Manchester Clinic Dubai Clinics in Dubai - Laser Hair Removal Details
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Laser Hair Removal Details
Our Laser Hair Removal facilities are now situated at our Skin And Laser Clinic in Dubai, Jumeirah Beach Road in Jumeirah 3 Opposite Sunset Mall.
What is the LightSheer?
The LightSheer is a hair removal laser manufactured by Coherent Laser Corporation. This laser was the first diode laser system approved for hair removal by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). It is also the first laser approved by the FDA for permanent hair reduction. This laser utilizes 810nm wavelength light and targets the pigment (melanin) contained in the hair follicle and shaft. In order to protect pigment containing structures in the outer layer of skin (epidermis), a cooling handpiece is applied to the skin which decreases the surface temperature and prevents injury from heat. The cooling tip also has a mild anesthetic property allowing tender areas to be treated in a relatively painless fashion.
How does hair grow?
Hair follicles develop from a complex series of interactions between different elements of the skin. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time. They actually go through distinct phases. For example, at any one time 90% of the hairs on the scalp are in the growth (anagen) phase, compared to only 70% of the hair on our arms. During the regression (catagen) phase, the surrounding skin begins to absorb the hair bulb. Finally, the hair enters the resting (telogen) phase, at the end of which the hair falls out and the follicle begins the cycle again.
What Affects The Look Of Body Hair?
Age, ethnicity, medication, hormone levels, and body site influence the length, coarseness and color of body. How much hair you have depends on how many years are in the active phase, and how long that phase lasts.
What are The Alternatives For Hair Removal?
- Shaving: A simple method, it doesn’t affect the coarseness, thickness, growth rate or cycle of the shaved hair. However, it is only a transient solution, and requires a constant commitment to maintaining a hair-free appearance.
- Tweezing: Is tedious, painful and impractical for large areas.
- Waxing: This procedure can cover a large area at a time and results may last a month or more, but it’s painful and can often cause allergic reactions and inflammation on the hair follicle.
- Electrolysis: This involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and applying an electric current. Expert used, it can be successful in eliminating hair permanently. However, because you can treat only one hair follicle at a time, it is a tedious, time-consuming process.
Why Use The LightSheer Over Other Hair Removal Laser Systems?
Your doctors have chosen this laser because of the extensive clinical and basic science research, which documents the effectiveness for hair removal. Many other laser hair removal systems can not make this claim. The LightSheer laser also allows treatment of dark skinned patients. No other laser can safely treat these patients.
How Does The LightSheer System Remove Hair?
The light emitted by the LightSheer is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or “turned on”, for only fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to disable the follicle. The LightSheer’s unique, patented contact-cooling handpiece helps protect the skin by cooling during the laser energy delivery. The light at 810nm is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and this energy is converted to heat which results in thermal damage to the hair follicle. This thermal damage causes delayed re-growth of the hair, and in some cases permanent destruction of the hair follicle.
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 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. A unique component of the LightSheers System, the actively-cooled sapphire handpiece was designed to conduct heat away from the skin before, during and after each pulse.
Does It Hurt?
You may feel a tingling or stinging sensation, and some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, but most people tolerate the procedure well. If you find the 1st treatment too uncomfortable you can request a prescription for EMLA topical anesthetic.
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The LightSheer works by disabling hairs that are principally in the active growth phase at the time of the treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Our staff will work with you to develop the best program that fulfills your needs. Treatments are given at intervals of 4-8weeks. 5 treatments are usually necessary.
Are the Results Permanent?
The LightSheer is the only laser approved by the FDA for permanent hair reduction. Patients can expect a permanent hair reduction after 4-5 treatments.
What Happens After Treatment?
Within several minutes, the treated area may become slightly red and puffy. This reaction subsides quickly and within a day or so the areas return to normal. Since the LightSheer does not cut the skin bandages are generally not necessary and most people usually return to normal activity immediately. Do NOT, however, plan any important social engagements for one week after your treatment.
Your doctor may prescribe a mild topical steroid cream to apply to the treated areas for 2-3 days. Around day 3-7 after treatment you may experience what seems to be hairs regrowing. Many of these hairs, however, are being shed and are not regrowing. In-between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hairs.
Who is a Good Candidate for the LightSheer?
The ideal candidate for most hair removal lasers has dark hairs and light skin. Darker hairs absorb more of the laser light, and lighter skin interferes less with the transmission of the laser light into the follicle. Dark or tan skin runs a higher risk of pigmentation changes following the procedure. The LightSheer’s unique longer wavelength at 840nm allows treatment of darker skinned patients. No other lasers have this property. White hairs respond the least to the LightSheer.
What are the risks, potential complications, and side effects of the LightSheer?
- SCARRING : Any surgical procedure has a potential risk for scarring. The chance for scarring from this laser, however, is small. Blistering of the skin is occasionally seen and could result scarring.
- INFECTION : Any surgical procedure has a potential risk for infection. The risk of an infection is remote.
- SWELLING : You should expect some mild swelling and redness of the treatment areas for the first 24 hours after the procedure.
- PAIN : As explained previously, there is mild discomfort during the procedure, and most patients experience a stinging or burning sensation for several hours after the procedure. Local anaesthesia is usually not necessary.
- BRUISING : Bruising of the skin may occur after treatment.
- PIGMENTATION CHANGES : Pigmentation changes can occur. Brown pigmentation (hyperpigmentation) of the skin, as well as lighter colored areas (hypopigmentation) on the skin, can be seen after treatment. Most of the time, these irregular skin tones will even out on their own with time. They can be permanent, however. Some patients with a darker complexion are more prone to these pigmentation changes. During your visit we will evaluate your skin for possible pigmentation changes.
- BLEEDING : Bleeding is always a potential complication any time that the skin is injured. Bleeding is not a significant concern with this laser system.
- SKIN BLISTERING & ULCERATION : The laser can cause super facial blisters and ulceration of the skin. This is an uncommon complication. This complication can also result in pigmentation changes as discussed above.
- DERMATITIS : Dermatitis occurs when the skin is inflamed. Rarely a skin Dermatitis can develop after treatment. This can be treated with topical medicines.
- FOLLICULITIS : This inflammation of the hair follicle. Infection may or may not be present.
- EYE EXPOSURE : Laser light can injure the eyes. During the procedure your eyes will be protected from exposure to the laser light.
- CHANGES IN OTHER SKI LESIONS IN THE TREATMENT AREA: The laser targets the pigment melanin as previously discussed. If you have a mole, freckle or tattoo in the treatment area this might be affected by the laser. The laser could either lighten the lesion or remove it permanently. Advise your doctor of any skin lesions in the treatment area that you do not want to be affected.
- FAILURE TO ACHIEVE THE PATIENT’S EXPECTED RESULT : Some patients may not respond at all to the laser after 2 or 3 treatments. Some individuals may have expectations beyond what can be reasonably obtained, and therefore need to consider the limitations of any procedure of this nature. We recommend that any individual considering laser treatment should carefully weigh the benefits and risks of this procedure. No guarantees of improvement in a patient’s condition can be made, and each individual requires careful evaluation by our staff in the Laser Centre to determine if you are a good candidate for LightSheer therapy.
MedSpa: Anti-Aging Centre
At our location in Jumeirah 3 on the Beach Road, we have two LPG Endermolab treatment rooms, Laser Hair Removal, LPG Endermologie BodySculpting Lipomassage, LPG EndermoLift non surgical facelift, Anti-Aging Treatments & Medical Facials such as HydraDermabrasion: www.medspa.ae