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WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Our Stanford Palomar™ Diode hair removal system
is among the newest, most effective and safest of instruments
available for the removal of unwanted hair. This laser works by
first seeking out pigment in the unwanted hair, and then vaporizing
the hair shaft and root. Before your first treatment, we perform
a test spot in order to customize the treatment settings for your
hair. You will then return in 2 weeks for your first treatment.
In spite of the elegance and safety of this instrument, patients
should understand that one or more of the following may occur:
• Regrowth Of The Hair In A Few Weeks To Months. After the
first exposure to the laser, most of the hair in the treated area
falls out only to regrow again in a few weeks to months. Some
of the hair may not return for many months or may be permanently
removed. However, this cannot be guaranteed with just one treatment.
• The Need For Several Treatments. While up to 30% of laser-treated
hair may not regrow after any one treatment, most patients find
it necessary to have several treatments. The number of treatments
necessary for satisfaction varies between 3-6, or for some, even
more. Treatments are performed every 4-6 weeks.
• Short Term Redness Or Irritation. Following any hair removal
treatment, there may be some irritation or redness at the site
exposed to the laser. This lasts between a few hours to a few
days.
• A Thin Scab. Some people, especially dark-skinned individuals,
may develop a fine, thin scab that peels off in 4-7 days. This
is because the laser beam is attracted to pigment found in both
hair and darker skin.
• Extra Skin Pigmentation. In some individuals, the treated
area may temporarily darken for a period of time. We have special
treatment to address excessive pigmentation or skin darkening.
• Loss Of Skin Pigment. In rare instances, people who are
prone to pigment loss after injury may also experience loss of
skin pigment after laser hair removal.
• Regrowth Of Hair After Several Months To Years. For most,
permanent hair removal means that the hair will never regrow.
However, some patients will experience some hair regrowth at the
treated site after several months to several years. This is because,
in spite of effective laser treatment, some hair has the ability
to repair itself even after a long period of time.
• Inadequate Removal. No matter what type of laser is used,
the patients who receive the best results have dark hair and fair
skin. For some with fine or lighter hair, our hair removal treatments
may not result in adequate removal. This may occur even with many
treatments.
PRE-TREATMENT CARE
• Do not get a tan prior to treatment.
• If you have had herpes (cold sores), please let us know
before treatment begins.
• If you have had a history of keloids, please let us know
before treatment begins.
• Do not pluck any hairs to be treated prior to treatment.
• At your test spot session, we will prescribe a topical
anesthetic cream. Please apply this cream to the area to be treated
at least 30 minutes before treatment.
• Please shave area to be treated the day of treatment. If
you do not feel comfortable shaving the area, then we will do
it.
POST-TREATMENT CARE
• You may place a bag of ice or frozen vegetables covered
in a wash cloth over the treated site.
• We will give you a topical steroid which you may apply
once per day to the site to reduce irritation.
• You will need to avoid getting a sun tan, and wear sun
block.
• Should you have blistering, please call the Dermatology
Clinic at 650.723.6316.
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