hair removal

October 17, 2022

Laser Hair Removal: Is It Permanent?

Laser Hair Removal blog, hair removal, laser, med spa, skin care

Is laser hair removal permanent? This is one of the most common questions we receive when discussing laser hair removal. If you’ve spent any time researching the procedure, you will most likely have read conflicting information. Many people praise laser hair removal as the permanent solution to hair growth, but this opinion is slightly misleading. So, how permanent is laser hair removal? The short answer is semi-permanent. But to really understand how laser hair removal works, you will need to know the basics of the hair growth stages and how laser light affects the follicle.

The Life Cycle of Hair:

Hair grows in four stages: anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. During these phases, your hair is going through a process of growing, transitioning, resting, and shedding. Laser hair removal is primarily effective when hair is in the anagen or the growth phase. During this phase, the light from the laser can target the pigment of these hairs. The light heats the hair, and the hair then transfers the heat to the follicle. When the heat is transferred to the follicle, the follicle is destroyed. This is what prevents hair from regrowing.

Multiple Treatments Achieve Optimal Results:

At this point, you may be thinking that this sounds relatively permanent. And you would be somewhat correct in your conclusion. However, hair grows in stages. That is the reason why laser hair removal requires multiple treatments and future touch-ups to achieve optimal results. The hair on your body isn’t always in the anagen phase, and it takes time for each follicle to reach that phase. This is the primary reason we space out our laser treatments. We want to ensure we can target your hair while it is in the anagen phase. As a rule, body hair tends to be in the anagen or active growth phase for 30 to 45 days. While we can treat most hair in about six sessions, this is not the case for everyone, and you may experience some hair regrowth. Still, the hairs that do regrow are typically finer and lighter. That being said, after your first treatment, you will see between a 10% and 25% decrease in hair growth.

Laser Hair Removal Is Still Your Best Option:

Don’t let the phrase “semi-permanent” deter you from seeking treatment. At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we apply a methodical approach to laser hair removal. During your free consultation, we will assess your skin and hair, discuss skin preparation before treatment, and provide you with an aftercare plan. We are careful to schedule sessions during the hair growth phase to treat as many follicles in the active growth stage as possible. After completing about six sessions, you will see fantastic results with at least an 80% permanent reduction in hair. If any stray hairs reappear, we can easily address them with additional treatments.

We have had great results treating men and women with different skin types and shades. It is important to note that the exception to this is that laser hair removal does not treat blonde, red or gray hair. Our licensed laser technicians are highly skilled, having received in-depth training, and our facility only uses FDA-approved lasers. We even have a laser school (Southern Laser Academy) where we train other laser technicians so we are serious about our safety! We are happy to provide our patients with a procedure that is both safe and effective. With minimal pain and no downtime, you will be well on your way to living hair-free just in time for beach season. If you are considering laser hair removal, schedule your complimentary consultation with Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Our laser technicians will be happy to develop a custom hair removal and aftercare plan for you. For more information about our facility and the services we offer, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

December 21, 2021

How (and Why) to Maximize Your Beach Body This Winter

Laser Hair Removal, Microneedling, Non Surgical Fat Reduction blog, cosmetic treatments, hair removal, microneedling, nonsurgical fat reduction

We’re up to our necks in holiday décor, gift shopping, and downright chilly sweater weather. Chances are that the last thing on your mind is your beach body (even if you fantasize about a beach vacation every time you step out into the cold). But if you wait until swimsuit weather is near again, chances are that you won’t have time to get the fine-tuned physique you want before you hit the beach.

Why is that the case and why should your beach bod be on your mind now, in the middle of winter? Allow our aesthetic experts at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center to explain why and give you the ultimate beach body checklist so that when summer arrives, you’ll be ready.

Why Now is the Time to Work on Your Beach Body

At Laser Lights, we see the same pattern repeat itself every year. Patients come in during the late spring or early summer and they’ve decided that this is the year they’ll invest in the physique of their dreams. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that most treatments take weeks or months to produce full results. They’re disappointed when they find out that their beach body won’t be at its best until beach season is almost over.

Trust us, you don’t want that disappointment. You want to be prepared to whip off the cover-up and show up as soon as the summer hits, and that requires planning ahead. Now is the time to schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights to plan your treatments in advance.

Top Treatments to Get Your Beach Body in Order

Naturally, the next question is which cosmetic treatments you should consider to get your optimal summer physique. Don’t worry, we have you covered! Depending on your aesthetic needs and priorities, try these popular treatments:

Nonsurgical fat reduction – a treatment in which we use SculpSure®’s advanced technology to deliver precise warmth to fat cells in your specific treatment area such as your abdomen or thighs, damaging those fat cells so your body can absorb and remove them, giving you a leaner look in a targeted area
Skin tightening and/or cellulite reduction – a treatment that uses ultrasound technology to spark collagen growth in your skin, making your skin firmer and shapelier while also reducing the appearance of cellulite
Stretch mark reduction – our aesthetic specialists use microneedling to reduce the scar tissue of stretch marks and provide a smoother, sleeker appearance
Laser hair removal – a series of laser treatments that impact your hair follicles to prevent or reduce future hair growth, allowing your skin to stay hair-free for longer so you’re not constantly choosing between shaving, waxing, or stubble
Spider vein removal – laser treatments that target visible spider veins and work with your body’s healing process to close off the veins so your body can remove them

Getting your ideal summer body might involve eating healthy and hitting the gym, but in many cases, that’s not all it takes to get the physique you truly want. Cosmetic treatments like those above can allow you to take control over your appearance and get the beach bod you want this year, but it requires you to get started early. To plan your cosmetic strategy, call Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center today to schedule a free consultation. Remember to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more cosmetic tips.

