Plucking, shaving and waxing – you do it all the time to eliminate unwanted hair. Unfortunately, it always returns. So, all you really lost was time. You wonder if expensive creams are the answer. Unless the question is, how to lose both time and money, they’re not. If you’ve endured painful electrolysis, you lost more time, more money and finally, maybe even your nerve. There’s only one last thing to lose – hope. Don’t do it. Today, there’s a medical spa service that offers both men and women here in Sacramento and Granite Bay non-invasive, real, long lasting hair removal – laser light.

Laser Hair Removal in Sacramento

Don’t lose hope; lose the hair.

If you’re considering laser hair removal, Sacramento’s Plastic Surgery Center can help. Call 916-569-0861 to schedule a consultation today.

Laser Hair Removal with LightSheer Diode Laser

Excessive hair can be the result of hormones, genetics, pregnancy or a side effect of the aging process. Regardless of why, the end result is that it’s definitely frustrating. LightSheer™ makes that frustration a thing of the past. This laser hair removal technology is putting an end to the physical discomfort associated with removing unwanted hair and the psychological pain of feeling like you’re destined to live with excessive hair.

Made by Lumenis™ – a company with over 30 years’ experience with medical and cosmetic lasers – the LightSheer Diode Laser System was from day one designed for the sole purpose of providing you with long-lasting hair removal. Emitting a near-infrared laser, light is absorbed by the pigment in your hair follicle. While a laser doesn’t actually eliminate the hair, by targeting the melanin, it effectively destroys it; the follicle is disabled, preventing future growth. And, the laser achieves this while leaving surrounding skin virtually unaffected. The result is noticeably smoother skin.

Who Can Undergo Treatment?

Safe for all skin types including tanned skin, the LightSheer laser can eliminate hair on the face, as well as on larger areas such as the shoulders and back, arms, legs, neck and chest. And, the system features a unique ChillTipT to protect your skin, as well as minimize any irritation. Because of the growth cycle of hair, several laser treatments might be required for optimal hair removal. Single treatments or packages can be purchased depending area of treatment prices may vary.

Don’t waste more of your valuable time or hard-earned money on products that don’t work or procedures that hurt. Don’t lose hope. You shouldn’t have to live with unwanted hair; thanks to laser hair removal, Sacramento and Granite Bay area men and women are learning they don’t have to.

Preparing for Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal in SacramentoFor at least a month before your first laser hair removal treatment, it is important that you avoid waxing or plucking your hairs. Shaving is acceptable because it leaves behind the roots of the hair which are necessary for the treatment to work. In fact, you will need to shave about 24 hours prior to your appointment. Not only does a cleanly shaved area make the procedure safer, but the laser works more effectively when it targets the darker pigmentation of the hair roots.

In the two weeks leading up to your appointment, you should avoid the sun, as well tanning beds. UV ray exposure can cause your skin to be more susceptible to hyperpigmentation when it is later treated by a laser. On certain skin types, the laser can alter the natural production of melanin, which in turn can cause your skin to look either darker or lighter. By staying out of the sun, you will have an easier time maintaining an even skin tone.

Laser Hair Removal Recovery and Results

For nearly every patient we treat with laser hair removal at the Plastic Surgery Center, the process is a breeze. Not only are the sessions short, but there is essentially no downtime involved. You will be free to resume most normal activities as soon as you leave our facilities, including working and exercising.

Nonsurgical hair removal in SacramentoMost of the discomfort associated with laser hair removal occurs during the procedure itself. While patients may experience a burning or stinging sensation with some forms of laser hair removal, you are unlikely to feel any discomfort, let alone pain, when treated with the LightSheer Diode Laser. If you do have residual discomfort after laser hair removal, it should be moderate and temporary, and can be easily managed with lotion or an ice pack.

While side effects from laser hair removal are generally minor, you may develop mild skin irritation in the first 24 hours, causing your skin to become red and/or itchy. If this irritation persists for multiple days or starts to blister, please discuss with your doctor.

