Premier Laser Clinic - Information on Laser Hair Removal Microdermabrasion and PhotoFacial

The GentleLASE uses a gentle beam of light to damage the hair follicle. This disables the follicle from growing hair, which means that gradually over several treatments, there is a permanent reduction in the amount of hair in that area.

Treatment is very safe for the skin. There are many advances in the GentleLASE technology that make it one of the safest hair removal systems available for all skin colors. The GentleLASE System safely removes unwanted body hair without damaging the delicate pores and structures of the skin.

Each GentleLASE treatment will result in less hair coming back, as well as hair growing progressively lighter in color, finer, and slower-growing with each treatment. It takes more than 1 treatment to affect all the follicles growing in an area.

The treatments are usually performed every 2-3 months, but this depends on individual factors that your clinician will discuss with you during consultation.

The sensation is often described as "hot pinch", or "snapping" feeling. The sensation only lasts for fraction of a second, and you may feel warmth or a tingling sensation for a short time afterward. Most people tolerate treatment without any topical anesthetic cream, which may be used to numb the skin from feeling sensation for very sensitive individuals.

Temporary pinkness in the skin lasts a very short time, and most people return to work or normal activities immediately after treatment. The treated area will "shed" some hairs over the next 3-4 weeks, and you may experience a period of hairlessness in the area while you wait for your next treatment.

Anyone who wants a solution to shaving, waxing, plucking, or electrolysis. There are a few medical conditions that contraindicate people from treatment which will be discussed with your clinician during consultation.

The LightSheer laser is specifically designed for hair removal. We have chosen this laser because of the extensive clinical research which demonstrated its effectiveness for permanent hair reduction. Other laser hair removal systems that we have investigated cannot make this claim.

This laser targets the pigment located in the hair follicle and shaft. The light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and this energy is converted to heat which results in damage to the hair follicle. This damage causes delayed re-growth of the hair, and in most cases permanent destruction of many of the hair follicles. Unlike electrolysis, which kills one hair follicle at a time, the laser reaches and treats hundreds of follicles at a time.

The LightSheer system was developed from years of research at the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world's leading medical laser research institutions. The laser is pulsed, or "turned on," for only a fraction of a second and the duration of each pulse is just long enough to disable the hair follicles. A unique component of the LightSheer system, the actively cooled sapphire handpiece, was designed to protect the skin by actively cooling it before, during and after the laser light is transmitted. It also actively draws off heat from the skin surface, which further protects the skin from injury.

The cooling tip has a mild anesthetic property, which allows tender areas to be treated in a relatively painless fashion. You may feel a tingling or stinging sensation during the treatment, but most people tolerate the procedure well. You may experience a sunburn-type sensation in the treatment area for several hours. If you find the first treatment too uncomfortable you can purchase a topical anesthetic.

Age, ethnicity, medication, hormone levels, and body site influence the length, coarseness and color of body hair. How much hair you have depends on how many hairs are in the active growth phase, and how long that phase lasts.

Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time. They actually go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. The LightSheer works by disabling hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually given at intervals of 4-10 weeks, depending on the particular area of the body being treated and the density of the hair in that area. Our staff will work with you to develop the best program that fulfills your needs.

The LightSheer causes permanent hair reduction and delayed regrowth of the treated hair follicles. A long-term clinical study was done to evaluate the LightSheer Diode Laser for hair removal. Of 92 people, all had temporary hair loss and 89% had long-term hair loss. Also, regrowing hairs were shown to be thinner and lighter than previously. Because the laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, more than one treatment will be required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase. However, one treatment may result in a significant enough improvement that it may be all you desire or require.

Within several minutes, the treated area may become slightly red and puffy. This reaction usually subsides quickly and returns to normal within a day or so. Depending on the area treated you should plan work or social engagements accordingly. Around day 3-7 after treatment you may experience what seems to be regrowth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not regrowing. In-between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hairs but it is permissible to shave.

The ideal candidate for most hair removal lasers has dark hair and light skin. Darker hairs absorb more of the laser light, and lighter skin allows more transmission of the laser light into the hair follicle. Although dark or tanned skin may run a higher risk of pigmentation changes following the procedure, the LightSheer's unique longer wavelength at 810nm allows treatment of all but the darkest-skinned clients. No other hair removal lasers have this property.

