Frequently Asked Questions about Candela Gentlease Plus

• What is the Candela Gentlelase Plus System?
• Is it painful?
• How permanent is laser hair removal?
• Which body areas can be treated?
• How many treatment sessions are necessary?
• Will the treated areas be hair-free after the treatment series?
• What should I do to maximize the value of each treatment session?
• Who is an ideal candidate for laser hair removal?
• What if I’ve had prior laser treatment or electrolysis?
• What about freckles, moles or tattoos in the treatment area?
• What should I expect after laser treatment?
• Should I restrict any activities after treatments?
• Are there any risks involved with laser hair removal?
• Why is laser hair removal better than other methods?
• Is laser hair removal more effective than electrolysis?
• Why is it necessary to perform a test area?
• How much does laser hair removal cost?
• Does insurance cover the cost of laser hair removal treatments?
• Is the cost of laser treatment tax deductible as a medical expense?
• Will the hair grow back, and if so, how much and how quickly?
• Is it true the hair sometimes seems to continue growing after treatment?
• What specifically does unwanted female facial hair refer to?
• Do some hair colors respond better to laser treatment?
• What do the terms Hypertrichosis and Hirsutism mean?
• What should I consider when contemplating permanent laser hair removal?

What is the Candela GentleLASE Plus System?

This is a state-of-the-art light therapy technology designed specifically for the elimination of unwanted body hair. This non-invasive technique generates a concentrated, highly intense beam of light which kills the hair roots without damaging the surrounding skin tissue. It is a quick, effective and gentle system for the removal of unwanted hair.

Is it painful?

Since the laser only emits light, the procedure is virtually painless. Some clients report a tingling sensation, or a slight pin-prick sensation. However the collective opinion is that the discomfort is significantly less painful than waxing, tweezing, razor burn or cuts from shaving. Candela GentleLASE features a cooling device which protects the skin and makes treatment more comfortable. In addition, we can apply anesthetic gel topically to the skin before beginning the treatment session if a client is particularly concerned about pain sensitivity.

How permanent is laser hair removal?

“Permanent hair removal” is a relative term, and at present there is no system for hair removal that really guarantees the hair will never grow back. However, laser hair removal is a long-lasting solution for greatly reducing the amount of hair on the body. In most cases the hair reduction is reduced between seventy and ninety per cent. If any hair does re-grow, it is generally much lighter in color and finer-textured, so that it is not as noticeable. The majority of laser hair removal clients are extremely pleased with these results.

Which body areas can be treated?

With the Candela Gentlelase System we can treat any part of the body for hair removal. For women the most common treatment areas are the underarms, upper lip, legs, bikini line, and eyebrows. The most common treatment areas for men are the beard area, the shoulders and the back.

How many treatment sessions are necessary?

The number of sessions you will need is dependent on a number of factors. Some of these factors are your hair color (darker hair requires less sessions), your skin pigmentation (dark skin may require more sessions), your hair density, your hormonal status, and whether or not you are on medication (some medicines can increase hair growth).

However on average clients can expect to need three to six treatment sessions. This is due to the fact that the laser destroys hair follicles that are in an active growth stage by destroying the roots. But at any given time there are also hair follicles in dormant stages, which have not yet developed roots. On the dormant hairs lasers have no effect, so the client must return to destroy the dormant hairs as they enter the active stage of their cycle and develop roots.

Will the treated areas be hair-free after the treatment series?

Not completely, but on the average clients experience between eighty and ninety per cent hair reduction, which is actually a very pleasing outcome. Remember that the remaining hair will be finer and lighter in color, and therefore much less noticeable.

Variable factors in the life of the client, such as hormonal changes and the use of some medicines, may create new hair growth by stimulating dormant hair follicles to become active.

What should I do to maximize the value of each treatment session?

There are several things you can do to increase the level of effectiveness of laser treatments. Our technicians at Premiere Laser will provide you with a list of recommendations. Some of these recommendations include the avoidance of tanning (best results are achieved when the skin is at its lightest), and the avoidance of waxing or tweezing, since the laser beam works by seeking out and killing the actively growing hair roots. Shaving and bleaching have no affect on the hair follicle roots, so you those procedures are allowable before treatment.

Who is an ideal candidate for laser hair removal?

With the Candela Gentlelase system, we can successfully treat most people regardless of skin and hair color. Even pregnant women can be safely treated. Since white hair has insufficient color pigment for effective laser treatment, it may be a good idea to have your laser hair removal treatment completed before you go gray or white!

What if I’ve had prior laser treatment or electrolysis?

We have successfully treated many clients who have either been unable to tolerate electrolysis, or who have had unsatisfactory results with older laser systems.

What about freckles, moles or tattoos in the treatment area?

