Dealing with unwanted hair is just like a summer rerun — you shave, pluck, wax, or use harsh depilatory creams to get rid of the hair, and then a few weeks later there it is again. And since the summers in Houston aren’t the time to cover up, you’re not going to leave the hair there for all to see.
Dr. Kronberg can cancel the reruns of hair removal. She’ll put her Gentlase laser to work, zapping those unwanted hairs and removing them permanently.
How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal is all about the hair follicle. The follicle is responsible for growing hair. First, we set the wavelength of the Gentlase laser to match the color of your unwanted hair. We then deliver the light energy onto the target area in short bursts. The hair shaft absorbs the light energy, and it converts to heat. That heat travels down the shaft into the follicle damaging it and preventing it from growing hair. Sometimes, if the follicle isn’t fully disabled, hair growth can return in a few months or more, but often a second treatment will finish the job.
Catching it in the growth phase
Our patients often wonder why more than one laser treatment is required. This is because to be effective the targeted hairs need to be in the anagen (growth) phase. Unfortunately, hair can also be in the telogen (transition to resting) and cathagen (resting) phases. Both of these phases don’t respond to laser energy, as the body is already in the process of shedding the hair, so the energy can’t travel down into the follicle to damage it. Every one of the hundreds of thousands of hairs on our bodies operates independently, so it’s difficult to catch every unwanted hair in the anagen phase, hence the need for multiple treatments.
Where is laser hair removal effective?
Every year, laser hair removal is the most popular cosmetic treatment performed in the U.S. That’s likely because it works and the treatments are easy to take. At Dr. Kronberg’s, the most popular locations for laser hair removal are the chin, upper lip, chest, underarms, back, bikini line, and the legs.
Darker skin tones and lighter hair
Because the laser energy needs to be set to the pigment of the hair, the most effective laser hair removal is in patients with lighter skin tones and darker hair colors. The contrast in hair color and skin color allows effective targeting of the melanin in the hair. Patients with darker skin pigmentation, or moderate to deep tanning, can’t have laser hair removal.
How many treatments will I need?
Although every patient is unique, Dr. Kronberg will give you an idea of how many laser hair removal treatments you’ll need. For the majority of patients, from four to six treatments are necessary for long-term hair reduction.
Interested in ditching the razors and the tweezers? Call Dr. Kronberg at 713-771-8941 and ask about laser hair removal.
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