Bakersfield Hair Removal Services

Definition

Most of us agree that excess body hair is often unsightly and embarrassing.  Most common methods of hair removal—like plucking, shaving and waxing—are temporary.  Often these methods are inconvenient, irritating, time consuming and messy.  Many women have had the experience of deciding at the spur of the moment to sunbathe at Lake Isabella or go dancing at the Crystal Palace, and then remembering that they need to shave first.  Electrolysis, while permanent, is time consuming and often painful, and it is only able to remove hair in small areas. 

Laser hair removal, however, has none of these problems.  Lightsheer Duet, an innovative light-based treatment, allows patients to effectively remove unwanted hair gently and conveniently.  The Lightsheer Diode Laser System targets short flashes of light at the hair follicle, which then blocks its ability to grow.  The system is able to target many hair follicles at once, which makes treating large areas quick and effective.  Most importantly, the patented Vacuum and Chill Tip provides the very best in safety and comfort.   Because of this, the Lightsheer Duet method does not damage surrounding tissue.

The Lumenis Lightsheer Duet is the gold standard for hair removal in the industry, and it has many clinically documented successes.  It’s effective on all skin types and can treat most hair colors, depth and diameter or thickness of hair.     

About the Procedure

Depending on your personal desires and needs, your individual treatment may last anywhere from a few minutes to more than an hour.  The number of treatments each patient requires also varies, depending on a variety of factors.  These include the size of the area being treated as well as the patient’s specific hair and skin characteristics.  The most effective phase for hair removal is when the hairs are in an active growth phase (anagen).  Because all hairs cannot be in this phase at the same time, patients have several treatments to achieve the best results.  At Beautologie, we design individual treatment plans for all of our patients that will include an estimate of the number and length of treatment sessions you will likely need.

Laser hair removal may cause some slight discomfort, which many patients describe as a slight pinch or tingling, or like a snapped rubber band.  Almost all patients tolerate the procedure well.  On occasion, topical anesthesia is required when treating sensitive areas, though this is rare. 

Side effects from laser hair removal are very rare.  Some patients experience minor swelling or redness at the area, but these typically subside within a few hours.  Most patients are able to return to their normal, daily routines immediately with their unwanted hair gone! 

Does Hair Removal Hurt?

Patients uniformly report that laser hair removal is tolerable and that the pain is minor.  Your skin will be exposed to little heat.  Also, your skin won’t be exposed to harsh and irritating chemicals, and the hairs aren’t pulled or yanked in any way.  In fact, patients often find these treatments are less painful than waxing or electrolysis. 

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The number of treatments you will need depends on the size of the area you want treated, the color of your hair and its density, and the contrast between your skin and hair color.  People with darker skin and lighter hair, for example, would require the most number of treatments.  Your hair also grows in cycles, with many different factors (like age, ethnicity, diet, metabolism, weight, and hormones) affecting its growth.  Your medical history and previous hair removal methods can also factor in your hair growth and its resilience. 

Laser hair removal slows the growth capacity of each follicle targeted.  However, because some follicles may enter their growth cycle after your treatment, 5 to 6 treatments are typically required for you to achieve your desired results.  Most patients, though, see an immediate reduction after just one or two treatments.  Imagine being able to fully enjoy the warm, sunny Bakersfield summers without worrying about waxing or shaving before heading to the pool!

Do I Need to Shave Before my Treatment?

The laser needs to be able to “see” the hair, but it also cannot be too long.  So you should shave one to three days before your appointment.  Your laser specialist may shave the treatment area for you if it’s hard to reach.

Costs

While laser hair removal treatments are initially more expensive than other methods of hair removal, you should keep in mind that they are a permanent solution to your unwanted hair problems.  Waxing costs may seem less expensive, but they quickly add up, as they need to be repeated regularly.  Shaving and plucking, while cost effective, are messy and inconvenient, and also need to be repeated often, even daily.  Electrolysis is permanent, but is often painful and much more time consuming.  Investing in laser hair removal actually provides a savings to patients when the long term costs, and your personal time, are calculated. 

After the Procedure

Patients should avoid alcohol, exercise, heat and sunlight for a short period following their laser treatments.