Posts Tagged ‘lasers’

Laser hair removal can be a good way to permanently rid yourself of unwanted hair.  In general, during the procedure a laser is used on unwanted body or facial hair.  This laser heats the hair follicle at the base, destroying the hair and preventing regrowth.

People who are interested in laser hair removal should first meet with a dermatologist.  This doctor will be able to advise the patient on how well laser hair removal could work, based on analyzing his or hair hair and

skin type. During this initial consultation the dermatologist should also discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure.  Typically, skin can either turn darker or lighter after the procedure, but the amount of this change is different for everyone.  If the patient is comfortable with these risks and the doctor deems that the patient is a good candidate for the procedure, then the patient will typically schedule a follow-up appointment to begin laser hair removal.

At the next appointment, the patient will remove any clothing and jewelry from the site where he or she wants hair removed.  Then, a technician will make sure that there are no lotions, cosmetics or creams on the area to be treated. These chemicals can sometimes hinder the hair removal process and/or cause an adverse reaction.

Next, the technician will apply a gel to the area to be treated. This gel will act as a conductor for the laser while also keeping the skin cool. Then the technician will use a small laser tool on the area to remove the hair.

The light from this small laser enters each shaft of hair in the designated area, destroying the hair at its root.  This also effectively stops hair growth in the given area since the hair follicle is damaged or destroyed by the procedure. The lasers are set to sense and target dark pigmentation, thereby making laser hair removal most effective on people with darker hair and light skin. In the past, this meant that laser hair removal treatments were often not recommended for people with darker skin. Today, however, new laser technology has made laser hair removal more effective for everyone.

Typically, dermatologists will advise multiple sessions of laser hair removal treatments to ensure long lasting results. Because all of the hair in a given area will not grow at the same rate and will therefore not be visible all at the same time, repeated sessions over the course of several months to a year are recommended to keep an area free of hair. Usually, a patient can expect to need anywhere from three to seven sessions in order to achieve total hair removal.

Laser hair removal can be a good way to permanently rid yourself of unwanted hair.  In general, during the procedure a laser is used on unwanted body or facial hair.  This laser heats the hair follicle at the base, destroying the hair and preventing regrowth.

People who are interested in laser hair removal should first meet with a dermatologist.  This doctor will be able to advise the patient on how well laser hair removal could work, based on analyzing his or hair hair and

skin type. During this initial consultation the dermatologist should also discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure.  Typically, skin can either turn darker or lighter after the procedure, but the amount of this change is different for everyone.  If the patient is comfortable with these risks and the doctor deems that the patient is a good candidate for the procedure, then the patient will typically schedule a follow-up appointment to begin laser hair removal.

At the next appointment, the patient will remove any clothing and jewelry from the site where he or she wants hair removed.  Then, a technician will make sure that there are no lotions, cosmetics or creams on the area to be treated. These chemicals can sometimes hinder the hair removal process and/or cause an adverse reaction.

Next, the technician will apply a gel to the area to be treated. This gel will act as a conductor for the laser while also keeping the skin cool. Then the technician will use a small laser tool on the area to remove the hair.

The light from this small laser enters each shaft of hair in the designated area, destroying the hair at its root.  This also effectively stops hair growth in the given area since the hair follicle is damaged or destroyed by the procedure. The lasers are set to sense and target dark pigmentation, thereby making laser hair removal most effective on people with darker hair and light skin. In the past, this meant that laser hair removal treatments were often not recommended for people with darker skin. Today, however, new laser technology has made laser hair removal more effective for everyone.

Typically, dermatologists will advise multiple sessions of laser hair removal treatments to ensure long lasting results. Because all of the hair in a given area will not grow at the same rate and will therefore not be visible all at the same time, repeated sessions over the course of several months to a year are recommended to keep an area free of hair. Usually, a patient can expect to need anywhere from three to seven sessions in order to achieve total hair removal.

Laser hair removal can be a good way to permanently rid yourself of unwanted hair.  In general, during the procedure a laser is used on unwanted body or facial hair.  This laser heats the hair follicle at the base, destroying the hair and preventing regrowth.

People who are interested in laser hair removal should first meet with a dermatologist.  This doctor will be able to advise the patient on how well laser hair removal could work, based on analyzing his or hair hair and

skin type. During this initial consultation the dermatologist should also discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure.  Typically, skin can either turn darker or lighter after the procedure, but the amount of this change is different for everyone.  If the patient is comfortable with these risks and the doctor deems that the patient is a good candidate for the procedure, then the patient will typically schedule a follow-up appointment to begin laser hair removal.

At the next appointment, the patient will remove any clothing and jewelry from the site where he or she wants hair removed.  Then, a technician will make sure that there are no lotions, cosmetics or creams on the area to be treated. These chemicals can sometimes hinder the hair removal process and/or cause an adverse reaction.

Next, the technician will apply a gel to the area to be treated. This gel will act as a conductor for the laser while also keeping the skin cool. Then the technician will use a small laser tool on the area to remove the hair.

The light from this small laser enters each shaft of hair in the designated area, destroying the hair at its root.  This also effectively stops hair growth in the given area since the hair follicle is damaged or destroyed by the procedure. The lasers are set to sense and target dark pigmentation, thereby making laser hair removal most effective on people with darker hair and light skin. In the past, this meant that laser hair removal treatments were often not recommended for people with darker skin. Today, however, new laser technology has made laser hair removal more effective for everyone.