December 9, 2021

Our Experts’ Top Tips for the Best Laser Hair Removal Results

Laser Hair Removal hair removal, med spa, shaving, skin resurfacing, waxing

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular treatments we offer at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, and why not? Temporary hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, and plucking take a lot of time and hassle, so who wouldn’t want a more long-term solution?

The fall and winter are actually the best time of year to start your laser hair removal treatments if you want to have your full results by the time the warm weather (AKA shorts and bathing suit season) arrives, as it can take six sessions spaced roughly one month apart to optimize your results. If you want to get the best possible results from your laser hair removal, use these tips from our expert licensed laser technicians.

Keep Your Appointment Schedule

Timing is important in laser hair removal. Your sessions are spaced 4-6 weeks apart because we need to treat as many hairs as possible when they are in the ideal time in their growth cycle. As a result, if you miss or reschedule an appointment, it will affect the timing and possibly the results of your treatment.

Aim to keep your appointments as often as you can. If you do need to reschedule, contact us with as much notice as possible, because if you wait until a day or two before your appointment, our schedule may be full.

Shave, but Don’t Wax

During a laser hair removal treatment, the laser travels down each hair to reach the follicle at the hair’s root. The treatment only works when it’s able to access and damage the hair follicle.

If you wax, sugar, or pluck your hairs in between laser hair removal treatments (or if you use any other method to pull out the hairs), it removes the root so your laser treatment won’t be able to reach the follicle. Instead, you should shave the area the day before your laser session. This preserves the hair’s root so the laser can still reach the follicle, but it removes any hair above your skin so it reduces the risk of burning your skin.

Make Sun Protection a Priority

Sun exposure and laser treatments don’t mix well. The effects can intermingle in a way that leads to long-term effects like irregular pigmentation in your skin. This is true for laser hair removal as well as other laser treatments like fractionated CO2 laser skin resurfacing.

Because of this, it’s critical to avoid sun exposure by keeping the area covered as much as possible and wearing sunscreen on the area daily. Most importantly, avoid tanning or laying out in the sun. You should steer clear of sun exposure for six weeks before and after each laser treatment.

Be Honest with Your Laser Specialist

Your goal is to get fantastic and long-lasting results from your laser hair removal without side effects. That’s your laser technician’s goal too! So, when your laser specialist asks you questions, such as questions about your current medications, medical history, or sun exposure, it’s important to be honest.

We ask these questions so that we can tailor your treatment to specifically meet your needs and achieve the best results in the safest way. You and your laser technician are on the same team, so make sure you’re working collaboratively.

How to Get Started with Laser Hair RemovalowHow to

If you’d like to put these tips to use to get comprehensive and long-lasting laser hair removal results, our team is here to help! Call Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center in Duluth, GA to schedule your complimentary consultation today. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more cosmetic tips and special offers, and check out our December 2021 special on laser hair removal.

October 27, 2021

It’s Laser Season! 9 Ways Lasers Can Enhance Your Appearance

Anti-aging, Laser Hair Removal, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Tattoo Removal, Vein Removal hair removal, med spa, skin resurfacing, tattoo removal, vein removal

We’re breaking our sweaters out of their out-of-season storage, dusting off our pumpkin décor, and gearing up for a few holiday-packed months ahead. That means it’s fall, and around Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, fall is also known as “laser season.” Because laser treatments require you to shield your skin from the sun, the cooler weather of fall and winter make this time of the year a perfect time to get the cosmetic laser treatments that have been on your wish list this year.

How can laser treatments give your appearance a boost this fall? Take a look at these nine popular ways you can take advantage of laser season.

Smooth Fine Lines and Wrinkles

As common as fine lines and wrinkles are, you can effectively reduce or remove them with cosmetic laser treatments. The laser triggers your body’s collagen production, and collagen is the skin-firming protein that makes young skin naturally firm and smooth. Fractionated CO₂ laser skin resurfacing is the most effective way to treat these pesky signs of aging.

Lighten and Remove Age Spots

Age spots, unwanted freckles, and other brown spots on your skin come from localized areas of excess pigment in your skin. This pigment is usually the result of sun damage, but targeted age spot removal and brown spot removal will break down those excess pigments for a clearer complexion. You can also reduce these types of spots with laser treatments that treat other cosmetic issues at the same time, like fractionated laser skin resurfacing or photo rejuvenation.