Freckles and moles are not a problem, because we can adjust the laser intensity for those areas. Tattoos in general do not usually require hair removal treatment since very little hair growth occurs under the tattoo. Permanent eyebrows and lip liner are tattoos, so make sure to inform us if you have these so that we can use special precautions near those areas.

What should I expect after laser treatment?

It is common to experience redness after treatment, which in many cases fades before the client gets back home. It is normal for some clients to experience redness for between one and forty-eight hours after laser treatment. In addition, you may experience dryness in the treated areas.

Should I restrict any activities after treatment?

We recommend that you do not take a hot shower or bath for the first day after treatment, and that you avoid any activity that may cause sweating for the first day as well. Results are best and irritation is minimized when the skin is not overheated by hot water or exercise immediately following laser treatment.

Are there any risks involved with laser hair removal?

The laser light is not a carcinogen. The only risks may include slight skin redness or local swelling, which generally last less than an hour. Very rarely the client may experience a lightening of pigment in the treated area. This is usually not a major cosmetic issue, and typically resolves itself after just a few months.

Why is laser hair removal better than other methods?

With laser hair removal systems, it is possible to treat larger areas of skin with much less pain and discomfort than with other methods, such as tweezing or waxing. In addition, it’s much faster and has much longer-lasting results,

Is laser hair removal more effective than electrolysis?

Yes. Electrolysis is much more time consuming and a lot less effective than laser treatments. Electrolysis often requires hundreds of hours of treatment, and only 15-50 % hair removal is achieved. In addition it is a more painful method of hair removal.

Why is it necessary to perform a test area?

Because the skin on various individuals is different, it is important for the technician to test small areas before treatment to determine the ideal laser energy level for you. On lighter skin the test results are usually immediate, but darker skin types may have to wait a week to insure there was no pigment alteration or burning of the skin tissue.

How much does laser hair removal cost?

The cost of laser hair removal can be quite affordable. Unlike other treatments like electrolysis, laser treatment can cover large areas at a time, requiring far less treatment sessions. Consequently the client experiences savings in terms of actual cost of treatment as well as valuable time saved. When you come in for your initial consultation, we will provide you with the actual cost of your particular treatment.

Does Insurance cover the cost of laser hair removal treatments?

Laser hair removal is generally considered a cosmetic procedure not covered by insurance. However there are some circumstances where your private insurance company may allow reimbursement, so check with your insurance carrier to learn whether your treatments qualify.

Is the cost of laser hair removal tax deductible as a medical expense?

Not unless it is prescribed by a physician to treat a hormonal or genetic condition. We suggest you check with the IRS or with your accountant for more information.

Will the hair grow back, and if so how much and how quickly?

This varies among individual clients, but usually new hair growth will resume anywhere from a few weeks to a few months after your first treatment. This occurs as previously dormant hair follicles enter their active growth cycle and develop roots. For most clients there is less re-growth after each session, with almost none by the fourth treatment session. Often there is very little or even no re-growth for several years after your last treatment. Keep in mind that what hair re-growth you do experience will be much finer in texture and lighter in color, and therefore an insignificant cosmetic problem.

Is it true the hair sometimes seems to continue growing after treatment?

Although laser treatment destroys the active hair follicle roots, it does not immediately remove them. They are shed during the first week after treatment, and the last few dead hairs fall out by the third week. This causes some clients to initially assume they are seeing hair growth.

What specifically does unwanted female facial hair refer to?

Well over twenty million women in America consider their facial hair a problem that must be dealt with on at least a weekly basis. This traditionally includes facial hair that grows darker, thicker, longer or coarser than is desirable. Laser hair removal is the ideal solution to unwanted female facial hair.

Do some hair colors respond better to laser treatment?

Black and brown hair get the quickest results from laser treatment because the lasers target the color pigmentation in the hair follicle roots. Since dark hair has more color pigment, treatment is absorbed more readily, making less treatment sessions necessary.

What do the terms Hypertrichosis and Hirsutism mean?

Hirutism is excessive hair growth in an area of the face or body where it’s not usually found, like the face, chest or neck. Hypertrichosis refers to excessive hair growth in areas other than the face, neck, chest and thighs. Both are successfully treated with laser hair removal.

What should I consider when contemplating permanent laser hair removal?

Here are some of the things you should think about when considering lasting hair removal:

• Does dealing with your unwanted hair interfere with your business life, your social life, or your romantic life?
• How much would permanent hair removal from your face and/or body raise your self-esteem?
• How important is it to you to eliminate time-consuming, temporary methods of hair removal from your schedule?

Most people come to the conclusion that long-lasting, affordable laser hair removal is a good investment. Our clients site the savings of both time and money previously spent on temporary hair removal solutions. We’re proud that laser hair removal has served as a wonderful rejuvenation of self-esteem for so many of our happy clients at Premiere Laser Centre.