Laser Hair Removal

Stay Smooth in Every Situation

Lasers are the future of grooming. With a simple trick of the light, they can precisely target unwanted hair while the surrounding skin is left untouched by the intangible beam. What else can lasers edit in and out of existence?  

Color is not a property of matter. Color is a property of light. That is how a laser beam can vaporize a darkly pigmented hair follicle and pass like a spirit through fair skin. We are under an ocean of electromagnetic energy sent down to us from our nurturing sun. Some of this energy we perceive as visible light. Laser hair removal leverages light’s various wavelengths to achieve dolphin-smooth skin at your treatment site.  

Generous with his knowledge and eager to share, Dr. Joseph Michaels is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine and a teacher for the Georgetown University Plastic Surgery Integrated Residency Program. Dr. Michaels currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Sibley Memorial Hospital.

If you seek surgical or non-surgical cosmetic enhancement, make sure you’re fully informed. Contact Michaels Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery to learn more. Call (301) 468-5991 to schedule your consultation.

About Laser Hair Removal

Unsightly hair can be embarrassing for both women and men. Laser treatments are an excellent technique to remove hair from any part of your body. In many cases, these treatments result in permanent hair loss. Not all of your hair is actively growing at the same time. 

The difficulty of shaving or the embarrassment (and discomfort!) from waxing can be too much for some to bear. Many men suffer from the unwanted appearance of hair on their backs, chests and elsewhere. Luckily, there is a long-lasting alternative shaving and waxing: laser hair removal. 

Each hair follicle may be in one of three distinct phases: growth, regression or resting. The laser will only inhibit your hairs that are in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. For this reason, multiple treatments will be required for you to obtain optimal results.   

With the use of a low-energy laser, this treatment can permanently reduce hair growth anywhere on the face or body. We recommend that patients with dark, coarse hair consider the treatment. Lasers respond best to deep, rich pigments.^[1] For optimal results, multiple treatments may be necessary. 

Benefits for Both Genders

Shaving, waxing and tweezing your body to creamy, flawless perfection is just too much hassle. It’s boring, painful and repetitive. And the bristly stubble that quickly sprouts up will keep you busy chasing after those velvety smooth legs in a race against time that you can never win. Laser technology to the rescue! 

Unlike sharp razors and hot wax, laser light presents minimal risk to your skin.

It’s a relatively painless procedure compared to some of those other, cruder methods of hair removal (especially waxing). And its effects are long-lasting, so kiss those ingrown hairs goodbye.

Laser hair removal works on the principle of selective photothermolysis (SPTL). All light responds to color. We can see the full color spectrum in sunlight when we refract its rays through a crystal prism. Lasers are just a focused beam of electromagnetic (EM) energy resonating at a specific color frequency. 

In laser hair removal, the beam is attuned to darker colors. The laser passes through the skin and targets the deep pigments of growing follicles at their roots, eliminating them. 

Your Private Consultation With Dr. Joseph Michaels

Dr. Joseph Michaels serves the Washington DC area with superior plastic surgery and medspa services. His practice, in Rockville, MD, is driven by compassion, curiosity and a quest for excellence. Dr. Michaels’ patients are all very pleased. You can read their rave reviews to get a sense of their satisfaction.

When Dr. Michaels meets with you for your private consultation, he will acquire a clear sense of your needs. Dr. Michaels will work with you to create aesthetic strategy to accomplish your unique goals.

Preparation

Exposure to direct sunlight is a big no-no before and after your laser hair removal treatment. You should also stay away from tanning beds or any kind of UV light. The laser light is drawn to the pigment in your hair. Uneven pigmentation in the skin from recent sun exposure may cause- complications. 

An Efficient Procedure

Typically, the procedure begins when Dr. Michaels numbs the target area with a topical anesthetic. He moves a handheld device that emits intense laser pulses across the area, focusing on individual hair follicles. 

Laser hair removal works on the principle of selective photothermolysis (SPTL). All light responds to color. We can see the full-color spectrum in sunlight when we refract its rays through a crystal prism. Lasers are just a focused beam of electromagnetic (EM) energy resonating at a specific color frequency. 

In laser hair removal, the beam is attuned to darker colors. The laser passes through the skin and targets the deep pigments of growing follicles at their roots, eliminating them. Some laser devices can remove other pigments from the skin a similar fashion. Lasers have become the preferred tool for tattoo removal and procedures which reduce varicose veins, bright purple port-wine stain birthmark many other rogue pigments that mar our smooth skin tone.

Hair growth takes place cyclically, in three stages. The most effective laser hair removal takes place during the androgen (full-growth) phase because the hair follicles in this stage are the most susceptible to laser energy.^[2] 

Not all hair is in the same stage of growth at any given time, so several laser treatments will be necessary. Patients usually see the best results after three to five sessions. The sessions are spaced four to eight weeks apart. The length of treatment depends on the texture of the patient’s hair and the location from which it is being removed.

Results & Recovery

The aftereffects of laser hair removal are analogous to what we experience after prolonged sun exposure. Unlike sun exposure, laser hair removal occurs in a controlled environment under medical supervision. Patients report redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal. To treat any discomfort, apply ice or a cool aloe gel to the affected area.^[3] 

Wear a high SPF sunscreen to protect yourself. Also, avoid hot showers and applying cosmetics or perfumes directly to the treated area for the first few days after your treatment.  

The results of laser hair removal are not immediate. Dr. Michaels will time your treatments to your hair growth cycle. It takes three to five sessions to see lasting results. 

Laser Hair Removal vs. Waxing

When it comes to discomfort, it’s pretty clear that laser hair removal comes out on top. It is a far less painful procedure than waxing. Some say laser hair removal isn’t even painful at all. 

It’s true there is some sensation in the laser-treated areas. Patients describe a feeling of “pins and needles” during the procedure. You can always ask the technician to turn the machine down if the sensation becomes unbearable. On the other hand, even the most skilled hot wax practitioner can’t do anything to prevent the inevitable pain when she “lets her rip.” 

Laser hair removal appointments tend to be shorter than the arduous hot wax approach, but lasers are long-lasting. On the other hand, hot wax requires an unending series of appointments to maintain optimal results. 

How Is Laser Hair Removal Superior to Waxing?

• Less discomfort
• Longer lasting results
• Shorter appointments  

References 

1. Goldberg, D. J. (2018). One-year follow-up results of hair removal using an 810 nm diode laser. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 17(5), 775–778. doi: 10.1111/jocd.12757
2. Laser hair removal. (2018, May 16). Retrieved February 13, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laser-hair-removal/about/pac-20394555 
3. Puri, N. (2015). Comparative study of diode laser versus neodymium-yttrium aluminum: garnet laser versus intense pulsed light for the treatment of hirsutism. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 8(2), 97. doi: 10.4103/0974-2077.158445