Body · Men
Laser Hair Removal
Beverly Hills
How does laser hair removal work, and how many sessions does it take?
Laser hair removal works by selective photothermolysis: the laser pulses for a millisecond, and the light passes harmlessly through the skin before being absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and shaft. That absorbed energy disables the follicle and impairs its ability to grow hair. Because the laser only affects follicles in their active growth phase, most patients need 5 to 6 treatments spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart to reach 90 to 95% hair reduction in an area.
The Laser Hair Removal system (Soprano Ice™) works by a principle called Selective Photothermolysis. The laser is pulsed (turned on) for a millisecond emitting a beam of light on to the skin. The light energy passes harmlessly through the skin, but is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft. By absorbing this laser energy, the hair follicles are disabled, impairing their ability to grow. The laser is only effective on hair follicles in the active growth phase (anagen), eliminating undesired hair from all parts of the body. Because of this, patients usually require about 5-6 treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart to successfully treat an area with 90-95% hair reduction. Laser therapy leaves your skin looking and feeling softer and smoother.
What areas can be treated?
Laser Hair Removal can remove hair from all parts of the body including the face, legs, arms, armpits, and back. It can also treat sensitive areas like the chest, nipples, and bikini area.
What to expect?
The Soprano Ice™ hand piece cools and soothes as it glides along your skin. When the pulse of light is delivered, some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required; however, some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated.
What can I expect after my treatment?
Following the treatment, you can return to your normal activities right away, but the treated area may appear a bit red and swollen. The use of sunscreen is recommended on any treated areas exposed to the sun to prevent pigment changes. 3-7 days after the treatment you may experience what seems to be a re-growth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not re-growing. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hair, but shaving is allowed.
How many treatments will I need?
Most areas require 5-6 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. However, the number of laser hair removal treatments required for optimal long-term benefits depends on multiple factors – hair thickness, the area treated, and your hair’s growth cycle. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time and actually go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. Laser hair removal works by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area.
Does Laser Hair Removal work on all skin colors/tones?
The Soprano Ice™ Laser Hair Removal System safely and effectively treats ALL skin types (Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI). For darker skin types, the appropriate energy applied is generally lower and appropriate pulse widths are generally longer to prevent damage to the epidermis. Using the appropriate treatment parameters, patients with all skin types can benefit from Laser Hair Removal. All of our ROXSpa practioners are fully trained to treat all skin types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Laser hair removal can remove hair from all parts of the body, including the face, legs, arms, armpits and back. It can also treat more sensitive areas such as the chest, nipples and bikini area.
The Soprano Ice handpiece cools and soothes the skin as it glides across it. When the pulse of light is delivered, some patients feel a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required, though some patients prefer a topical anesthetic on sensitive areas.
You can return to your normal activities right away, although the treated area may look slightly red and swollen. We recommend sunscreen on any treated area exposed to the sun to prevent pigment changes.
Three to seven days after treatment you may notice what looks like regrowth. Most of those hairs are actually being shed as a result of the treatment rather than growing back.
No. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck, because the laser needs the hair follicle intact to work. Shaving is allowed.
The number of sessions needed depends on hair thickness, the area treated and your hair growth cycle. Not all hairs grow at the same time — each follicle moves through growth, regression and resting phases, and the laser only disables hair that is in the active growth phase.