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NuU Medspa
Arrowhead Towne Center
7700 West Arrowhead Towne Center
Space # 2025
Glendale, AZ 85308
888.281.1417

Chicago Laser Hair Removal & Phoenix Laser Hair Removal – What to Expect "Before & After"

In Chicago and other cities, laser hair removal has become one of the best choices to remove unwanted hair for both women and men. Once at the medspa you should be given a free consultation to determine your skin type and to see if you’ll be a good candidate for laser hair removal. In Chicago or anywhere else make sure the technician answers all of your questions and you feel comfortable with how a treatment would be carried out. Some spas will give you a demonstration to see how you’re skin will react to the treatments. Will there be any pain? Well, every person has a different pain threshold so that is a very relative question. Most people say that it feels like a small rubber-band snapping on the skin. Of course some say the pain is uncomfortable while a lot of others say it was hardly noticeable.

How does laser hair removal work? Let’s find out…

The 3 hair growth cycles are:

1. Anagen: The Active Growth Cycle - This is where the hair is actively growing and thriving
2. Catagen: The Transitional Cycle -
This cycle is where the hair stops growing and the follicle starts to shut down the process
3. Telogen: The Rest Cycle - This last cycle is where the hair basically sits in the skin and is free to fall out

How does Laser Hair Removal Work?

In our hair removal centers in Chicago and Phoenix we utilize a high energy, narrowly focused laser beam that is directed at the (Catagen) growing hair to damage its follicle. Treatments are between 4-6 weeks apart to make sure the maximum hair is removed during the three growth cycles. The frequency of treatments will involve many factors; color of hair, hormonal medications, dormant hairs and more. With each treatment, the hair will grow back slower and finer until the hair follicle produces no or very little hair. Safety goggles are always worn by the patients and medical aestheticians for optimal safety.

Is This Painful?

Everyone’s pain threshold is different so it’s very hard to give a definitive answer. But, generally with hair removal you get the same feeling as if waxing but a little different. Most of our customers say it feels like a quick snap of a rubber band. As there is very little discomfort, there is usually no need for any type of anesthetic. But, if you are very sensitive, a topical anesthetic can be applied (Only for small area treatments).

Is Hair Removal For Me?

Whether you’re a woman sick of shaving her legs and underarms everyday because of “Razor Rash” or a man that dreams of less hair on his chest and/or back for the summer – laser hair removal is for you!

1. What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is the process of damaging the hair follicle at its base so hair no longer grows. Even though lasers have been around for a long time, the newest technology allows it's use to removal hair. These newer lasers use a long pulsed light which is calibrated to exactly match the laser light and duration of the pulse to the hair follicle. Utilizing the Fitzpatrick Skin Typing the correct laser type will be used for maximum results.
A technician trained and certified in laser procedures or a doctor will perform you treatments. They use a hand-held device which is passed over the area for hair removal. The pulsed laser light will target the melanin in the hair follicle and destroy it with its heat. Only hair in the growth cycle will be destroyed even thought the other hairs are effected. You may need multiple treatment session to get all the hair follicles as all your hair grows at different time intervals.

2. Am I a Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal in Chicago or Phoenix?

The best way to answer this is to have a consultation with a hair removal medspa. They will interview you and give you a Fitzpatrick Skin Typing questionnaire. Once this is complete the technician or doctor will be able to give you a more definitive answer. Your skin type will fall into 1 of 6 categories. All 6 can be treated but some skin and hair types are more receptive to the treatments.
Lighter skin with dark coarse hair are the best candidates and have better results. The Alexxandrite and Diode laser are better suited to lighter skinned patients. The Nd:YAG laser, which is a longer pulsed laser, is best suited for darker skinned patients. This works better because the skin will not absorb as much of the light energy (heat). More of that energy will be directed at the dark pigment (melanin) of the hair follicle, thus destroying the growing hair.
Make sure that the your hair removal specialist in Chicago or Phoenix have your safety as their main priority! They should cover safety precautions for you, how they will use the laser to treat you, determine what your skin type is and more.

3. Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent or Not?

The general consensus is that laser hair removal is permanent. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved laser hair removal, not only in Chicago and Phoenix but other cities, as "permanent reduction". This is because it's not permanent in ALL cases and all skin types. What does this mean? It means that laser hair removal will not remove every single hair in the treated area. Some people will need touch-up sessions 1 or 2 times a year to stay hair free. If any of the hairs come back they may be too fine for laser treatments to be effective. In this case you may need electrolysis for total removal in that area.
There are also some people who just will not respond to the hair removal treatments. They are called "non-responders". There is not much known about this rare happening. Some think it can be due to a medical condition where hair growth is just continual. Some believe it is caused by an improper treatment application. But basically there is not enough scientific data to prove exactly why some are non-responders.
Usually a series of treatments are needed for best results. This can range from 6-8 (but can be more or less) depending on the individual. What can effect the length of treatments? There are numerous reasons such as the area being treated, hair texture, and history of your hair removal attempts (shaving, waxing, depilatories...).
Electrolysis is the only process that's permanent. It's been in use for over 100 years but requires that each and every hair follicle to be treated. This requires a huge time commitment and there is quit a lot of pain involved. Each hair is targeted with an electric shock to kill the hair follicle. Sometimes this is the only option for fine and very fine hair removal as the lasers can not target such small areas.

