Hair Removal
How does hair grow?
Hair follicles develop from a complex series of interactions between different elements of the skin. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time - they actually go through distinct phases: growth, regression and resting. The duration of each phase is dependent upon several factors, including body location. For example, at any one time 90% of the hairs on our heads are in the growth or Anagen phase, compared to only 70% of the hair on our arms. During the regression or Catagen phase, the surrounding skin begins to absorb the hair bulb. Finally, the hair enters the Telogen, or resting phase, at the end of which the hair falls out and the follicle begins the cycle again.
What affects the appearance of body hair?
Age, ethnicity, medication, hormone levels and body site influence the length, coarseness and color of body hair. How much hair you have depends on how many hairs are in their active growth phase, and how long that phase lasts.
How has unwanted hair usually been removed?
Shaving — A simple way, it doesn’t affect the coarseness, thickness, growth rate or cycle of the shaved hair. However, it is only a transient solution, and requires a constant commitment to maintaining a hair-free appearance.
Tweezing — Is tedious, painful and impractical for large areas.
Waxing — This procedure can cover a large area at a time and results may last a month or more, but it’s painful and can often cause allergic reactions and inflammation of the hair follicle.
Electrolysis — It involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Expertly used, it can be successful in eliminating hair permanently. However, because only one hair follicle can be treated at a time, it is a tedious, time-consuming process.
Lynosure Apogee Laser System — There are three main advantages to Lynosure Apogee Laser hair removal technology — comfort, speed and accuracy.
Since the Lynosure Apogee Laser uses a unique cooling handpiece, it does not cause the kind of skin irritation that other methods may create. It also allows for larger areas to be treated, considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process. Finally, the Lynosure Apogee Laser is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to the exact parameters that will disable only the hair follicle, minimally affecting the surrounding skin.
Hair Growth Cycles
ANAGEN
The phase of active hair growth is the time that Lynosure Apogee Laser will be most effective at eliminating unwanted hair by disabling the hair follicle. Depending on the body area, the Anagen phase lasts up to several years and, at any given time, the majority of our body hair is in this phase.
CATAGEN
This is a brief phase during which the hair bulb regresses and begins to shrink.
TELOGEN
Hair in this resting phase, which typically lasts for several months, does not absorb laser energy well. Therefore, follow-up visits may be needed to properly treat hairs that ARE in this phase. At the end of the Telogen phase, the hair falls out and the Anagen phase begins again.
How does the Lynosure Apogee Laser System remove hair?
The red light emitted by the Lynosure Apogee Laser is absorbed only by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or “turned on” for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to disable the follicle, while the Lynosure Apogee Laser’s unique, patented contact-cooling handpiece helps protect the skin by conductive cooling during the laser energy delivery.
Is it safe?
The Lynosure Apogee Laser System was developed from years of research at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world’s leading medical research institutions. The laser parameters were carefully defined to inhibit the regrowth of hair by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser output to the size, depth and location of hair follicles. A unique component of the Lynosure Apogee Laser System, the actively-cooled sapphire handpiece was designed to conduct heat away from the skin before, during and after each pulse.
EPILASER SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY
The Lynosure Apogee Laser Cooling Handpiece
The patented Lynosure Apogee Laser System hand-piece provides the answer to the intricacies of laser hair removal. Its unique cooling technology helps protect the skin during the treatment. And its convex shape allows compression of the skin bringing the laser energy closer to the root of the hair. See Illustration 4.
The Lynosure Apogee Laser System
The Lynosure Apogee Laser delivers effective energy deep into the tissue, ensuring better disabling of the deeper hair-producing elements. As a result, the hair’s regrowth is significantly impeded, or eliminated. See Illustration 5.
Does it hurt?
The Lynosure Apogee Laser emits only red light. You may feel a slight tingling sensation, but most people tolerate the procedure well. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, so you may elect to have a topical anesthetic applied in order to increase comfort during the procedure.
How many treatments will I need?
The Lynosure Apogee Laser works by disabling hairs that are principally in their active growth phase at the time of the treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Dr. Jensen and his staff will work with you to develop the best program that fulfills your needs.
What happens after the procedure?
Within several minutes, the treated area may become slightly red and puffy. This reaction subsides quickly and within a day or so the area returns to normal. Since the Lynosure Apogee Laser does not cut the skin in any way, bandages are generally not necessary and most people usually return to normal activity immediately.
Contact Dr. Jensen’s office for more information.
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