Laser hair removal is more effective than ever at freeing you from time-consuming plucking, waxing, and shaving. John Scaffidi, MD, FABOM, FACOG at Lehigh Valley Weight Loss, in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, uses their medical skill and training to deliver laser hair removal care you can rely on. Schedule your consultation by calling the office or booking a visit online today.
Shaving temporarily removes hair from the surface of your skin. Waxing or plucking literally pulls it out by the roots. These methods work but don’t provide long-lasting solutions since the follicle simply produces more hair.
During a laser treatment, Dr. Scaffidi runs a hand-held device over the surface of your skin. Pigment in the hair attracts light from the laser. The heat produced during this process travels down the hair shaft and into the growth centers of the follicle. This destroys the growing hair and damages the follicle enough that it stops producing hair.
Body areas that respond well to laser hair removal include:
It typically takes about a minute to treat the upper lip, while both legs may take 20-30 minutes.
More than one area can be treated during a session, and recovery time is minimal other than avoiding sun exposure or tanning beds for a couple of days.
You must shave the treatment area prior to your session but avoid plucking or waxing for up to six weeks before treatment.
Laser hair removal isn’t technically permanent since fine hairs may grow from the laser-treated follicle many months to years later. However, if regrowth does occur, the hair is typically quite fine and easily removed with a maintenance laser session.
The newest lasers are designed for patient comfort and safety. Some individuals report a snapping sensation, but it’s generally mild, likely less painful than waxing, and usually well tolerated.
Temperatures produced by the laser are regulated to protect surrounding skin and other soft tissue structures. It does, however, take training and expertise to operate a laser safely and effectively.
You need more than one laser treatment to effectively remove unwanted hair. Lasers remove hair that’s in the growth phase.
Only about 20% of your follicles are actively growing hair at any one time. The rest are either in a dormant or resting phase or are actively shedding their hair in preparation for new growth.
Call the office today to schedule your laser hair removal evaluation or request an appointment online.