Laser Hair Removal in Kelowna, BC

By: Dr. Craig Crippen @ DermMedica

Laser Hair Removal is a treatment that uses a special laser to stop unwanted / excess hair growth.

How Does Laser Hair Removal in Work?

Lasers used for hair removal heat the targeted hair follicles, permanently damaging them so the hair will not grow back again. This in a nutshell is how they work.  It is considerably more complicated than that if you get into technical explanations but for simplicity sake, we are basically stopping the hair from re-growing by permanently damaging it's root.  Laser Hair Removal in Kelowna works best for patients with light skin and darker hair, and works significantly less well for patients with dark skin and red, blond, or grey/white hair.  There are NO lasers today that can reduce or eliminated white, grey or red hairs contrary to what some advertisements may state.

The difference in effectiveness between patients is the result of how hair colour influences the absorption of the laser heat energy. Dark hair absorbs the most heat energy, just like a black coloured car sitting in the sunshine.  This high level absorption of energy allows for the greatest and most successful damage to the targeted follicle. In contrast, lighter hair absorbs less energy, resulting in less permanent damage done to the hair. Skin color is another very important aspect of the treatment process with laser hair removal. If a patient has darker skin, the skin will absorb a large amount of the heat energy, detracting from the effectiveness of the laser hair treatment. As a result of such color influence, patients with fair skin and dark hair are considered the most preferable for the treatment.  Patients with darker coloured hair are also at a higher risk of side effects because the skin will absorb some more energy and this could potentially cause more skin damage if the settings are not changed accordingly.

It is important to understand that Laser Hair Removal also has a secondary effect on hair besides follicle damage. Undergoing laser hair removal treatments is actually known to synchronize hair growth. Hairs on the body grow in staggered cycles meaning not all hairs are growing at one time.  Some hairs are growing while some are resting and others are falling out naturally on their own.  After a laser hair removal treatment, the hairs are all drawn into the same phase of the growth cycle. The end result is, hairs may actually seem to begin to grow more after the treatment when in actual fact the hairs are now growing at the same rate and in the same phase.  This also makes the treatment more effective because laser hair removal cannot treat hairs in the resting phase of the hair grown cycle.

What Conditions Does Laser Hair Removal Treat?

• Unwanted Hair

What is the Procedure of Laser Hair Removal?

At our clinic, DermMedica in Kelowna, the average Laser Hair Removal appointment varies depending on the amount and location of the hair being treated. The normal procedure starts with the washing and cleaning of the targeted skin and follicle area, sometimes including the application of a numbing cream. All patients are required to wear protective eye goggles during the treatment. Once the treatment begins a laser will be directed at the follicles targeted for removal.

What is the Recovery Time following Laser Hair Removal?

Immediate – patients can return to their normal activities immediately following the procedure.  In some cases patients may experience minor swelling for several hours after the treatment. This effect is only temporary and should not affect the patients ability to return to work.

What Are the Expected Results for a Laser Hair Removal Treatment?

Patients can expect gradual hair loss from a single Laser Hair Removal treatment. Hair loss can materialize immediately or can take up to several weeks following the procedure depending on the stage of the follicle growth cycle and how much hair growth was stimulated by synchronization. For total removal of hair, a series of treatments is always recommended.  On average, we recommend a set of 4-6 treatments per area for noticeable hair growth reduction.

Dr. Crippen on AM1160 talking about Laser Hair Removal in Kelowna.

Contact us today to see if Laser Hair Removal is the right treatment for you.  

 

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Our Background and Info on Laser Hair Removal in Kelowna

Our Kelowna clinic, established in 1994, was one of Canada’s first laser hair removal clinics!  We have treated thousands of patients since then, employing our vast background of experience with regards to patient safety and best possible outcomes. We offer the gold standard Alexandrite and Nd-YAG laser devices for laser hair removal in Kelowna, BC based on the varying skin types.

To be hair free for the long run, laser hair removal is your best option to staying fuzz-free.  
Request a consultation online or call us ( 250-868-3070 ) to learn more about enjoying smooth skin without the fuss of regular plucking and or waxing. During your visit to our office in Kelowna, one of our professional consultants will go over your options in a no-pressure situation.  

Laser hair removal in Kelowna at DermMedica offers a number of advantages for women and men who want a lasting solution for unwanted hair.

• Safe
• Effective
• No downtime
• No need to wax or pluck

We offer many other popular treatments to enhance your look including CoolSculpting and LipoDissolve, which are nonsurgical alternatives to liposuction in Kelowna.
 
We use the Cynosure Elite laser, which is a laser that produces a focused beam of highly concentrated light. The light emitted is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. During the procedure, the laser pulses for a fraction of a second, allowing the hair to absorb the light and heat. As the hair follicle and the surrounding cells at the base of the hair heats up, the hair shaft and bulb are damaged which significantly impedes its ability to re-grow. With the large spot size, the process treats numerous hair follicles simultaneously, making the treatment much faster than traditional laser hair removal alternatives.
 
The result: A 50 to 80% (or better) reduction in unwanted hair after you complete your sessions.  Hair is natural to your body and it grows in stages. At any given time, not all hairs are growing and lasers are most effective at targeting the growing hairs. In practice, no laser destroys all of the hair follicles. Some follicles are destroyed, while others are reduced to fine hairs or shocked into prolonged dormancy. Multiple treatments provide the best results.

The best interval for retreatment depends on the hair cycle growth patterns in that area of the body. It is possible that with a sufficient number of treatments, true “permanent hair removal” can ultimately be achieved, but not for every single hair present in a given area. Be advised that the FDA cleared these lasers for “permanent hair reduction,” and not “permanent hair removal,” which is advertised by many clinics.

Many clinics that have advertised “guaranteed permanent hair removal” have gone out of business, or change their corporate names when they become unable to honor their guarantees of “permanent hair removal.” Many of these “guarantees” are simply assurances that your hair will be finer for a short period of time. Age, ethnicity, weight, metabolism, medication, and hormones all play a role in the location, resilience, and thickness of hair.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to predict how many treatments each individual will require to achieve the best long term benefits. Experience to date with laser hair reduction suggests that the hair reduction achieved may be permanent, but an honest, reputable clinic or physician cannot guarantee this fact.

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Looking for Laser Hair Removal in Red Deer AB?  Follow the link to Aurora Medical Laser & Vein Centre.