4. Laser Hair Removal... How Does it Work?

Laser hair removal is based on the principle of Selective Photothermolysis (SPTL). What is that? Let's break it down... "Selective"- means Targeted, "Photo"- means Light, "Thermo"- means Heat and "lysis"- means to Destroy... putting it all together... Generally this means that Selective Photothermolysis is the process of precisely targeting tissue or structure using a light at a specific wavelength which will be absorbed by the targeted tissue or structure. This absorbed light (energy) will heat the target and destroy it while not affecting the surrounding areas (skin in this case).
Lasers for hair removal are calibrated to target the dark pigment (melanin) of the hair follicle. When the laser is passed over the treatment area it is attacking the follicles melanin, super heating it so it gets destroyed. Since it is targeting the darkest area, it should not effect the surrounding skin. That is why lighter skin and darker hair patients have the best results. But, the latest lasers have been developed to help patients with dark hair and dark skin.
Hair removal lasers have been built with varying energy wavelengths from visible light to near-infrared radiation. They are usually classified (defined) by the type of medium they use to create the specific wavelength. This is measured in Nanometers (nm). There are basically 5 lasers that are or have been used. Two are no longer used as the technology has progressed.
- Argon: 488 to 514.5nm (Not used any more)
- Ruby: 694 nm (rarely used and only on people with very pale skin)
- Pulsed Diode Array: 810nm (used mainly on light to medium skin)
- Nd:YAG: 1064nm (used on darker skin... the YAG is able to treat all 6 skin types)
The pulse width is another important factor... Some published studies have shown that the longer pulse width is safer for darker skin but the short ones seem to be more effective for hair removal. There are other factors that the technician should know about such as Spot size (width of the laser beam), Fluence (energy level of the laser), Repetition Rate (the number of pulses shot at the target with specific delay between pulses) and Epidermal Cooling (which allow for higher Fluence or energy to be used) which will reduce pain and side effects.

5. What Should I Expect Before and After Treatments?

You will want to shave the area to be treated 1-3 days before you see the technician. Some spas will offer to shave for you but there can be some irritation due to the razor selected. Do not have waxing, sugaring or any other method used which will remove the hair at the root 4-6 weeks prior to your laser hair removal treatment or during you hair removal treatment sessions. The root is needed for the laser to target. The closer the shave the better the laser can focus its energy at the targeted hair follicle. This helps to eliminate laser energy being sent to parts of the hair above the surface of the skin. If you can't see where the hair was after shaving you may want to let it grow just a little bit before your treatment that way the technician can see where to pass the laser during the session.
After your treatment you will want to apply aloe vera to your skin that was treated for a few days afterward. This helps to soothe the skin where the treatment occurred. You should start to see shedding of hair between 2-4 weeks. As the hair is shed it might look like it's growing back but its just being pushed up through the skin to be shed. You can exfoliate or use a loofa to help in the shedding process. After the shedding period you might experience light black dots. Those are usually treated hairs that haven't come through the skin yet; they are called "Pepper spots". Exfoliating can help the process along.
Once the shedding has completed you should have a hair-free period. As the other hair start in their growth phase, you will see hair coming back in the treated area. This is normal as all hair grows at different times and can only be treated during the growth cycle. Your treatments will usually occur every 6-10 weeks. As you see hair coming back in and there is enough to justify a treatment make your appointment. This will continue until the laser can no longer be effective. This is usually due to the fact that the hair either is not there or is to fine for the laser to work. If shedding does not occur at all, you should contact your spa and/or technician to determine why. Just make sure you've waited at least 4 weeks as it can take longer for some people.

6. How Much Pain is Involved?

This is a relative question as all people have different pain thresholds. What most customers say is that it's like having a small rubber band snapped on the skin. If you are very sensitive and the pain is not tolerable, there are topical anesthetic creams that can be used. Speak with your technician or doctor and they can help with suggestions. Topical anesthetics should only be used on small areas like the upper lip, underarms and bikini area. If the anesthetic is used on larger areas there can be adverse effects or even death. Make sure you consult with your technician or doctor if your not sure or not comfortable.

7. What Side Effects Might There Be?

Like any medical procedure, there is a possibility for side effects or complication to occur. While medical spas do all they can to reduce or eliminate side effect some are listed here:

Normal:
- Redness can last up to 3 day
- Itching can occur during and after the treatments
- Swelling around the hair follicle and can last up to 3 days
- Slight pain and maybe tingling... feelings of numbness if a cold spray or anesthetic was used

Rare:
- Scabs or crusting might form after the treatment... this is usually on in-grown hairs
- Bruising
- Tanned areas my experience Purpura (a purple coloring of the skin)
- Infection
- A temporary pigment change (hypo-pigmentation or hyper-pigmentation)

Usually these side effects rarely occur and are usually just temporary. If any of these last more than 3 days make sure you contact your technician as he/she may have a mis-setting on the equipment and they need to know so adjustments can be made for your future treatments.

8. Possible Causes for Excessive Hair Growth? Can it Effect My Treatments?

What are some possible causes for excessive hair growth? Can it affect my treatments?

* Pregnancy
* Reactions to medications and/or prescriptions one may be taking
* The natural aging process one undergoes
* Different heredity traits that may be passed on to an individual
* Using waxing, creams, depilatories and tweezing excessively as a temporary solution
* Imbalances in hormones or issues with glands
* Diseases which cause an excessive growth of hair

There could be many reasons that a person experiences excessive hair growth and those reasons should be fully investigate with a medical professional before you schedule laser hair removal treatments. Due to the excessive growth, it may seem that your laser hair removal treatments are not very effective. That is why it's important to understand that your body may be producing excessive hair and thus actually growing hair abnormally where the laser treatment was successful. Once a condition is determined and controlled via medication or doctor recommended treatments, one can pursue a laser hair removal regiment.

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