Shaving:
This is a simple technique; it does not affect the coarseness, thickness, growth stage or cycle of shaved hair. Shaving may be combined with creams and lotions to produce smoother results; however, it is only a transient solution and requires constant shaving and life long commitment to maintaining a hair free appearance.
Tweezing:
This is a tedious, painful and impractical for large areas. Often the hair follicle is not permanently disabled, thus regrowth will occur and the treatment is only temporary.
Waxing:
This procedure can cover large areas at a time and results may last a month or more but has no long-term effect on the hair follicle or growth of hair. Waxing is painful and can cause redness, inflammation of the hair follicle or allergic reactions, as well as pimples and scarring.
Electrolysis:
This involves inserting a needle into the skin, which may cause pain and can transmit disease, unless disposable sterile needles are used each time. Through the needle an electrical current is applied to damage the follicle. However, there is a risk of inflammation, long term scarring and whitening of the skin. Finally, because electrolysis only treats one hair at a time, it is very slow, tedious and time-consuming process often requiring visits every few weeks for many, many years. Lasertrolysis is more expensive initially, (due to the large cost of the laser itself); however it is an extremely fast, effective and efficient treatment. In the long run lasertrolysis is a cost effective, extremely safe treatment for hair removal.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL:
Laser hair removal is a simple office procedure requiring no needles, medications or surgery. A patient consultant will first assess you where your goals and expectations for hair removal will be discussed. During this consultation the estimated duration of each lasertrolysis session will be discussed, as will the number of sessions, and the costs. The reason that laser hair removal requires multiple treatments, each separated by 2 to 3 months lies in the way that hair grows. Not all the hairs on a given area are actively growing at the same time.
Each hair and its hair growth center (follicle) go through 3 phases or cycles. The growth phase is called the Anagen and is the phase where the follicle grows a visible hair out of the skin. The hair follicle then goes into a short regression called Catagen, where the hair falls out, and then a resting phase, called Telogen, which can last many months. The energy from the laser can only disable the follicle during the phase of growth i.e. Anagen phase.
At any given time only 50% to 90% of the hair follicles are in Anagen, depending on the body part. Thus, 2 to 3 months after treatment there will be a re-growth of fewer and or finer hairs as new follicles that were in the resting Telogen phase enter into the Anagen growth phase and produce a hair that can be disabled by the laser treatment.