Clear Away Unwanted Hair

Tired of endless shaving or waxing to get rid of unwanted hair? Laser hair removal produces significantly longer-lasting results by affecting your hair follicles, so they don’t produce hair as quickly as they used to or they stop producing hair altogether.

Reduce or Remove Unwanted Birthmarks

Some people cherish their birthmarks but if you’d prefer to bid yours adieu, lasers can help. This is true for brown birthmarks, often called café au lait birthmarks, and red or pink birthmarks (also called vascular birthmarks) like port wine stains.

Minimize Facial Redness

Persistent facial redness or rosacea happens because of enlarged blood vessels below your facial skin. Laser rosacea treatments, fortunately, can target and reduce those blood vessels for a more consistent complexion.

Treat Facial Veins and Spider Veins

Facial veins and spider veins in the legs are extremely common but they aren’t a look that many people love. Luckily, laser spider vein treatments for the face and legs can target and block off those stubborn veins, allowing your body to naturally remove them.

Reduce Scars

When your body is repairing a wound or surgical incision, it doesn’t take the time to make sure the scar tissue is smooth and even. Cosmetic laser treatments will help after the fact by breaking up existing scar tissue and triggering your body’s ability to produce newer, smoother scar tissue, making your scars less visible.

Remove Unwanted Tattoos

Tattoos are meant to last forever but sometimes our opinions and tastes change. If you want to get rid of an old tattoo or make room for a new one, laser tattoo removal is an effective way to make that happen. The laser breaks up the ink particles so your body can clear them away.

Reduce Unwanted Fat (Sort Of)

SculpSure® non-surgical fat reduction doesn’t technically use lasers but it uses similar technology. The procedure sends targeted warmth into an area you want to slim down, and that warmth damages the fat cells so your body can remove them in its waste disposal process.

If any of the aesthetic goals above struck a chord with you, this fall is the perfect time to put to take advantage of all that lasers have to offer. Schedule a complimentary consultation or RSVP for our upcoming Your Body, Your Canvas Day of Beauty to receive 20% any scheduled treatment you receive during the event and enjoy more specials at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center to learn more.

September 27, 2021

Laser Hair Removal vs. Waxing: Pros and Cons

Laser Hair Removal blog, hair removal, med spa, skin, waxing

In certain areas of our bodies, hair serves a valuable purpose. It can protect our eyes from dirt and contaminants, for example. Still, most of us have some areas of our bodies that we would prefer not to have hair, so we look for ways to remove that hair.

There are several hair removal options, and each one has its pros and cons. Our experts at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center are here to help by comparing two popular hair removal methods: waxing and laser hair removal.

How They Work

Waxing and laser hair removal work in very different ways. Waxing is rather simple: you apply a hot wax that adheres to your hairs but not your skin, so when you pull off the wax, it plucks your hairs out of their follicles.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, uses a precise type of laser light that travels down your hair into your hair follicle. When the laser light reaches your follicle, it damages the follicle so the follicle is less able to grow hair in the future.

The Results

Waxing and laser hair removal have different goals when it comes to hair removal. Waxing removes the hair immediately, but it’s just meant for temporary hair removal. It doesn’t affect your hair’s ability to regrow in the future. Within a week, you’ll usually see some hair growth returning.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, is designed for long-term hair removal. In some cases, hairs will fall out after your laser treatment, though you’ll need to shave before your session so you may not notice hairs falling out. The real result is that you’ll see gradually less hair growth in the area.

Because of this, laser hair removal is better if you want to have smooth skin as often as possible. With waxing, you need to wait until the hair has grown at least a quarter of an inch before you can wax again, so if you wait four weeks between waxing sessions, you could have one week of smooth skin and three weeks of stubble.

The Discomfort

This is one of the most common concerns for both waxing and laser treatments. The idea of a laser sounds painful, but in reality, waxing is generally more painful than laser hair removal. You also need to repeat waxing sessions more often than you repeat laser sessions, so you’ll be enduring the discomfort more frequently.

The Treatment Regimen

Because waxing only creates temporary hair removal, you need to frequently get new waxing treatments. Depending on how quickly your hair grows, you’ll need a waxing session every two to four weeks.

With laser hair removal, the treatment regimen is quite different. You’ll start with a series of about six treatments to produce the initial results, and with four to six weeks between treatments. After this, you’ll only need a maintenance treatment once or twice per year. This varies based on how resilient your follicles are.

The Cost

Waxing initially seems inexpensive compared to laser hair removal because the cost for each session is much lower. However, remember that over time, you’ll need many more waxing sessions than laser sessions.

Consider the costs of treating your bikini line. A typical bikini wax can cost around $25. If you get a wax once per month, over the course of five years, this adds up to $1500. The laser hair removal cost for the same area is about $89 per session or $445 for a package of six treatments. If you get a series of six treatments and then you get one maintenance treatment per year, that adds up to just over $800 over the course of five years – about half the cost of waxing.

Choosing Your Hair Removal Method

Everyone has their own preferences for their cosmetic treatments, and there are many pros and cons to consider. For many people, though, laser hair removal is a clear winner over waxing. To find out if laser hair removal is the right choice for you, schedule a complimentary consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more insights and cosmetic tips.

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