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 1.
Am I a candidate for laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal
is not for everyone. The absolute requirement is that one's hair
must be darker than the surrounding skin. Additionally very darkly
pigmented people absorb too much laser energy in their skin and are
not candidates for most lasers. These dark skinned patients require
the use of highly specialized lasers.
Tanned patients with
light hair are not good candidates. Tanned patients with dark hair
cannot be treated with the usual hair removal lasers, also requiring
treatment with a specialized laser, such as the kind available at
Dr. Al Rustom's Skin and Laser Clinic in DUBAI (tel
+971-4-349-8800). Lastly the treatment cost should be within reach
of the patient. Laser hair removal, although much less expensive
than electrolysis, requires multiple treatments, and generally costs
over 3000 Dhs in total for small anatomic areas.
Three
different lasers are available for hair removal at Dr. Al
Rustom's Skin and Laser Clinic. These three lasers will allow to
take care of all types of skin. In some parts of the body two or
three laser hair removals will be in use to achieve a perfect result
and complete satisfaction to our customers.
2. What will
it cost for laser hair removal for me?
Treatment cost varies
with the size of the area treated. Large areas, such as the entire
back, or the entire legs, cost considerably more than small areas,
such as the upper lip. Individual consultation with the laser center
is necessary to obtain exact pricing.
3. Influence of skin color on laser hair
removal.
Light skin makes laser hair removal easier to
perform. Fewer treatments are required, and better, faster results
are obtained. People with darker skin can be treated, but results
are slower, more sessions are required, and greater expertise is
required on the part of the laser center. Laser hair removal at
Dr. Alrustom's Skin and Laser Clinic is individualized for
each patient.
4.
Influence of hair color on laser hair removal.
Dark hair
absorbs more laser energy and is easier to treat. Coarse dark hair
responds the best to laser treatment. Light hair is more difficult
to treat. Blonde or red hair is very difficult to treat. Multiple
treatment sessions are required, and results are variable. Blonde or
red hair usually contains pheomelanin, which absorbs laser energy
less avidly than the eumelanin pigment which is present in black or
brown hair.
5.
Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments.
Although one
laser session can produce long-term hair removal, as a rule multiple
treatment sessions are necessary to obtain optimal results. In large
part this is due to the fact that laser hair removal is most
effective for hair which is in the anagen phase. Anagen is the
growth phase of hair. Since hair grows in cycles, not all of the
hairs are in anagen at any given time. Additional sessions are
necessary to catch all of the hairs when they are in
anagen.
6. What
areas can be treated?
Any area, except adjacent to the eye,
where there is excess hair. The most common areas requested are the
face, upper lip, neck, chest, periareolar, underarms, back, abdomen,
bikini line, and legs.
7. About permanent hair reduction by
laser.
Waxing, shaving, and plucking all produce hair removal
which is temporary. Several of the newer lasers have clearly
documented that there is permanent hair reduction after each
treatment. The FDA has approved several lasers for permanent hair
reduction, and more results with additional lasers are pending. The
results tend to be additive, i.e. more treatments lead to greater
degrees of permanent hair reduction. For any given patient results
cannot be precisely predicted. Results can be variable, even with
the best lasers.
8. Pulsed light and laser hair
removal.
Intense pulsed light devices can produce effective
hair removal. Although these devices are not lasers, they are "laser
equivalents", utilizing the same principle of selective
photothermolysis to achieve hair removal. These devices are in
practice more difficult to adjust than lasers and require great
expertise for their proper use.
9. Myths 1: Guarantees in laser hair
removal.
It is impossible to predict the exact result a
patient will achieve with laser hair removal, especially with regard
to how many sessions a given individual will require. Many of the
hair removal clinics which guaranteed results have gone out of
business. Like most reputable medical practices, the most
established laser hair removal practices do not guarantee
results.
10.
Myths 2: Discount laser hair removal clinics.
Established
medical centers with excellent reputations do not discount their
fees. Patients know their reputations and rely upon their experience
and expertise. The same is true for laser hair removal. Consumers
are advised, as with all forms of medical care, to seek the center
of highest quality, rather than lowest cost. Laser hair removal
requires exact science, individual attention, experience, and a
trained, caring, professional staff. Beauty saloons can not offer
you the same care than the medical clinics.
11. Myths 3:
Laser hair removal limitation of effectiveness.
Contrary to
the statements of those unfamiliar with this new technology, laser
hair removal is effective when properly performed for the great
majority of candidates. Non-responders are usually limited to those
with blonde or red hair.