The GentleLASE system can treat pigmented lesions including sun and age spots, freckles, café-au-lait and melasma; vascular lesions such as leg veins and blue facial veins, hemangiomas and port wine stains w/nodules; and wrinkles.

This FDA approved device in conjunction with the unique DCD cooling system offers safe and consistent cryogen spray protection for greater patient safety and comfort.

Treatments will result in improving the texture/tone of the skin and improvement of pigmented and vascular imperfections. Textural improvements are often accompanied by improvements in skin elasticity.

For those patients interested in having their sun-induced pigmentary lesions removed, the GentleLASE laser from Candela provides a safe, effective, and convenient means of treatment. Skin rejuvenation can be done on face, neck, chest, hands, and arms. Discuss your candidacy for this treatment with your clinician.

Is cosmetic treatment with the GenltLASE system an alternative to plastic surgery?

Nearly 12 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2004. Of those 12 million, more then eighty percent were non-surgical. With surgical treatments such as facelifts quickly becoming a thing of the past, new non-invasive alternatives to achieve younger, smoother skin is now just a laser treatment away.

Microdermabrasion uses gently abrasive crystals combined with an air stream to gently remove the upper layer of dead skin cells. Removal of the dead and flaking skin cells brings the healthy under layer of skin to the surface, encouraging cell rejuvenation.

Depending on the area treated, you will notice some and or all of the following: reduced appearance of stretch marks, reduction of age spots and pigmentation imbalances, a renewed fresh skin tone and more youthful appearance including minimization of fine lines and wrinkles, a reduction of enlarged pores and a decreased appearance of scars from trauma, acne and chicken pox.

The process is entirely painless and non-invasive, usually taking less than 30 minutes for a complete facial treatment. A fine stream of crystals and mild suction combine to yield a gentle abrasive action removing the desired cells of the skin. The treatment program is comprised of weekly sessions. Microdermabrasion is safe to use on all skin types and colors.

After your first treatment, your skin will be soft and have a smoother texture. Improvements continue throughout your treatment program. Your Premier Laser Clinician will recommend the number of treatments for maximum results.

No. Sometimes it stings or tingles a bit while the peel is on the skin, but it lasts only 30-60 seconds.

It will feel softer, more moist and cleaner. Some people say it feels tighter in a good way.

It will appear fresher, younger and have a pink glow. Makeup goes on smoother and more evenly.

During the corrective phase, you will be scheduled every 2 or 3 weeks. During the maintenance phase, monthly visits are recommended. If you combine peels with other treatments we provide, such as PhotoFacial RF, Vbeam or Microdermabrasion, this schedule will vary.

Yes, they are. The technicians will determine which peel you will need, after you fill out detailed paperwork. We offer 4 different peels: Hydrating, Rejuvenating, Acne and Ethnic/Pigmentation. We will use the peel most suitable for your needs.

Everyone can enjoy peels. We treat aging, sun-damaged, acne-prone, pigmented, dry and listless skin.

The Candela Vbeam produces an intense but gentle burst of light that selectively destroys the blood vessels of your spider veins, without damaging the surrounding tissue. After laser treatment the surrounding tissue is left intact.

It feels like a slight sting. Most people can tolerate it very easily.

Some patients experience redness or mild swelling in the treated area immediately following the treatment, this usually goes away in a few hours. Occasionally purpura, a laser bruise, may occur. Purpura is transient and usually disappears in 3-5 days.

The treatments are very quick. They last about 30 minutes.

It depends on how your skin reacts to the treatments. During your free consultation, we will be able to determine approximately how many treatments you will require. Most clients will need 3-5 treatments.

No. You can go about your usual activities the next day or later the same day, depending on how intense of a treatment you are receiving.

Most lesions are permanently removed, however, you may have to come back for a "touchup" once or twice a year to keep the results fresh.

The Candela Vbeam is not recommended for clients who are darkly pigmented. Because of the increase in skin pigment the laser will be less effective on damaging the blood vessels of the spider veins or other vascular lesion to be treated. The depth of penetration of the Candela Vbeam is limited to vessels about 1.5mm in depth. Therefore, vessels deeper than this may not respond to the therapy. Additionally, blue vessels may not respond as well as red ones.