Laser Hair Removal

The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates deeply into skin tissue, where it delivers a controlled amount of targeted therapeutic heat. Candela’s patented Dynamic Cooling Device™(DCD™) technology protects the upper layers of your skin with a cooling burst of cryogen. Together, the long-pulse laser and DCD cooling offer optimal treatment with minimal side effects.

Treatment will take place in your office. You will wear safety eyewear to protect your eyes from the laser light. Your practitioner will guide the laser to the treatment areas with a small handpiece. Each laser pulse may be preceded and followed by a short pulse of cooling spray. A treatment could take as little as a few minutes to as long as an hour, depending on the area and condition being treated.

Some patients may feel a slight discomfort with each laser pulse, sometimes described as the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. This discomfort resolves quickly and is minimized by Candela’s DCD cooling.

The number of sessions depends on the treatment you require and the condition of your skin. For hair removal, multiple treatments are required, as the process is most effective when the hair follicle is in its active growth phase.

Patients scheduled for hair removal should avoid tweezing, electrolysis, hair waxing as well as bleaching for 1 to 2 weeks prior to treatment. Also, your skin should be clean-shaven, and your skin should be thoroughly cleansed and dried, removing any makeup, creams, oils, topical anesthetics, or self-tanning products before laser treatment. The intended treatment area should not be sunburnt or exposed to or tanning booth light for 7 days prior to treatment.

A cool compress or gel pack may be applied for comfort following your treatment. Any redness or swelling should resolve within a few hours.

After laser treatment, prevent sun exposure by applying sunblock (SPF 30 or above). In the first few days after treatment, don’t scrub or rinse the treated areas with abrasive skin cleansers. Your practitioner may advise additional precautions.

Your risks are minimal. Side effects may include redness, swelling, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, blistering, and purpura (a laser bruise) in the treated area these usually do not last more than a few days. Permanent side effects are rare. Be sure to discuss potential side effects with your practitioner.

Insurance companies do not cover this type of cosmetic procedure.