Typically, dermatologists will advise multiple sessions of laser hair removal treatments to ensure long lasting results. Because all of the hair in a given area will not grow at the same rate and will therefore not be visible all at the same time, repeated sessions over the course of several months to a year are recommended to keep an area free of hair. Usually, a patient can expect to need anywhere from three to seven sessions in order to achieve total hair removal.

There are many reasons why a person may want to get a tattoo removed. Maybe you got your spouses name tattooed and you are no longer married. or you changed religions and it is against the religion to have tattoos, or maybe you just really do not like the tattoo anymore. For whatever reason you want to remove the tattoo, just know that you have several options out there. But beware, they are not cheap and usually not covered by medical insurance. The different ways a tattoo can be removed are laser surgery, dermabrasion and surgical excision. Let’s take a look at each one.

Laser Surgery
Laser surgery is the most common way nowadays to remove a tattoo. A doctor uses highly intensified laser light to break down the pigment in the tattoo into tiny particles. Laser removal usually takes more than one session to completely remove the tattoo. The more your tattoo is exposed to the lasers, the more the more the tattoo will be able to break down. The down side is that the more sessions you have, the more likely you are to suffer from blisters and scabs and even scarring. Also, laser surgery is not painless. It also is not cheap. One session for laser surgery can cost you anywhere from $250-$500, and like mentioned before, multiple sessions are usually required.

Dermabrasion
Dermabras ion involves “sanding” away the surface and middle layer of skin to remove the tattoo. The skin is numbed before the procedure with a spray or local anesthia. After the doctor performs dermabrasion, special dressings are applied to help absorb the pigment of the tattoo. This also is painful. For about a week after it is done, the skin has a burning feel to it. After it heals, the skin appears to pink but within time will return to normal color. Doctors recommend that the skin not be in any direct sunlight for up to six months after the procedure. Dermabrasion can also cost up into the up into the higher hundreds of dollars depending on the size of the tattoo.

Surgical Excision
Surgical excision involves actually surgically removing the skin with the tattoo on it. The doctor uses a scalpel to cut out layers of the skin and then stitches up the wound. This is not a very popular technique to remove tattoos as it is painful and will leave scarring. The only advantage that is does have is that the doctor is able to have greater control to get rid of the whole tattoo.

Another thing that you have to know about tattoo removal is that not all tattoos are able to be removed. Tattoo that are older and have the pigment has sunken into the fatty layers under the skin, can’t fully be removed. Also, tattoos are easier to remove on fairer skin individuals than darker skinned. Ankle and finger tattoos are the most difficult to remove, with the tattoos on arms, chest and buttocks being the easiest to remove. Also, remember that even with the best procedure and the best doctor, some scarring residual scarring is possible, which may still look like your old tattoo. So, if you are considering getting a tattoo, make sure that it is something that you can live with for the rest of your life, as tattoo removal is not easy or cheap.

There are many reasons why a person may want to get a tattoo removed. Maybe you got your spouses name tattooed and you are no longer married. or you changed religions and it is against the religion to have tattoos, or maybe you just really do not like the tattoo anymore. For whatever reason you want to remove the tattoo, just know that you have several options out there. But beware, they are not cheap and usually not covered by medical insurance. The different ways a tattoo can be removed are laser surgery, dermabrasion and surgical excision. Let’s take a look at each one.

Laser Surgery
Laser surgery is the most common way nowadays to remove a tattoo. A doctor uses highly intensified laser light to break down the pigment in the tattoo into tiny particles. Laser removal usually takes more than one session to completely remove the tattoo. The more your tattoo is exposed to the lasers, the more the more the tattoo will be able to break down. The down side is that the more sessions you have, the more likely you are to suffer from blisters and scabs and even scarring. Also, laser surgery is not painless. It also is not cheap. One session for laser surgery can cost you anywhere from $250-$500, and like mentioned before, multiple sessions are usually required.

Dermabrasion
Dermabras ion involves “sanding” away the surface and middle layer of skin to remove the tattoo. The skin is numbed before the procedure with a spray or local anesthia. After the doctor performs dermabrasion, special dressings are applied to help absorb the pigment of the tattoo. This also is painful. For about a week after it is done, the skin has a burning feel to it. After it heals, the skin appears to pink but within time will return to normal color. Doctors recommend that the skin not be in any direct sunlight for up to six months after the procedure. Dermabrasion can also cost up into the up into the higher hundreds of dollars depending on the size of the tattoo.

Surgical Excision
Surgical excision involves actually surgically removing the skin with the tattoo on it. The doctor uses a scalpel to cut out layers of the skin and then stitches up the wound. This is not a very popular technique to remove tattoos as it is painful and will leave scarring. The only advantage that is does have is that the doctor is able to have greater control to get rid of the whole tattoo.

Another thing that you have to know about tattoo removal is that not all tattoos are able to be removed. Tattoo that are older and have the pigment has sunken into the fatty layers under the skin, can’t fully be removed. Also, tattoos are easier to remove on fairer skin individuals than darker skinned. Ankle and finger tattoos are the most difficult to remove, with the tattoos on arms, chest and buttocks being the easiest to remove. Also, remember that even with the best procedure and the best doctor, some scarring residual scarring is possible, which may still look like your old tattoo. So, if you are considering getting a tattoo, make sure that it is something that you can live with for the rest of your life, as tattoo removal is not easy or cheap.