Dermatologic & Cosmetic Surgery

Dermatologic Treatments

LightSheer Diode Laser

Unwanted body hair usually occurs in unusual areas or in excessive amounts in usual areas. Common causes are heredity, certain medications, and hormonal influences. A complete health history is done in the office by our staff at your initial consultation to determine the cause as well as to evaluate you as a candidate for treatment with our LightSheer Diode Laser. This laser is an FDA approved way to permanently reduce unwanted hair by emitting a highly concentrated light that is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft.

Hair growth occurs in three phases: 1) Active growth phase, 2) regressive phase, and 3) resting phase. The active growth phase, which the majority of our body hair is in, is the phase the laser effectively treats. Multiple sessions of each area may be required to disable the hair follicles as they enter this growth phase.

The best candidates are light skinned individuals with dark hair. Hair laser removal can be done on the face, underarms, bikini lines, as well as larger areas such as backs or legs.

Unwanted, pigmented hair is a common problem for both men and women. Until recently, the only long lasting method of hair removal was electrolysis, which requires tedious insertion of an electrode into each follicle. Because this method treats one follicle at a time, it is very time consuming.

Recent technological advances in laser hair removal have been accompanied by a tremendous degree of public enthusiasm for this procedure. Traditional methods of hair removal such as shaving, waxing and electrolysis are associated with limitations and side effects. Imagine no more painful waxing, plucking, shaving, or electrolysis. Now, your unwanted hair can effectively be removed from the face, lip, chin, neck, underarms, bikini line, chest, back, legs and other areas. Unwanted hair can now be treated quickly and effectively using the latest diode laser system the - LightSheer - which is FDA approved for removal of unwanted hair.

The natural target for the laser is the pigment melanin. Melanin gives us our coloring or skin type. Melanin also exists in our hair follicles and hair shafts. It is the bulb part of our hair follicle, which is the most heavily pigmented, that the laser targets. When the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft absorbs the laser light, the hair's growth center is damaged. This results in either complete destruction of the hair or severe restriction of regrowth.

All hair goes through a cycle of active growth. the three phases are the growth phase (anagen), the transition phase (catagen), and the resting phase (telogen). the length of hair at different body sites is determined by the length of the growing phase. The resting phase varies with each body site. At the end of this phase, the hair falls our and the follicle begins the cycle again. It can be up to one year on the legs. The hair follicles that are in the growth phase are the best targets for absorbing the laser light, and it is these hairs that are preferentially damaged or destroyed. Usually, a minimum of three to six treatments are necessary to achieve optimum results, since all hair is not in the growth stage at the same time. Sessions are spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. Shorter for the face, underarms, and bikini areas, and longer for the back and legs. This is due to the different durations of the resting phase at each different body site. The LightSheer laser has an 810-nm wavelength light that specifically targets the melanin in the hair follicle and shaft. In order to protect other pigment-containing structures of the outer layer of the skin, it has a Chill tip cooling hand piece, which decreases the surface temperature of the skin, and prevents thermal injury. The cooling tip also provides a mild anesthetic sensation to the skin, making it more comfortable.

WHY USE THE LIGHTSHEER OVER OTHER LASERS?
We have selected this laser because of the wide range of clinical use in laser hair removal. The long wavelength of this system allows for even darker-skinned patients to be treated.

ARE THE RESULTS PERMANENT?
The FDA discourages the use of the word permanent, because lasers have only been used for hair removal for the last few years. We do know that the LightSheer laser causes delayed regrowth of the treated hair follicles. Most patients will require some maintenance as dormant hair follicles cycle into the growth phase. Although most patients will achieve prolonged hair removal in areas, this is not possible in all cases 100% of the time. Most patients, however, are very satisfied with the results of their treatment.

WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
The perfect candidate has dark hair and light skin. Darker hair absorbs more of the laser light, and the lighter skin interferes less with the movement of the laser light into the hair follicle. Temporary (1-3 months) hair loss almost always occurs after each laser treatment, regardless of hair color. However, the effectiveness for a permanent hair reduction is strongly correlated with hair color. Blonde or white hair is unlikely to respond in a permanent reduction of hair. Hair loss in these patients can be maintained by treatment at approximately 3-month intervals. The unique longer wavelength of the LightSheer allows darker-skinned patients to be treated effectively.

HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
The LightSheer laser works by disrupting hairs that are in the active growth phase at the time of the treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments will be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually given at intervals of approximately 6-8 weeks, or whenever new hair growth is first noticed. Sometimes, it is less time between treatments on the face, underarms, and bikini area - approximately 4 weeks. Most patients require four to six treatments for maximum removal of hair.

DOES IT HURT?
You may feel a tingling, stinging, or hear sensation, and some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, but most patients tolerate the procedure well. Patients who have had hair waxed in the past say that the hair laser is a much more comfortable procedure. We can prescribe a topical anesthetic. The LightSheer's cold handpiece greatly reduces pain during treatment. Most of our patients develop redness and swelling of the treated area which feels like a sunburn. This subsides in 24 to 48 hours.

ARE THERE ANY RISKS OR SIDE EFFECTS?
Changes in pigment color of the skin have been noted in a small percentage of patients, but this is rare and usually temporary. In some cases there may be blistering and crusting of the skin. this is easily treated with a topical antibiotic ointment that we will prescribe. To prevent pigment changes, you should avoid sun exposure for at least one month prior to treatment, this includes self tanning products also. If you are going to be exposed to the sun, you should either cover the area with clothing, or use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30. The procedure will be postponed if you are tan or tanning.

IS IT SAFE?
Yes. The LightSheer system was developed from years of research at the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world's leading and most respected medical research institutions. The laser parameters were carefully defined to inhibit the regrowth of the hair by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser output to the size, depth, and location of hair follicles. the LightSheer has the unique Chill tip, which was designed to conduct heat away from the skin before, during, and after each pulse of the laser.

HOW DO I PREPARE AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER TREATMENT?
We will give you pre and post operative instructions, which will tell you what you must do to prepare properly for treatment, and how to care for your skin after the treatment. Around 3 to 7 days after treatment, you may experience what seems to be hairs regrowing. Most of these hairs, however, are treated hairs that are being shed and are not regrowing. Since the laser targets the pigment deep into the hair follicle and shaft, it is IMPERATIVE NOT TO WAX OR PLUCK ANY HAIRS 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO TREATMENT OR BETWEEN TREATMENTS. This is because you will be pulling out the part of the hair the laser needs for its target.

To make an appointment with a Cooper University Hospital physician at an office near you, call 1-800-8-COOPER (800-826-6737) to speak with a member of our physician referral and information service.