12. Qualifications of laser hair
removal personnel.
In the emirate of Dubai laser hair removal
can only be performed by Medical Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or
Medical Assistants licenced from the department of health. The
treatment should be supervised by Medical Doctors. Other unlicensed
personnel cannot perform laser hair removal.
13.
Importance of experience in selecting a laser hair removal
facility.
Experience is crucial in selecting the proper laser
parameters to use for any given area for any individual patient.
Centers with the most experience generally have the best results.
Our staff in Dr. Al Rustom's Skin and Laser Clinic have got
at least 5-year experience in different laser systems.
14. Tanning and laser hair removal.
Tanning and
laser hair removal are not compatible. Tanning prior to the
procedure will necessitate turning the laser power down, thereby
reducing the effectiveness of the treatment.
15. Adverse
treatment reactions.
Pigmentary change of the skin treated
can occur, including either dark or light areas. Pigmentary changes
may persist for months, but are almost always temporary. They are
very rare in patients with fair skin who are untanned. Blisters and
burns are extremely rare but occasionally occur, particularly in
patients with dark skin.
16. Diet and laser hair
removal.
Diet is generally unrelated, except for
Beta-Carotene, which interferes with the treatment.
17.
Beta-Carotene and laser hair removal.
Beta Carotene, found in
carrots, vitamin A supplements, squash, and other vegetables, is
deposited in the skin, producing a subtle orange or yellow color in
the skin. This pigment absorbs laser energy, preventing it from
reaching the hair follicle, and increasing the absorption of laser
energy in the skin. Beta carotene persists for months after
ingestion. Patients interested in the best results from laser hair
removal will benefit from discontinuation of the use of all forms of
beta carotene.
18. Laser hair removal and
children.
Laser hair removal is successful for children but
it does require their cooperation.
19. Laser hair removal
for African-Americans.
New lasers available at
Dr. Al Rustom's Skin and Laser Clinic can now provide
effective laser hair removal for most patients, no matter what
their skin type.
20. Laser hair removal for other people
of color.
The best results are obtained when the hair to be
treated is considerably darker than the surrounding skin. Also
coarse hair is easier to remove. Fine, light hair in people of color
is difficult to remove.
21. Who should not have laser hair
removal.
Patients with a recently acquired dark tan. Blondes
or redheads with any recent tan. People of color with fine, light
hair. Anyone who cannot afford multiple sessions(one treatment is
rarely adequate).
22. How to assess a laser hair removal
facility.
Research the qualifications of the Medical Director
of the facility. Is he or she Board Certified in Dermatology? Is
there more than one Board Certified Doctor on the staff? Are all
personnel performing the procedure licensed physicians or Registered
Nurses? Is the facility affiliated with an academic medical center?
Is the atmoshere professional? Remember this is a medical procedure,
and should be selected with the same care you give to selecting a
surgeon. Dr Al Rustom's Skin and Laser Clinic is one of the
rare centers who have skin laser specialists in the U.A.E.
23. What can I expect during the treatment?
Most
patients experience a stinging, burning sensation when a laser pulse
is delivered. To reduce discomfort, a cooling system automatically
removes heat from the surface of your skin before, during and after
the laser exposure. You will not need a general anesthesia or pain
medication, but a topical anesthetic cream may be applied to the
sensitive areas.
24. How many treatments will be
needed?
The number of treatments required to obtain optimal
results varies with hair density, hair color, skin types, the
treatment area and your hair growth cycle. The density of your hair
and its growth cycle are affected by many things such as your age,
ethnic background, hormones or medications. Laser treatments impair
the growth capacity of hair follicles when they are in a growth
cycle at the time of treatment. All hair follicles are not active at
the same time. Depending upon the growth cycle of the follicles when
the treatment is applied, several treatments with a few weeks in
between may be required to obtain the desired effect.
25.
What should I expect following the treatment?
Once the
treatment is completed, the area exposed to the laser is cleansed and
you are free to return to your normal routine. Some patients may
experience a slight reddening around hair follicles following the
treatment, which typically disappears within a few minutes to few
hours. It is always recommended to avoid sun exposure or to use
sunscreen following the laser treatment.
Hair follicles
affected by the laser are lifeless and your body will attempt to
cast them off over a period of time. It seems that the hair
continues to grow for one to two weeks after the procedure, but in
fact these lifeless hairs will easily fall out.
See the Laser
Hair Removal Photos
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