What to expect during the procedure?
During the treatment, the patient will wear safety eyewear to protect the eyes from the laser light. The laser is applied to the skin with a small handheld probe. Each laser pulse may be preceded and followed by a short pulse of cooling spray. The treatment can last from a few minutes to as long as half an hour depending on the procedure.

Will I experience any discomfort during the treatment?
Some patients may feel a slight discomfort with the laser pulse, sometimes described as the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. This discomfort is minimized by Candela's DCD™ cooling. For some patients, a topical anesthetic may be used prior to treatment. To decrease the discomfort following the procedure, Aloe Vera is also applied to the treated area of skin.

Are there side effects?
Usual side effects are mild and include some redness and slight swelling which resolves over the first day following treatment.

How many treatments are necessary?
The number of sessions depends on the treatment each patient requires, the condition of the patient's skin, and the area being treated. Hair removal requires at least 4 treatments sometimes as many as 6, as the process is only effective when the hair follicle is in its active growth phase. Age spots and pigmented lesions may require one to three treatments.

Is there a cost for a laser hair removal consultation?
No, the laser hair removal consultation with the laser technician is free.

How much does laser hair removal cost?
The cost of the laser hair removal depends on the size and the area being treated. One can either pay per treatment or as a package of four treatments. If one buys a package of four treatments the fifth one is free. If two areas are treated, then the price of the second area is further discounted.

What should I expect at a laser hair removal consultation?
A consultation with the laser technician lasts for 10-15 minutes. She will review your skin type, create a specialized plan for your hair removal and answer any questions you may have. The first treatment may be done directly after the consult or at a future time.

Who does the hair removal treatments?
Hair laser removal is generally done by our laser technician. She works under the supervision of Dr. Newman, a member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.

Who is a candidate?
Laser can be used to remove excess, unwanted hair and pigmented lesions (i.e. freckles, age spots). Laser hair removal is most effective on light skinned, dark haired individuals.

To prepare for treatment:
Patients scheduled for hair removal are asked to avoid electrolysis or hair waxing for six weeks prior to treatment. If a patient has a history of perioral herpes and is scheduled for facial hair treatment, prophylactic antiviral therapy may be prescribed. Also, before the laser treatment, the hair is shaved and the skin is thoroughly cleaned and dried, removing any makeup, cream, or oils from its surface directly prior to treatment. This can either be done at home by the patient or in the office by the one applying the laser treatment.

What to expect after the procedure:
Patients are asked to avoid sun exposure before and after treatment, and should apply sun block (SPF 30 or above) when going outdoors.

Precautions to take after treatment:
After laser treatment, avoid sun exposure. In the first few days after treatment, don't scrub or rinse the treated areas with abrasive skin cleansers.