Laser hair removal destroys hair bulbs by photothermolysis, without anesthesia.
An average of 5 to 10 sessions, spaced 6 to 10 weeks apart depending on the area, are required to achieve the desired result. The duration of a laser hair removal session varies according to the area, and several areas may be treated in a single session.
During a preliminary interview, all explanations are given, an estimate is drawn up and a test carried out.
Our practitioners have been specialists in laser hair removal since 1997.
What you need to know
As the laser is attracted by pigment, it is not very effective on gray, blond and red hairs, which are poorly pigmented, and totally ineffective on white hairs. For darker skin types (phototype 5 & 6 (black skin)), the melanin in the skin competes with the melanin in the hair, and the risks to the skin mean that treatment is not recommended.
Clinique du Lac uses several types of laser. Depending on the patient, some lasers are more appropriate than others, and the parameters must be perfectly mastered. We offer alexandrite and diode lasers, which are more active on fair skin, as well as Nd-YAG lasers for treating pigmented skin.
Precautions and contraindications
Please note: During a preliminary interview, all explanations are given, an estimate is drawn up and before any treatment session, a test is obligatory, at least 48 hours beforehand.
- Depending on your phototype, you'll need to wait a variable amount of time after your last exposure to the sun or in a tanning salon before you can begin treatments. Your skin must be as light as possible, as the laser cannot distinguish between the melanin in tanned skin and that in hair. Self-tanning creams are not recommended.
- Certain medications (anti-epileptics, antibiotics, etc.) can increase the skin's sensitivity to lasers, and cause burns at doses that are usually trivial. If you are taking any medication, please report it. Photosensitizing acne medications such as Roaccutane ® may react to laser exposure. You should therefore stop taking these medications for 1 to 2 years (depending on the duration of your treatment) before starting laser hair removal.
- Herpes simplex is stimulated by heat.
- As a general rule, we do not depilate pregnant or breast-feeding women.
- As a general rule, laser hair removal should be avoided in men who are too young, and in areas where hair growth is in progress.
Treatment and results
Except in special cases, between 6 and 8 sessions are required. It's during the hair's growth phase (anagen) that melanin levels are at their highest, making it possible to destroy it. Since not all hairs are in this phase at the same time, several sessions are necessary. Certain areas, such as the chin, often require annual maintenance. Patient satisfaction is considered excellent. After several sessions, this method delivers truly lasting, even definitive, results. However, there are exceptions, unfortunately unpredictable and difficult to quantify and anticipate.
After-session care
Treatment is generally well tolerated. Side effects are almost non-existent or minor at best. After the session, the appearance of the treated area varies from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the procedure and the type of skin. Redness and slight edema around each follicle are clinically desirable results, indicating that the follicle has reacted to the treatment. A "sunburn-like" sensation of warmth may also be observed. These phenomena last from a few minutes to a few hours. A soothing cream can be applied after the treatment.