A lot of the hair that has been treated will start to fall out in the weeks following laser treatment. If you notice some new hairs starting to grow, that is perfectly normal. These follicles were likely in their early stages and not affected by the treatment, and they will be addressed in one of your subsequent appointments.

Engage in a regular exfoliating routine, carefully scrubbing the treated areas multiple times per week. The reason for this regimen is that dead skin cells can get in the way of dead hair follicles falling out. Continue to stay out of the sun for several weeks to minimize the chances of hyperpigmentation, and wear sunscreen at any point when being in the sun is unavoidable.

With several laser treatments (spaced weeks apart) you may notice as much as a 90% reduction in hair follicles. While the results are permanent, the treated area may start to sprout stray follicles, which is why periodic touch-up treatments are recommended in the years ahead.

Call 916-569-0861 now to learn more about medical spa services, or 916-929-1833 for facial rejuvenation and cosmetic surgery procedures for both men and women, such as laser hair removal. Sacramento plastic surgeons at The Skincare & Laser Center and at The Plastic Surgery Center make enhancing the body, mind and spirit easy. With offices on Scripps Drive in Sacramento and in Granite Bay, looking and feeling your best with laser hair removal is convenient as well.

Laser Hair Removal FAQs

What are the main benefits of using the LightSheer Diode Laser System for hair removal?

The LightSheer laser device is able to treat a variety of body areas, including the back, chest, legs, arm pits, arms and bikini area, and in most cases this can be achieved in a session of 10 minutes or less. LightSheer features what the manufacturer describes as “cooling technology” that minimizes the risk of burns as pulses from the laser target individual follicles.

Does hair color affect the success rate?

LightSheer is more effective in treating dark hair and less effective with light (blonde, red white) hairs. This is because the laser is designed to target melanin, which gives brown or black hair its darker appearance. LightSheer can handle coarse hair more effectively than other available laser techniques.

What should I do to prepare for my first LightSheer session?

In the weeks prior to your appointment, it is recommended that you refrain from tweezing or waxing hair that is to be treated by LightSheer. However, the day before your appointment you should shave the target area. This makes it easier for the device to identify and target individual follicles. It’s also a good idea to avoid UV rays and even tanning lotion, as darker skin can make it harder for the device to distinguish between hair and skin pigment.

What happens during the procedure?

A patch test is usually the first step, to ensure you are not allergic or overly sensitive to the treatment. Next, small areas of skin are treated by application of laser energy that targets and disables hair follicles, preventing future growth. Patients often describe a feeling of warmth and a mild pinprick sensation, but many patients choose to undergo the procedure without numbing cream or any other type of local analgesic. After treatment, there will likely be a moderate amount of redness and swelling for one or two days, which can be improved by ice packs or medication prescribed by your doctor.

Is this a once-and-done procedure?

The recommended course of treatment for LightSheer hair removal is six to eight sessions, spaced one to three months apart. This allows the device to capture hairs that are in various stages of the natural growth cycle. At any moment, some of your hairs are growing and others are in a dormant phase. Growing hair has a higher concentration of melanin, making it easier for the laser to target.

Approximately 20 percent of hair is removed per session. Results should become noticeable by the third week after your initial appointment, with hair falling out in patches. Once a follicle has been disabled by the laser, it should no longer be able to grow and sustain a strand of hair. Future touch-ups may be necessary if some of your hair was in a particularly long resting phase.

How does LightSheer compare with intense pulsed light treatment?

LightSheer technology is a step beyond procedures that use IPL, or intense pulsed light. IPL light is not concentrated laser energy, but rather involves pulses of broad-spectrum light. Because this type of light energy is less potent, patients typically need more sessions to achieve a similar result. In addition, IPL is generally effective only when used on patients with light skin.

To find out more about how we can help you look and feel your best, why not request an appointment with our medical spa team right now? Also, be sure to reserve your spot at a Free Seminar hosted by The Plastic Surgery Center in Sacramento if you’d like to learn more about subjects such as breast augmentation and tummy tucks.