Laser Hair Removal for Face & Body Philadelphia

Laser hair treatment works by gently heating the dermis to a temperature that damages the hair follicle and hair bulb which prevents re-growth, yet does not injure the surrounding skin.

The hair removal process method uses a laser that produces a beam of light energy. This energy  targets pigments in the hair to reach the hair follicle. 

Treatment requires two essential things to work. The first is that the  hair must be in the Anagen phase of the hair growth cycle.  

The Anagen phase is the active growth phase. This is the only phase where removal is effective. Only15-20% of hair is actively growing during an Anagen growth phase, hence the reason why multiple treatments are necessary for it to be effective for removing hair for long-term results.

Secondly, The hair acts as a conduit, driving the heat to the hair follicle , thus the second key element in the procedure is pigment . The laser targets pigments in the hair, therefore the darker the hair , the better the absorption of the laser energy, which will produce a better rate of hair loss.

Men and women with ALL skin types, including darker ethnic skin tones such as Asian, Latin, African American or Black Skin and mixed race skin tones can safely and effectively be treated  for hair removal treatment by either of the removal technologies at MaxAesthetics.

The Soprano XL diode and The Coolglide Yag laser are excellent choices of effective and safe laser hair removal for all skin types ranging from Caucasian skin types 1 to darker skin types 6.

Grey, or very light colored hair however, cannot be treated with laser hair removal, as there is not enough pigment or melanin in the follicle for the laser to target. 

How many treatments are required? 

Because the laser affects hair follicles only when they are in the growth phase, 6 to 8 treatments may be necessary to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter the growth phase. Treatments are administered between 4 to 6 weeks intervals. Some patients may require additional treatments due to genetic factors, hormonal imbalances and skin type.

Patients may enjoy a permanent reduction in unwanted hair and smooth, soft skin after laser hair removal treatments. However in some instances, some patients, perhaps due to genetic factors, hormones and the like may require touch-up removal treatment sessions, they are typically necessary only once or twice a year . However, most patients experience long-lasting, beautiful results.

The Yag System is a 1064 nm laser technology that allows constant cooling of the skin in order to provide comfort and prevent burning. The Yag technology was one the first lasers to be used safely on darker skin tones for hair removal and is still one of the best choice for darker skin today. 

You may experience a warm pinch-like sensationnalong with cooling.

The area of treatment should be clean shaven the day of or day before treatment to insure a more comfortable experience. Waxing and depilatories should be avoided 2-4 weeks before laser treatment and afterwards.

You will not need to shave or wax as the Laser will slow hair growth.

For underarm treatment, Anti-perspirant should be avoided for 24 hours after the treatment.

Laser body hair removal , for example,  Legs, Back Or Chest is usually a more involved procedure than laser facial hair removal due to the larger surface area. It may take several laser treatments for effective body hair removal. Not all hairs grow at the same rate; some hairs are in a resting cycle while others are growing.  The length of time for an individual laser treatment varies. Generally, the larger the body surface area, the more time the laser hair removal treatment will take.

The price of treatment may vary depending on the individual practice, their location and the technology being used. As  with all modern technology, you are paying for the technology.

Packages of 6 treatments are generally what is needed to see results, though additional treatments may be needed depending on your race, ethnicity and genetics.

Cutera was the among first laser manufacturer to develop a high-powered Nd:YAG laser for hair removal to enable laser spas and clinics to offer hair removal to darker skin clients.

 “The 1064 nm Yag Laser wavelength goes deeper into the skin compared to other shorter wavelegths, thereby successfully bypassing the pigmentation or melanin present in the skin. Because the 1064  YAG Laser treament basically bypasses the melanin in your skin, it’s the safest option for medium to dark skin types.

In addition to bypassing the epidermis the 1064 nm Nd:YAG  has superior contact cooling which ensures the top layer of the skin stays cool which protects the skin from burning and allows us to comfortably remove unwanted hair on brown and darker skin types .

The combination of these two factors  allows MaxAesthetics Laser Technicians  and providers to offer the most advanced and safest  hair removal available for darker skin tones such as skin types 4, 5 and 6.

 There is no evidence that hair removal causes cancer. This treatment utilizes a laser beam or light pulse to destroy the hair shaft to inhibit future hair growth.  

Laser therapy uses non-ionising radiation in the form of a concentrated light source that produces a very fine laser beam. In the case of laser hair removal, the laser beam is used to kill hair follicles (cells from where hair grows), resulting in the loss of hair growth from those follicles. Laser therapy does not use the same ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths as those found in sunlight (i.e. UVA and UVB), which are known to damage the DNA in cells and cause skin cancer.

In addition to hair removal, laser therapy is used for: other cosmetic procedures from tattoo removal and dental procedures to treat varicose veins , skin and eye surgery and to remove kidney stones. 

Ingrown hair occurs when a shaved, waxed or tweezed hair grows back into the skin, causing inflammation and irritation.  Ingrown hair can affect anyone with tightly coiled hair who shaves, tweezes, waxes or uses electrolysis for hair removal.

