Laser Hair Removal FAQs

Like many discoveries in science and medicine, the development of laser hair removal was an accident. A professor of medicine at Harvard University, when trying to treat another condition with a laser, noticed when patients returned for follow-up treatments, they had much less hair in the treatment area. After further research, he discovered that the light from the laser was being absorbed by the color in the hair, and that absorption was causing a significant amount of heat. That heat was being passed from the hair to the hair follicle, disabling or killing it. Like any good scientist, he found a use for this process, and in approximately 1997, the first lasers produced for the purpose of reducing hair hit the market.

Many, many different lasers and light based systems have been introduced since then, but they all work via the same principle. While the term “laser hair removal” is used most often to describe the process, many devices used today are not actual lasers, but intense pulsed light devices. They do the same thing, just with a different type of light.

Medalase utilizes the Alma Soprano, known for blending the proven technology of the diode laser (the first wavelength of laser to be approved to treat all skin colors, and still the gold standard to which the FDA compares all other hair removal devices) with the new concept of “in-motion” treatment. We truly believe that this is the best all-around hair removal laser in the marketplace today.

At Medalase, providing an effective treatment in a safe manner is our primary concern. Nobody wants to undergo a treatment if they don’t feel safe, and if it can’t deliver results. While the diode laser is the most successful laser in the history of laser hair removal and safely treats all skin colors, the Soprano takes safety one step further by utilizing a unique energy delivery system. Many lower power pulses are fired in rapid succession while the hand piece is “in motion”, allowing the delivered energy to be “summed”, building gradually in a way that allows the hair follicle to be heated high enough for results while giving the skin more time to cool, reducing the potential for side effects. As an added benefit of this delivery system, comfort for the patient is improved because there is no longer a necessity to use very high power, painful pulses of laser energy. While some people may still experience some discomfort, treatments are much easier than they were years ago. This prevents the cost and time associated with using a topical numbing cream, which for some people can translate to a savings of hundreds of dollars, and many hours of time.

During treatments, light energy targets is preferentially absorbed by melanin (the pigment). This is why hair needs to be dark to be treated. Hair that is blond, white, grey, and even red can not be treated successfully with a laser. As the light passes over an area, the melanin in both the skin and hair absorb the light, and convert that light into energy. The more melanin there is, the more heat is produced. Since dark hairs have a high concentration of melanin, a significant amount of heat is built up in the hair, This heat then radiates outward like a shockwave and heats the surrounding hair follicle, hopefully with enough energy to disable or destroy it.

Your hair passes through 3 stages of growth: active, transitional and dormant. At any given time, only a portion of the hair in an area will be in the active growth phase, which is generally considered to be the only time a hair follicle can be effected by laser hair removal. Because of this, and also because some people have more “hardy” hair follicles more capable of repairing the damage done by the laser, multiple treatments are required to achieve thorough reduction. Treatments will be scheduled at least six to ten weeks apart so that hair is allowed to move into the next phase of growth. This ensures that with each treatment, the maximum amount of hair is in the active growth phase, ultimately resulting in effective permanent hair reduction. It typically takes 5 to ten treatments to reduce most of the hair in any one area.

During the treatment, your Medalase Provider will press a crystal-tipped hand piece to your skin. This crystal window is chilled to minimize heat transfer into the surface of the skin to provide a safer, more comfortable treatment. You will feel the area being treated heat gradually, and in areas where hair is very thick or dense, you may feel a prickly or snapping sensation as well. After treatment, your skin may be red and warm for a short time, but this generally subsides very quickly.

It takes several treatments to provide an extended hair-free period. Most people begin to see significant changes after the second or third treatment, as the hair moves through its growth cycles. New hair growth from surviving hair follicles may be finer and lighter in color, making it less noticeable. Hair will also begin to grow back more slowly. There may be “bare” patches as some of the hair is disabled and stops growing back. If you shave daily, you may find that it becomes necessary to do so only every few days or every few weeks. Those that experience irritation from shaving or ingrown hairs may begin to see that problem disappear. As your treatments continue, you will usually continue to see better and better results.

Any area where there is excess hair, except ears and adjacent to the eye. The most common areas requested are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and legs.

We are the area’s premier provider of medical aesthetic treatments. Because we value the trust our patients place in us, Medalase treatments are always performed by highly-trained medical professionals—nurses, nurse practitioners, highly trained estheticians, physician assistants and physicians. Medalase’s training goes well beyond anything available through outside “certification” courses. In fact, our program is unparalleled in the medspa industry. We invest in full-time Clinical leadership responsible for developing protocols, training and reviewing our staff’s skills and compliance with best practices. The Clinical team is led by our Owner and Medical Director, a fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

Few things are as important as your health and safety. Any time you’re seeking a medical procedure, it is of great importance to select a provider focused on safety. Surprisingly, many providers don’t properly categorize or track their rate of adverse reactions and most will not openly discuss their safety record with prospective clients, or share the actual safety statistics. Additionally, you should ask how many treatments the provider has completed, as well as who’s performing these treatments (are they trained, professional medical staff or a laser tech?).

Beginning your Medalase treatments couldn’t be easier! Most consultations can be conducted via phone, and will include a comprehensive medical screening, as well as a thorough discussion of the Laser Hair Removal procedure. Based upon your skin tone and hair color, your Medalase Consultant will customize the package to your needs. When medically appropriate, an in-person consultation and/or test spot may be scheduled. All treatments are preceded by a thorough pre-treatment appointment where your full medical history, as well as informed consents and pre/post treatment instructions, are reviewed in-person.