Unwanted hair can be a huge burden to deal with. Waxing is painful and can require waiting until hair gets to an uncomfortable length. Shaving can cause razor burns and leave traces of unreachable hair behind. Permanent hair reduction is a simple way to get rid of that unwanted body hair—forever!
This lasting solution can permanently minimize facial and body hair.
During the procedure, your targeted area will be coated with a gel and a smooth glass surface will be applied to the skin, transferring pulses of light into the treated zone.
The heat from the laser beam destroys the hair follicles and alters the hair’s ability to reproduce. PhotoFacial and LHR procedures are typically completed in a series of 5-6 treatments, and each one done about one month apart.
Each treatment lasts about ten minutes to an hour. LHR procedures are all FDA-cleared, hassle-free, and effective on all skin colors and hair types. Beneficial results occur gradually in the weeks following treatment.
Who is a candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
Unwanted hair could be an area as small as the upper lip for a woman, or it could be a man’s entire back. Today, trends are to have less hair. Toward that end, some men are removing hair on their chest. Women are going beyond the bikini line all the way to full Brazilian.
Laser hair removal works best when there is good contrast between the patient’s skin color and the color of the unwanted hair. That said, the technology of our lasers allows us to treat all skin tones and hair colors. When there is less contrast, we simply lower the energy in the pulses delivered.
The only people not eligible for laser hair removal are people who have keloid scars or healing problems like hypertrophic scars. Those with active skin infections should not have laser hair removal. Pregnant women are also not eligible. There are certain other exceptions that we will discuss with you during your consultation.
Patient Testimonial
"What a talented doctor that has all the latest techniques and modern environment to go along with an extremely warm and friendly staff! They are simply fabulous! Not only are they beautiful inside and out, you can tell that they’re there for all your beauty needs. They strive to make you feel and look as good and amazing as possible and they take so much pride with everything they do! Thanks, Dr. Tarbet for the wonderful experience and for having a top-notch crew!"
- Caleb S.
Read more patient testimonials here.
How does laser hair removal work?
The key to successful, enduring laser hair removal is the hair follicle. It needs to be damaged or destroyed to stop it from growing hair. To do that, the vehicle is laser energy and melanin. Melanin is what gives your hair (and skin) its color. At Amara Medical Aesthetics, we set our laser wavelength to match the melanin in your unwanted hair. We then deliver the laser energy in short pulses. The laser light is absorbed by the melanin in the hair shaft, and it converts to heat energy. That heat travels down the hair shaft into the hair follicle, where it is anchored and growing. The heat damages or disables the hair follicle and it is no longer able to grow hair.
Are there any risks associated with laser hair removal?
The FDA first approved lasers for hair removal almost 30 years ago. Prior to that approval, rigorous safety testing was performed. Over those nearly three decades of use, lasers have proven to be safe and effective for removing hair. And laser technology continues to improve to now be able to address lighter colored hair and darker skin tones.
The most common side effect after having laser hair removal at Amara is some redness and possibly slight swelling on the treatment areas. This usually passes within a few hours.
What should I do to prepare for my laser hair removal sessions?
We will discuss what you need to do and not do prior to your laser hair removal sessions at Amara, but here’s a breakdown of the big stuff.
As mentioned above, laser hair removal works best when there is a high contrast between the color of the patient’s skin and his or her hair color. So, avoiding sun is important before your appointment. That’s not usually too hard here in Washington (especially when it’s not summer!), but it’s important for successful removal of more hair. Here are the things we want you to do prior to your laser hair removal session at our 116th Avenue offices in Bellevue:
- Avoid sun exposure — If you have a tan, you need to let it fade before coming in for your session. As a rule, we advise patients to not have any sun exposure on the areas with unwanted hair for 4-6 weeks prior to their session.
- Avoid plucking, waxing, and electrolysis — For the laser energy to get down into the follicle, the hair needs to be actively anchored in the follicle. Plucking, waxing, and electrolysis all disturb the follicle. Shaving is fine, as it doesn’t affect hair in the follicle.
- Clean your skin — The treatment areas need to be free from cosmetics, lotions, and creams. If you’ve applied deodorant and are having your underarms treated, we will remove it prior to your session.
- Certain skincare products — Certain anti-aging skincare products can cause irritation when interacting with the laser energy. These include alphahydroxy acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and others. We’ll discuss these with you and tell you want to avoid for a few days before and after your appointment.
What are the benefits of having laser hair removal?
There isn’t a soul out there who enjoys the repetitive grind of getting rid of their unwanted hair. You shave, pluck, wax, and apply harsh depilatory creams to get rid of the hair, and then two or three weeks later it’s right back again. Laser hair removal at Amara gets rid of from 85 to 90 percent of the hair permanently.
Plus, hair removal costs a lot over time. It’s estimated that shaving your legs costs upwards of $4,000 over a lifetime. Waxing? Over $9,000. And that doesn’t take into account the time spent.
With laser hair removal at Amara, you have upfront cost, but then you have little to no cost to deal with for hair removal moving forward.
Just think of it. No more painful waxing sessions. No more razor burn and razor stubble. No more ingrown hairs in all the wrong places. Laser hair removal at Amara Medical Aesthetics doesn’t require lengthy sessions. There isn’t any recovery. All you have to lose is your unwanted hair!
Call AMARA (425) 455-2131 to schedule an appointment with our qualified, experienced, licensed Master Aestheticians.