Laser therapy is the best way to eliminate and prevent ingrown hair. This treatment is highly effective because the laser energy targets the root of the hair and destroys the follicle and its ability to regrow hair.

There are 3 gold standard laser wavelengths used for hair removal:

755 nm Alexandrite laser

805 nm or 810 nm Diode laser

1064 nm Nd:Yag laser

755 nm Alexandrite

Has very high absorption of melanin meaning it is not good for skin types 4, 5, and 6. But, it is most appropriate for skin types 1, 2, and 3 and is an extremely effective laser wavelength for hair removal.

805 nm or 810 nm Diode

Has a medium absorption of melanin and a nice safety profile for all skin types. This laser wavelength has a slightly lower absorption of melanin compared to a 755 nm Alexandrite which makes it safer on darker skin tones. Typically, to effectively target hair on darker skin with a diode laser, the laser energy will need to be turned down thereby causing a less effective treatment. When treating individuals with darker skin types using diode laser,  patients will typically need a greater number of treatments due to lower energy treatments to maintain a safe treatment. 

1064 nm Nd:Yag

Compared to the other wavelengths the 1064 nm Nd:Yag laser or also called a Yag is the safest laser wavelength for dark skin and is considered the gold standard wavelength for skin types 4, 5, and 6. The laser is effective on all skin types but not preferable for skin types 1, 2, and 3. 

At MaxAesthetics , We utilize a Gold standard American Made Cutera EXcel HR Laser Machine which has both the Alexandrite 755 nm best for skin types 1, 2 , 3 and the 1064 Yag laser which is best for skin types 4, 5 and 6.

A few different side effects can appear after laser hair removal. Most side effects are minor and temporary.

Laser treatment uses heat that damages the follicles of the targeted hairs. The body reacts to this, by becoming red and irritated in the affected areas. The skin may tingle or feel tender, and may even appear to swell slightly.

The symptoms are usually short-lived. The affected area may look similar to skin that has just been waxed or plucked. 

Irritation should ease usually within a few hours of the treatment up to 72 hours. Swelling and redness may respond well to ice packs or a cool bath.

Some people may experience skin crusting in the affected area. This is typically a minor issue but can be inconvenient.

A more intense side effect can sometimes  crusting, scabbing that may require care similar to a swelling   by using an anti-inflammatory hydrocotisone cream or gel to minimize this effect

Rare side effects:

Less common side effects following laser hair removal can include the following:

There is a risk of burns and blisters.

When a qualified practitioner carries out the process, however, burns and blisters are rare.

Laser therapy uses high-heat to destroy hair follicles, so there is always a minor chance of minor burns and blisters.

A practitioner may apply a cooling device to a person’s skin just before the laser is used or during the treatment. This helps to prevent the laser from burning the skin.

MaxAesthetics uses Cutera Excel HR Laser which has a built in safety cooling within the handpiece to prevent  burning of the skin.

There are a variety of hair types, which varies by density, thickness and level of pigment /melanin. The type of hair you have will effect the course of your hair removal treatment.

Fine — Fine hair has the smallest diameter of the three hair types, which means the individual strands of hair are the thinnest. Fine hair generally means less of a contrast with the skin, making it more difficult for the laser energy to be absorbed.

Medium — Medium hair has a larger diameter than fine hair, allowing it to better absorb  laser energy. Medium hair also tends to have more pigment per strand, thereby allowing better heating of the follicles.

Coarse — Coarse hair has the largest diameter of the three hair types, which means the hair is thickest and easiest to target. Coarse hair also generally has the most pigment per strand, making it very easy to to absorb laser energy for better follice damage which resuts in better hair removal result. 

As with any skin that has Melanin and is easy to Hyperpigment, The ND Yag 1064 nm laser technology has been and continues to be the safest Laser Technology for Asian skin types.

 This laser penetrates deeper into the skin , heating mainly melanin in the hairs and not the pigment in the skin. 

This is vital for Asian skin as it allows the laser to miss the melanin in the skin, and by only hitting the hair follicle, any trauma to the skin is avoided. The Nd:Yag laser for Asian hair also works great on thicker hair follicles which tends to be the case with Asian hair types.

The most common benefits of laser treatment at MaxAesthetics are :

• Virtually Pain Free hair removal with Cutera Excel HR.
• Fast  and Comfortable Service 
•  Skin for all Ethnic skin types 
• No More shaving and waxing
• Flawless Smooth Skin
• Eliminate Ingrown Hairs
• Eliminate bumpy stawberry appearance skin

The recommended minimum age to begin laser hair removal is 14 years or older .

Teenage Females should be hormonally stable and should not have medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) that is not under control or being monitored by your Physician.

At MaxAesthetics , we recommend 15 years of age.

Teenagers under age 18 require the presence of a parent on the first consultation and a written consent from a parent or guardian, the risks of laser hair removal for them are the same as for an adult – and with the right laser and the teenager adhering to a good aftercare regimen, the benefits are awesome.