Laser Hair Removal Treatments
Permanent Hair Removal in the San Diego Area
Dr. Melanie Palm has lectured nationally and internationally on laser hair removal technology including various diode laser hair removal platforms like the Lutronic Advantage™. Laser hair removal treatments easily remove unwanted hair from almost any location on the face and body. Dr. Palm’s practice, Art of Skin MD, is located in Solana Beach CA, just north of San Diego.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a permanent means of reducing unwanted hair. Laser treatment sessions are completed as a series of treatment, spaced approximately 3 to 6 weeks apart. An average treatment session will lead to an approximate 20% reduction in dark, unwanted hairs.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States. During treatment, highly concentrated beams of light target the bulb of each hair follicle. The pigment in the hair follicles absorb the light which damages the follicle bulb and destroys the hair follicle. Only pigmented hairs can be targeted – the darker and coarser the hair the more successfully a laser can “find” unwanted hair. Blond, red, and white hair do not respond well to laser hair removal treatments.
Laser Hair Removal With The Lutronic Advantage™
The Lutronic Advantage™ is one of the most innovative, fast, and consistent laser hair removal devices. It is a diode laser that may be used safely on many different skin types. It has a large treatment window that allows quicker treatment times and increased comfort for the patient. An entire man’s back can be treated in approximately 7 minutes.
Splendor X
Our new Splendor X laser hair removal procedure/device quickly and easily remove unwanted hair from virtually any location on the face and body. Art of Skin MD has two devices and three wavelengths to safely, effectively and comfortably remove unwanted hair. Our newest platform, the Lumenis Splendor X, is the only laser hair removal device on the market to simultaneously emit two laser wavelengths, leading to comfortable treatments that are specifically tailored to your skin type! Feedback from patients has been enormously positive, with many stating it is the most comfortable laser hair removal they have ever experienced.
Laser Hair Removal FAQ
Many areas of unwanted hair can be targeted with laser hair removal. The Lutronic Advantage™ may be used on face to treat the upper lip, chin, jawline, or neck. The large handpiece on the Lutronic Advantage™ makes it ideal for the treatment of large surface areas such as the chest and back as well. Laser hair treatments are extremely fast, lasting approximately 5 minutes. Laser hair removal can be used to successfully treat pseudofolliculitis barbae, a condition of the face and neck in which ingrown hairs cause inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and scarring. On the body, laser hair removal is used to treat the underarm area, forearms, arms, legs, back, and bikini area.
While there can be some degree of discomfort during a laser hair removal treatment (most patients compare it to the snap of a rubber band against their skin), Dr. Palm and her staff at Art of Skin MD goes to great lengths to make the process as comfortable for her patients as possible. Topical anesthetic as well as pre-cooling with ice packs greatly decrease the discomfort of laser hair removal making the procedure virtually painless. We use a cooling air device during treatment to reduce discomfort and to promote skin safety during laser hair reduction.
In preparation for your laser hair removal treatment, your skin should be without a tan or self-tanner application. Unwanted hairs should not be plucked, tweezed, waxed, chemically exfoliated, or threaded. Shaving is permitted prior to treatment.
Yes. You can still shave or trim hair between treatments. You shouldn’t tweeze, pluck, use depilatory creams, or wax, however, since these methods remove the hair from the hair follicle.
When performed correctly by an experienced, trained professional like Dr. Palm, laser hair removal treatments are very safe and have little to no associated downtime or side effects. Some patients may experience some slight redness or mild swelling at the treatment site that typically goes away within a few hours. Minimizing sun exposure prior to and during treatment, as well as using an SPF30 or higher sunscreen can further minimize these side effects.
The diode laser used at Art of Skin MD can be used safely on a variety of skin types. It is important to note that Dr. Palm or her staff may perform a test spot prior to the first treatment to ensure that laser settings are compatible with a patient’s skin type and a proper response to laser hair removal. In darker skin types, lower energy settings and more treatments are often necessary as safety comes first. When skin color is closer to the color of the hair to be removed by the laser, lower laser settings are required to treat hair but preserve the safety of the skin and avoid unwanted side effects.
Treatment to the full back in male
If you are interested in learning more about laser hair removal, or would like to set up a consultation, call Dr. Melanie Palm at 858.792.SKIN (7546) to schedule your appointment.
