Laser Hair Reduction

Complimentary Consultation

What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal offers patients a safe, fast, and effective alternative for dealing with unwanted hair.  Lasers work by emitting a specialized light that is passed through the skin and preferentially absorbed by its target, be it an unwanted blood vessel, birthmark, tattoo, or in this case, hair.  The laser used in hair removal targets the melanin (color) in the hair follicle, damaging the follicle and removing the hair.

Is it safe?
Laser hair removal is very safe when done by a highly trained technician and with a top-of-the-line laser.  Our lasers are provided through physician clinics only and our treatments are physician supervised.  Laser hair removal is safe enough to be used on all body parts, including the face, back, chest, underarms, bikini, legs, and arms.

Can tanned skin be treated?

We recommend that you inform your physician or technician if you have been tanning or exposed to the sun within the last four weeks.  Although we can treat tanned skin, we need to be aware and will adjust the settings accordingly.  it is preferential to not have recent sun exposure for the optimal treatment.

What type of laser hair removal do you use?

We use our Alexandrite laser for fair skin types and our Nd:Yag laser for darker skin types and for tanned skin.  We will choose the laser that is best suited to your skin type and your hair type.

What type of hair does it work on best?

Laser hair removal works best on darker hair or hair that has some colour. It does not work on blond, white or light hairs.  It needs to target melanin (the colour) in the hair.  The root is targeted so dying the hair will not help to treat blond or white hairs.  It is easier to treat course hair but we can also effectively treat fine hairs too.

How long does the treatment take?

It depends on the area being treated. Smaller areas such as upper lip and underarms take about 5 minutes. Larger areas such as full legs, back or chest may take an hour or more. 

How many treatments do I need and how often?

Most clients need about 6 to 8 treatments.  Each treatment is spaced about 6 weeks apart on the body area and about 4 weeks apart on the facial areas.

Will I be completely hair free?

No, you will not be 100% hair free. The hairs that are remaining will likely be lighter and finer and may not bother you. Everyone responds differently.  Rarely, some people may not respond to laser removal treatments.

Are the results permanent?

Yes.  The results you achieve at the end of your series is permanent.  Hair grows back in between the treatments as you are doing your series and there is approximately 20% reduction with each treatment.  Only the hair that is in the active growth phase is permanently removed each treatment which is about 20% of the hair.  That is why only 20% is reduced each time and you need several treatments.  The 80% of the hair that is not actively growing at that time is dead or dormant and will regrow until it is treated in subsequent treatments.  We time your next treatment so that we can capture the next active growth phase.

If you go through hormonal changes, eg. menopause, some new hair may grow so you may need touch up treatments periodically after your series is completed.  We don't often treat clients before puberty due to the hormonal changes expected and the much higher possibility of hair regrowth.

What are the side effects?

After the treatment you may have some redness and swelling lasting for a couple of days.  Perifollicular edema (tiny bumps at the site of the hair follicles) may develop and last one to two days.  You may develop some temporary hyperpigmentation. You may develop some blisters, this is rare.  Burns to the skin are also rare but the risk increases if there is a recent tan or if the skin is a darker colour.  Please inform your technician if you have a recent tan (ie. in the past four weeks).  If you have a darker skin type, it may be required to do a test patch prior to your treatment. We recommend not exercising for 24 to 48 hours after treatment to reduce the risk of over-heating the recently treated area. 

Does it hurt?

Pain tolerance is very variable and that is a fact.  Some people find it uncomfortable and so it may be recommended to take a couple of tylenols half an hour before the procedure.  It hurts more in areas where the hair is thicker and denser such as the bikini area.  Most find that the treatment is tolerable but definitely not pleasant.  Of special note, we have extremely caring clinicians whose expertise and professionalism help to make your experience a more comfortable one.  Special numbing creams are available if needed. 

Can I still wax in-between sessions?

No, not for four weeks before each treatment.  The laser has to target the root of the hair to work so you cannot pull out the root prior to the treatment so don't wax or pluck.  You can still shave.  You can use Nair or similar products but stop that a few days before the treatment. 

How much does the procedure cost?

Each area is priced differently and our pricing is extremely competitive.  We also have packages available.  We would be pleased to discuss our new lower pricing during the complimentary consultation.

Call us at (416) 920-9998 to book a complimentary consultation.