How does Laser Hair Hair Removal (LHR) work?

The LHR 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 hand piece, helps protect the skin by conductive cooling during the laser energy delivery.

What do LHR treatments feel like?

The LHR hand piece cools and soothes as it glides along your skin. When the pulse of light is delivered, some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required; however, some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated.

What happens after LHR treatment?

Following a LHR treatment, you can return to your normal activities right away, but the treated area may appear slightly red and swollen. Ice can soothe it quickly. The use of sunscreen is recommended on any treated areas exposed to the sun. In addition, your clinician may recommend that you use a specially formulated skin care product line or prescribe a skin care regimen especially formulated for your skin type. Three to seven days after treatment you may experience what seems to be regrowth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not regrowing. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hair, but it is permissible to shave.

What are the possible side effects of LHR?

Although patients experience few side effects with LHR, the most commonly noticed are: slight reddening local swelling of the skin, similar to a sunburn These effects typically last for several hours or less. In rare instances, blistering may occur. Please ask us at Newport Aesthetics for complete information on the benefits and risks of treatment.

What areas can be treated with LHR?

LHR can remove hair from all parts of the body including the face, legs, arms, underarms, and back. It can also treat sensitive areas like the chest, nipples, and bikini line. How many LHR treatments will I need? Most areas require 3-6 treatments. However, the number of LHR treatments required for optimal long-term benefits depends on multiple factors – hair thickness, the area treated and your hair’s growth cycle. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time and actually go through three distinct phases: growth (Anagen), regression (Catagen), and resting (Telogen). LHR works by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase (Anagen) at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area. After a hair follicle is destroyed, it take about 10-14 for it to go into the regression stage (Catagen) and then as the follicle falls out (Telogen phase), that can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks – hence the follow up time frame.

Does LHR work on tanned/different skin colors?

LHR 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 appropriate treatment parameters, however, people with all skin types can benefit from LHR.

How does LHR compare with other hair removal methods?

Shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams are all temporary methods that must be repeated on a frequent basis and none of those methods can successfully reduce ingrowns. By eliminating the hair follicle, LHR offers permanent hair reduction and treatment of ingrowns for lasting results. LHR provides enhanced comfort during treatment, minimal risk of infection, speed and accuracy and also minimizes skin irritation that other methods may create.

How does LHR compare with electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a tedious, invasive, and painful process that involves inserting a needle into each individual hair follicle and delivering an electrical charge to them one at a time. Electrolysis often requires years of treatments at regular intervals. Since LHR is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced. LHR is fast, allowing for larger areas to be treated and considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process. By delivering light energy to hundreds of hair follicles at a time, LHR effectively treats an area in just seconds that would take over an hour with electrolysis.

Why choose Newport Aesthetics’ LHR over other laser hair removal/reduction systems?

Using the latest technology in LHR, Newport Aesthetics offers the Cynosure ICON System for hair removal needs. Cynosure has designed a system from the ground up for hair removal, so they possess the wavelength, fluence, pulse width and active epidermal cooling system, ideally suited for LHR. Cleared for permanent hair reduction, Newport Aesthetics’ LHR system can treat men and women of all skin types and tones safely and effectively, even patients with a suntan. Our LHR system can rapidly address large areas without the limitations of older technologies and are adjustable enough to treat the fine hair on a woman’s upper lip just as easily and effectively as the coarse hair on a man’s back. The customized cooling feature increases patient comfort and minimizes the adverse skin reaction commonly seen with other lasers and the unique design and longer wavelength allows extremely effective, safe and permanent results.

Pre Treatment

No Accutane use for 6 months prior to treatment.
Do not tan the areas being treated for 4 weeks prior to treatment.
Do not use self-tanning products for 2 weeks prior to treatment.
Do not wax, pluck or have electrolysis 3 weeks prior to treatment.
Stop all Retin-A, Retinol, Renova, glycolics, bleaching creams and exfoliants 3 to 4 days prior to treatment.
Before every treatment shave the area being treated closely. If you are unable to shave the area yourself, please let us know when making your appointment so we can schedule your time accordingly.
Do not wear deodorant or makeup on area to be treated.
If you choose to apply a topical anesthetic, it must be applied 1 hour prior to treatment and covered with plastic wrap.

Post Treatment

You may have transient redness, swelling, itching and/or burning sensations for a few minutes up to 48 hours. You may apply aloe vera, hydrocortisone cream 1%, cold compresses or antibiotic cram if needed.
Avoid direct sunlight. Wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
Do not apply makeup to the treated area until all the redness has subsided.
Avoid soaking for 24 to 48 hours. No hot tubs, whirlpools or baths, but showers are okay.
Avoid excessive sweating for 24 to 48 hours. No saunas or vigorous working out.
Avoid irritants, such Retin-A, Retinol, Renova, glycolics, bleaching creams and exfoliants for one week.
Do not wax or pluck any hairs between treatment sessions. Shaving and trimming is okay.
Do not manipulate the skin on the treated areas. If crusting or scabbing develops, allow it to fall off on its own so not to damage the skin beneath.
After the treatment (up to 3 weeks) some hair may seem to be re-growing. This is usually the elimination of the hair that remained under the skin and is not true re-growth. You may exfoliate with a loofah sponge in the shower or with a soft washcloth or towel when you get out of the shower as long as your skin is not sore or irritated.

Follow Up

On average, most people will need 3 to 6 treatments spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart.
Avoid any tanning in between treatments as this increases your risk for burning during your treatment.