Laser Hair Removal

Lasers and sophisticated light systems (IPL) have revolutionized the field of IPL and laser hair removal. By targeting the pigment in hair follicles, these systems can effectively eradicate large areas of hair in a relatively short period of time.

By disabling the growth structure of the follicle the hair root is either usually eliminated altogether or its growth is stunted so that it is finer and lighter in colour.

**Actual patient. Individual results may vary.

At Nakatsui DermaSurgery (formerly Groot DermaSurgery Centre) we have three FDA approved laser hair removal and IPL hair removal systems; the CoolGlide laser, the ProWave IPL, and the Cutera excel HR laser. These three devices allow us to treat all skin types and most areas of the body. Our dermatologist Dr. Nakatsui and his team of nurses have over 20 years of experience in laser hair removal.

The Cutera excel HR is our most advanced hair removal laser and is one of the most effective laser hair removal devices on the market. It uses two different wavelengths of laser light (755 nm and 1064 nm Nd:YAG) in combination with a sapphire lens that provides contact cooling for each laser pulse. This makes the treatment far less painful.

Although our IPL (ProWave) is also beneficial for laser hair removal, we have found that our Excel HR laser to be superior and safe for all skin types.

“I want to thank your nurses for the excellent treatments I have received over the years for the removal of hair from my face and other areas that I care not to mention. It has given me so much confidence.”
— A.J.

*The testimonials presented on any of our Company’s websites are applicable to the individuals depicted only and may not be representative of the experience of others.

Quick Facts about Laser Hair Removal

laser hair removal back before and after edmonton

**Actual patients. Individual results may vary.

Age, ethnicity, weight, hormones, diet, medication and metabolism all play a role in the location and thickness of hair on the body, which in turn contributes to the resilience of the hair follicle to destruction with the laser and infrared light.

More than one treatment session is necessary because our hair grows in cycles. The light targets hairs that are in the active growth phase of the cycle. Since some hair follicles may enter their growth cycle after a treatment, multiple treatments may be required to deliver optimal results. We have found that in most cases the best results are achieved between four to eight sessions, followed by maintenance therapy. Good results are expected, but are not guaranteed.

**Actual patients. Individual results may vary.

laser hair removal chin before and after

“Hair removal – what a dream, should have done it sooner, no more wasted time in the shower shaving, no more waxing, and the best of all, is it is not even as painful as waxing, yet it’s permanent for a fraction of the cost of what I would have spent on waxing over only 5 years.”
— D.G.

*The testimonials presented on any of our Company’s websites are applicable to the individuals depicted only and may not be representative of the experience of others.

Laser hair removal eliminates the growth of some hairs and stunts the growth of other hairs. This usually significantly reduces the amount of hair and the thickness of the hair in a treated area.

Treatment results will vary from patient to patient depending on their skin colour, hair colour, thickness and amount of hair, and where on the body the hair is located. Because laser and IPL light targets pigment, people with dark skin run the risk of the skin around the hair losing pigment. This is much less likely with the Cool Glide and Excel HR laser systems than with other laser light systems.

Side effects are rare, but may include redness, swelling, blistering, skin sensitivity, numbness and/or pigment changes. Scars may occur but are extremely rare. We have seen burns, scars, and pigment change from other laser clinics, thus stressing the importance of having treatments done by a trained medical professional.

laser hair removal before and after neck edmonton

**Actual patients. Individual results may vary.

Test sites may be performed prior to treating an area, so the patient has an opportunity to see the potential results before committing to a full treatment session. This is particularly beneficial if the area to be treated is large.

Why is it important to be properly evaluated prior to laser hair removal?

Prior to your treatments, our nurses will guide you through a focused history and physical to look at several different factors that may influence your treatment, including:

Endocrine anomalies
Pregnancy
Photosensitivity and autoimmune conditions
History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
Presence of tan
Hair colour and quality
Skin type
Past methods of hair removal

Contact Us For A Free Laser Hair Removal Consultation
Edmonton Laser Hair Removal Clinic
Serving Edmonton, St. Albert, and Sherwood Park
Questions About Hair Removal? Contact us at:
780-482-1414

Can you treat light hair?

At this point, there is no effective laser treatment for light hair (white, grey, blonde. red). However, there is a technology for removing light hair that is being researched. Sienna Biopharmaceuticals developed a silver photoparticle that helped treat light coloured hair. In studies, it yielded a modest 20% reduction but it was at least a real reduction in light hair, which is not possible with any other current technology.

The company unfortunately went under but the technology was acquired by another company so we are keeping an eye on it.

Can Laser Treatment be Combined with Other Treatments?

Yes, some patients who receive laser hair removal also use topical creams like Vaniqa to slow down hair growth and others are taking oral medications to block the effects of hormones on their hair growth.

Laser Hair Removal FAQs

How Does Laser Hair Reduction Work?

At Nakatsui DermaSurgery (formerly Groot DermaSurgery Centre) we have three options for the reduction of hair: The Cutera CoolGlide laser, the ProWave IPL, and the Excel HR laser are non-invasive light treatments designed to eliminate unwanted hair from all parts of the body. The Cutera CoolGlide and Excel HR lasers generate a pulse of intense, concentrated light, directed through a small, cooled hand piece, which is gently applied to the treatment site. The ProWave utilizes the infrared light spectrum through a larger window than the CoolGlide to safely and effectively cover larger skin surfaces. This light energy from both systems passes through the skin to the hair follicle, where the energy is absorbed by pigment in the hair and hair follicle, causing selective damage to the hair root without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin.

What Areas Of The Body Can Be Treated?

