Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons of Northeastern PA
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons of Northeastern PA
241 Northern Boulevard
Clarks Summit, PA 18411
(570) 586-5000
Unwanted hair is a problem shared by both men and women. In many cases the condition runs in families. Race can also be a factor — whites are more prone to having excess facial hair than are Asians and blacks. Some people experience unwanted or excess hair from the time they reach puberty; others find it to be a condition that gets worse with age. Some women experience additional hair growth during pregnancy or menopause. Women who experience sudden hair growth should consult with their physicians, as this may be a sign of other medical conditions.
Hair does not come in any one size or type. Follicles in different parts of the body produce differing types of hair. Hair can grow in thick, bushy patches or in long thin strands. In addition, hair is produced in follicles that can be found at different depths and densities — as close to the skin's surface as a millimeter or as deep as five millimeters or more. Until recently, this great variety in hair types and body locations made long-lasting hair removal a significant challenge.
Understanding Hair Removal
In the past, the usual remedies for unwanted hair were plucking, shaving, waxing or chemical depilatories. Some are painful, some are messy, and all are only temporary. For long term hair removal, electrolysis is popular and effective, but can be painful and slow. Hair by hair, an electric current passes through a needle to destroy the hair root’s ability to grow. It typically takes months or even years of regular visits – even for small areas, like the upper lip. Risks include electrical shock, infection, pitting or scarring.
Now, there is a more effective solution, the LightSheer Diode Laser. LightSheer is a state-of-the-art system specially designed to remove unwanted hair faster, less painfully and more reliably than electrolysis. Depending on your needs, most body areas can be treated with the LightSheer Diode Laser.
Understanding Laser Treatment
The laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. The pigment in the hair follicle absorbs the light emitted by the LightSheer Diode Laser. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment, disabling several follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair’s regrowth.
What You Can Expect
The laser session may last from only a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, more than one treatment may be required to disable hair follicles.
The laser treatment itself can cause a slight tingling sensation. For more sensitive areas of the body, topical anesthesia is available.
We will be happy to tell you more about your treatment and what you can expect during your consultation.
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