SICK OF SHAVING?
Tired of having to deal with unwanted hair, ingrown hairs, and red bumps? Laser hair removal might be the answer for you! Here at Wisconsin Vein Center & Medispa, we use Alma’s Soprano 810-nm diode laser (the gold standard in laser hair removal) to provide comfortable treatment with little to no irritation, effective permanent reduction of hair, and minimal risk of side effects. The reason our Soprano laser stands out when compared to laser hair modalities used at other facilities, is that it uses ‘In-Motion technology’. ‘In-Motion technology’ refers to the ability for the treatment to be done in a continuous motion compared to individual pulses. This makes the treatment much more comfortable and we are able to treat larger surface areas in half of the time. Laser hair removal treatments are customized according to skin color, hair texture, and the area treated, so we encourage you to come in for a complimentary consultation to get started and get your specific questions answered!
SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE LIKE TO TELL OUR CLIENTS BEFOREHAND?
Well, before you come in for your first treatment, it is important that the area has not been shaved for one day and has not been waxed, plucked, or tweezed 4-6 weeks prior to treatment. You should also avoid tanning and using bronzing lotions for a couple of weeks as well. The actual time of the treatment ranges anywhere from five minutes (for a small area such as the upper lip) to close to an hour (for a larger area such as the legs). A lot of people that come in are afraid that the treatment is going to be very painful, however, most people tolerate the treatments well and describe the sensation as a rubber band snap to the skin. Most people do not require a topical anesthesia, though it is an option for more sensitive areas.
WHAT IS A DIODE LASER?
The diode laser works by emitting light that passes through the skin and is absorbed by the melanin (or pigment) in the hair shaft. The absorbed light raises the temperature of the hair follicle and the heat destroys the cells responsible for regrowth. Because follicles must be in the growth phase before they can be treated and all follicles go through different periods of dormancy and growth, treatments must be repeated until all hair follicles have passed through the growing phase. Typically five to six treatments per area are needed for achieving optimal results and these treatments are spaced six to eight weeks apart.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?
Following treatment, there may be some redness in the area and the treated area will shed some hairs over the next two to three weeks. Each treatment will result in less hair coming back, as well as hair growing progressively lighter, finer, and slower growing, until optimal hair reduction is achieved. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to other common laser hair removal questions.
So the next time that you are shaving or waxing and wondering, “Why am I doing this again?”, remember that there is a better solution! Call us today and be on your way to being hair free!
Dr. Deborah Manjoney is a board-certified surgeon and physician with extensive training, including cardiothoracic surgery. She founded the Wisconsin Vein Center & MediSpa in 2002, where she specializes in vein treatments and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures. Dr. Manjoney is nationally recognized, having spoken at conferences, received awards, and contributed to medical publications.