness, growth rate or cycle of the shaved hair. However, it is a temporary solution, and requires a constant commitment to maintaining a hair-free appearance.

Tweezing

Painful and time consuming, tweezing is impractical for large areas.

Waxing

This procedure can cover a large area at one time and results may last for 4 to 6 weeks. Waxing is also painful and can often cause allergic reactions and inflammation of the hair follicle.

Electrolysis

This involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Expertly used, it can be successful in eliminating hair permanently. Electrolysis only destroys one hair follicle at a time, it is a tedious, time-consuming process that can go on for years. Risks of electrolysis include scarring and infection.

Q: Why use the LightSheer over other laser systems?

A: Simply put, we believe this is absolutely the best laser currently available for permanent removal of hair in men and women of all skin types. We have selected this laser because of it's proven and unmatched clinical track record in laser hair removal. The long wavelength of this system allows darker-skinned patients to be treated with less risk. This laser has been approved by the FDA for permanent reduction of hair in the treated areas, a claim that virtually no laser hair removal system can make.

Q: Is the laser safe?

A: Yes, the LightSheer System was developed from years of research at Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world's leading and most respected medical research institutions. The laser parameters were carefully defined to inhibit the re-growth of the hair by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser output to the size, depth and location of hair follicles. A unique component of the LightSheer system, the Chill Tip™ actively cooled handpiece was designed to conduct heat away from the skin before, during and after each pulse.

Q: Is it painful?

A: You may feel a tingling or stinging sensation during treatment. Most patients tolerate this very well without the need for anesthetic. Certain areas on the body are more sensitive to the laser and a topical anesthetic can be applied to these regions to decrease the discomfort even further.

Q: How many treatments are required?

A: The LightSheer laser works by disrupting hairs that are in the active phase of growth at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments will be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually given at intervals of approximately 4-6 weeks, or whenever new hair growth is first noticed. Many patients are completely satisfied with their results after only one or two treatments, while others will need four or five treatments for maximum removal of all hair.

Q: Are the results permanent?

A: We are very happy to announce that the FDA has recently authorized users of the Coherent LightSheer system to use the word "PERMANENT" as it pertains to the amount of hair loss in treated areas. This decision was not made lightly, and only after years of reviewing statistical scientific data on the results obtained with the LightSheer system. This is a claim very few other lasers in the world are allowed to use regarding hair removal.

Q: What happens after treatment?

A: Within several minutes, the treated area may become slightly red and puffy. This reaction subsides quickly, and within a day or so the areas return to normal. Patients often describe the sensation of a mild sunburn for the first day or so. Since the LightSheer laser does not cut the skin, bandages are not necessary and most people return to normal activity immediately. You should not, however, plan any important social engagements during the first several days after your treatment, especially if the treated areas are on the face. Your doctor may prescribe a mild topical steroid cream to apply to the treated areas for two to three days following treatment. Around 3-10 days after treatment you may experience what seems to be hairs re-growing. Most of these hairs, however, are dead, treated hairs that are being shed and are not regrowing. In between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hairs because this decreases the ability of the laser to destroy actively growing hairs.

Q: Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal?

A: The perfect candidate has dark hair and light to medium skin tone. Darker hair absorbs more of the laser light. And lighter skin interferes less with the movement of the laser light into the hair follicle. Dark or tan skin runs a higher risk of pigmentation changes following the procedure. The unique longer wavelength of this laser allows darker-skinned patients to be treated. White hairs and light blond hairs respond least to the laser therapy.

Q: What special instructions are necessary after treatment?

• Do not apply any products on the treated areas of your skin, except sunscreen if you will be outside. Avoid Retin-A, alpha-hydroxy acids, glycolic acids, astringents etc. You may wash gently with soap and water, but do not rub or scrub the area. Your doctor may prescribe a topical steroid cream to apply to the treatment area. Please use this medicine only as directed.
• Do not expose treatment areas to direct sunlight. Do not use tanning beds at any time during your treatment intervals with this laser. Wear a sunscreen daily if the areas to be treated will be exposed to sunlight.
• Three to seven days after treatment some of the hairs may seem to be re-growing. This occurs due to elimination of the hair that remained under the skin and is not true growth of the hair.
• Do not wax or pluck any hairs between treatment sessions.
• Do not pick or manipulate the skin in the treatment areas.

Q: Why are there some unhappy patients: 

• The patient has systemic condition(s) that contributes to the production of new hair as fast as the laser eliminates existing hair. 
• The patient did not do their "homework" and made a poor choice regarding practitioner or laser (technology).
• The patient did not adhere to the recommended treatment schedule, yet they expect miracles when their actions (or lack thereof) destroyed everything in the chain of success (including the best equipment and a skilled laser tech). Successful laser hair removal involves more than submitting yourself to a series of treatments.
• The patient has been tanning prior to treatment.
• Lack of commitment.  While one patient can achieve superior results in four treatments the next patient may require nine treatments.  Permanent hair removal is not an exact science because the RESULTS depends on what cycle the hair is in genetically at the time of treatment.  Every person produces hairs in different cycles at different times.  It truly is a numbers process, but it sure does feel great to be basically hair free.

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