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Vascular Lesions (Leg veins and broken capillaries) Q&A's
How
does the treatment work?
What can I expect during the treatment?
What should I expect after the procedure?
How many treatments will I need?
Hair
Removal Q&A's
How does the process work?
What may I be asked before treatment?
What can I expect during treatment?
How many treatments will the patient need for hair removal?
What can I expect after treatment?
How "permanent" is "permanent" following
the course of epilation treatment?
Pseudofolliculitis (shaving bumps) Q&A's
What
is Pseudo-Folliculitis?
How does the treatment work?
What should I expect during treatment?
What should I expect after treatment?
How many treatments will be needed?
Vascular Lesions (Leg veins and broken capillaries) Q&A's
How
does the treatment work?
The Lyra-i Laserscope laser produces a 1064nm wavelength. While the rest
of the skin is almost completely transparent for this wavelength, it is
highly absorbed in blood. Thus, the laser beam passes through the skin
and penetrates the targeted vessel. The laser energy heats up and coagulates
blood inside the vessel. Unsupported, vessel walls collapse and seal.
These vessels later dissolve within the body.
The laser energy is delivered through a hand-held device with a cooling tip. The cooling tip provides additional safety and comfort during the treatment by lowering the thermal effect on your skin surface. Back to Top
What
can I expect during the treatment?
You may experience a stinging sensation during the treatment, which resolves
immediately after the treatment is over. In some cases, you may be offered
topical anesthetic cream, which may eliminate much of the discomfort associated
with the treatment. Back to Top
What
should I expect after the procedure?
The appearance of the treated vessels will dramatically change turning
from blue and purple into light red. Some of the vessels may bulge, however,
any inflammation will disappear within a couple of hours. The redness
of the treated vessels will be gradually disappearing as the healing process
occurs, which may take anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks depending on the
severity of the veins.
The post-operative treatment regimen may include wearing pressure hose, avoiding medication containing aspirin and wearing sunscreen. Make sure to discuss these options with the doctor prior to the treatment. Back to Top
How
many treatments will I need?
Depending on the severity of the veins, you may require anywhere between
one and three treatments six weeks apart. The treatment is performed on
the existing vessels, diminishing or completely eliminating their appearance.
However, the development of new veins cannot be prevented. If your body
tends to develop vascular problems you will most likely come back for
additional treatments. Back to Top
Hair Removal Q&A's
How
does the process work?
Through a process called Selective Photothermolysis laser light is passed
through the skin and is absorbed by pigment in the hair follicle. The
heat generated by the laser light both injures the follicle and inhibits
future growth, while leaving the skin unharmed. Back
to Top
What may I be asked before treatment?
The doctor will run through your medical history to see if you have had
any issues that may impact the procedure's safety. (For example: have
you had keloid scarring, used Accutane in the last 6 months, etc.) In
addition the doctor will request that you not wax, pluck, or tweeze for
four weeks preceding the treatments as doing so may reduce the effectiveness
of the treatments. Note: shaving should not affect results. Back
to Top
What can I expect during treatment?
Laser light will be delivered through a hand held wand attached to a laser
console. You may experience a stinging sensation as the laser pulse is
delivered. To reduce discomfort, the cooling system automatically removes
heat from the surface of your skin before, during and after the laser
exposure. You should not need general anesthesia or pain medication, but
a topical anesthetic cream may be applied to sensitive areas. The process
can take from just a few minutes for an upper lip to several hours for
a full back and legs. Back to Top
How many treatments will the patient need for hair
removal?
Hair growth involves several cycles and, thus, some hairs may be affected
during a single treatment and some may not. We have seen that after several
treatments most terminal (mature) hairs are replaced with finer hairs
of lighter color. Some hairs are completely eliminated. Although complete
hair removal may not be achieved, the hairs become less visible and, thus,
less bothersome. The number of treatments needed to obtain optimal results
varies with hair density, color and growth cycle as well as skin type,
though it is common to have 3-4, and possibly as many as 8, treatments;
one every 4-8 weeks. Results will improve with each subsequent treatment.
Back to Top
What can I expect after treatment?
The treated area is cleansed and you are free to return to your normal
routine. Some patients may experience a slight reddening around hair follicles,
though this will typically disappear within a few minutes. It is always
recommended that you avoid sun exposure or use sunscreen following treatment.
Several days after treatment injured hair follicles will begin to fall
out, a process that can be sped up by lightly rubbing the skin with a
towel. It may seem that some hair continues to grow for several weeks
after the procedure, but many of these will also fall out. What hair that
is not eliminated will likely be replaced by thinner, lighter, significantly
less noticeable hair. Back to Top
How "permanent" is "permanent"
following the course of epilation treatment?
Since the procedure is very new and people go through so many stages in
their lives it is impossible to completely determine at this time. However,
we have seen up to 2 years with no hair re-growth following a series of
treatments. Back to Top
Pseudofolliculitis (shaving bumps) Q&A's What is Pseudo-Folliculitis?
What
is Pseudo-Folliculitis?
Pseudo-folliculitis (PF), commonly known as shaving bumps, is an inflammatory
condition, widespread among individuals with thick curly hair. As the
hair grows out of the skin, it curls and re-enters the skin. The skin
reacts to it as a foreign object and becomes inflamed and irritated, creating
bumps and discoloration. Often hairs start curling even before growing
out of the skin, creating in-grown hairs. These bumps become quite large,
causing discomfort to the patient.
Sometimes
relief can be achieved with the use of topical steroids and exfoliating
agents. Growing hair is sometimes curative as well. More commonly, the
ingrown hair is pulled out after each shaving session. Although this is
a solution, it is, however, painful and time consuming. Back
to Top
How does the treatment work?
The laser beam passes through the skin and is absorbed in the hair follicle
residing underneath the skin surface. The laser energy destroys the follicle
with the heat that it generates. Destroyed hairs are then either dissolved
within the skin or extruded by the body. Because the laser beam is larger
in diameter than the hair follicle, a large number of hairs can be treated
simultaneously. Back to Top
What should I expect during treatment?
Most patients experience a stinging or burning sensation when a laser
pulse is delivered. While general anesthesia will not be required, a topical
anesthetic may be applied to sensitive skin. To further reduce discomfort,
the Lyra laser utilizes a special cooling system that lowers the temperature
of the skin at the treatment site before, during and after laser exposure.
Back to Top
What
should I expect after treatment?
After treatment, you may return to your regular routine immediately. Some
patients may experience a slight reddening around the hair follicles immediately
following treatment which typically disappears within a few minutes.
It
will seem that the hair continues to grow for a period of one to two weeks
after laser treatment, but in fact, these hairs are actually lifeless
and are simply being cast out by your body. Back to Top
How many treatments will be needed?
Laser treatment impairs the growth of hair follicles when they are in
the 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, multiple treatments, spaced a few weeks
apart, may be required to obtain the overall desired effect. Back
to Top
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