Most parts of the body can be treated. In women, the most common areas for treatment are the upper lip, chin, bikini line, arms and legs, and underarms. In men, the most common areas for treatment are shoulders and back, and the beard area. We do not treat eyelashes and eyebrows, because of the potential risk of damage to the eyes by the laser light. Nor do we treat penises, as the vascularity in the penis may be compromised. The eyes are protected with special eye shields when other areas of the body are treated.

What Are The Benefits Of Laser Hair Reduction Compared To Alternative Treatments?

The primary benefits of laser hair removal reduction include:

Larger areas may be treated with less discomfort than with electrolysis, waxing, or tweezing.
The CoolGlide, ProWave, and Excel HR combine speed, comfort, and long-lasting results.
The CoolGlide, ProWave, and Excel HR work on any area of the body where a hair-free appearance is desired.

Shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams like Nair TM, Neet TM, and Vaniqa TM are all temporary methods that must be repeated on a regular basis over time. These methods remove the hair but leave the hair follicles intact. The hair re-grows within one to four weeks in most cases. Electrolysis like laser treatments destroys the hair follicle. The drawback is that electrolysis treats one hair at a time and is therefore limited to the treatment of small areas. It is time consuming and there is a higher risk of pigment change and scarring with electrolysis. The laser hair removal systems at our laser skin care centre offer long lasting results, and even if hair does eventually grow back it is usually finer in texture and lighter in colour than the original hair, and much less of a cosmetic problem.

What Are The Risks Of Laser Hair Reduction?

Short-term side effects may include a slight reddening of the skin or local swelling which typically lasts less than an hour, although it may infrequently last a few days. Although rare, there can be increased or decreased pigment in the treated area. This is seldom a major cosmetic problem, and generally resolves after several months. Blisters and possible scar may occur, but are also very rare. The qualifications and training of the laser operator is important in minimizing potential problems. At our laser skin care clinic, only nurses (RN’s) certified in laser procedures perform the treatments.

How Permanent is Laser Hair Removal?

Permanent hair removal means: all the hair is gone, forever. There is no hair removal method (including laser) that can guarantee permanent hair removal. The most realistic description of the results after laser treatment is: “long-term hair reduction”. This means that after an average of four to eight treatments, the total amount of hair is greatly reduced and the hair which does grow is often much finer and lighter in colour. Most people are very pleased with this degree of improvement, as long as they know that this is what to expect before they have laser hair removal treatment. Because lasers have only been used for hair removal for just over a decade, we do not know if the results will last forever; however, we do know that stable, long-term hair reduction commonly lasts for at least two years, and some patients who had their last treatment six or seven years ago are still enjoying a high degree of hair reduction.

Why Are At Least Three Treatment Sessions Usually Required?

All laser and light treatments work by disabling hairs that are in their active growth cycle at the time of treatment. Hair follicles in their “dormant” phase usually have no hair shaft and so will not be affected by the laser. Because hair follicles cycle through “active” and “dormant” phases, additional sessions are usually desired once the “dormant” follicles become “active” and also to deal with hair follicles which were stunned but not destroyed during a previous treatment. Because only 1/4 to 1/3 of the actively growing pigmented hair roots are damaged or destroyed in any one session, almost all people will require a minimum of three laser hair removal treatments to reach a satisfactory degree of hair reduction, and many people will wish to have more than three treatments. On average most people have 4 to 8 sessions. The number of sessions will depend on:

The desired degree of hair reduction
Hair color (people with naturally light colored hair sometimes require more treatments)
Ethnic and genetic background (people with dark skin sometimes require more treatments)
Hormonal status
Area being treated
Hair density
Age
Weight (obesity can contribute to hair growth)
Medication (for example medicines like Dilantin and cyclosporine can increase hair growth)

Additional “touch-up” treatments on small troublesome areas can be arranged. There is no safety. limit on the number of treatments a person can have.

Who Is A Candidate For Laser Hair Removal?

People who have hair in unwanted areas or who have excess hair due to hormonal imbalance or medications are candidates for laser hair removal. White, naturally blonde, or red hair does not respond as well to laser treatments because there is little or no pigment in the hair root.

How Painful is Laser Hair Removal?

A laser hair removal treatment typically feels like little snaps and is minimally uncomfortable. Ice, a cooling gel and a cooling device attached to the laser or IPL light, are applied to cool the skin prior to the treatment to help manage the discomfort. Our most advanced laser uses a cooled clear sapphire lens to chill the skin while it is being treated. In the era of COVID-19, we no longer use forced blowing chilled air as this may blow virus into the air, which we believe should be avoided even with additional personal protective equipment (PPE).

What Does A Laser Hair Removal Treatment Cost?

The cost of the treatment varies with the size of the area being treated. Please e-mail us at info@nakatsuiderm.com and tell us the area of your body you are interested in having treated, for example; upper lip or bikini and we will be happy to let you know the cost.

Laser Hair Remvoval TLDR

Devices: ProWave (IPL), CoolGlide, Excel HR

Description: Most likely permanent reduction of unwanted facial or body hair using lasers. The hairs are lighter, thinner and less in number.

Average Cost: $85.00 – $500.00 per area treated, depending on the size.

Length of Procedure: Several minutes to several hours, depending on the size of the area treated.

Anesthesia: None required.

Recovery Time: None.

Treatment Frequency: Several sessions may be needed because not all hair follicles will be disabled during a treatment.

Risks: Redness, swelling, blistering, numbness, skin sensitivity, scarring (rare), burn (rare).

Duration of Results: Partially permanent, although touch-up treatments may be necessary.

Do you have another question that wasn’t addressed here? Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have!