The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to do something about unwanted body hair. Waxing, tweezing, and shaving are extremely time consuming and only last for a short period. Laser hair removal on the other hand is quick, painless and permanently reduces unwanted hair growth. Now is the time to treat yourself and experience smooth skin without all the irritation and annoyance that comes with other forms of hair removal.

The great thing about laser hair removal is that the treatment doesn’t cause the same irritation that is experienced with other forms of hair removal. You won’t be left with in grown hairs, unsightly red bumps, razor burn, or rashes. And you won’t have to experience it all a few days later when you have to shave again.

When you come in for a treatment at our office in La Jolla, you will arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment to have topical numbing cream applied to the area being treated to ensure you are as comfortable as possible. The treatment itself is very quick, and depending on the area can take as little as twenty minutes. We recommend a series of six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart to achieve the best results. The hairs only respond when they are in the “growth” phase (versus their resting phase) and since they are constantly cycling through their different states, successive treatments ensures all of the unwanted hair will eventually be treated effectively. Winter is the perfect time to start your treatment so that by the time summer rolls around you are ready to hit the beach and don’t have to worry about shaving or waxing beforehand.

Laser hair removal can be performed on almost every area of the body but is most common on the legs, bikini, underarms, lip, chest, and back. We are excited to help you start the New Year off right and make 2017 the year you finally get rid of all your unwanted hair for good! Our providers at Torrey Pines Dermatology in La Jolla would be happy to show you what kind of results you can expect from treatment and set up a personalized treatment plan for you. Our office proudly serves the San Diego and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Laser hair removal is a great treatment for individuals who are tired of constantly shaving, plucking, threading and waxing in hopes of smoother, hair-free skin. Finally, there is a technique that allows for permanent hair reduction. Before you decide whether laser hair removal is right for you, let us answer some common questions.

The first thing that you may be wondering is why laser hair removal is the treatment of choice for many individuals. The answer to that question can be seen in the results that a person gets. After approximately 6 treatments spaced a month apart, patients are able to get approximately 90% hair reduction. Some individuals even experience 100% reduction. When a person uses traditional hair removal methods, like shaving with razors or plucking with tweezers, they may see hair grow back again that same day. This is absolutely not the case with laser hair removal.

Something interesting to consider when looking at laser hair removal versus traditional hair removal methods is that some of the traditional hair removal methods may actually stimulate hair growth. This is extremely unfortunate because an individual who is using these traditional methods wants this hair to be gone. They do not want it to return even darker, longer and stronger. In contrast, when a person uses laser hair removal, if some hairs do grow back, they are sparser and finer, if not gone all together.

One of the main things that our patients ask about is how the laser actually gets rid of hair. The first thing to know is that this is not a hair cutting method. It also does not pluck the hair. Instead, it kills the hair follicle. The laser used in hair removal targets the pigment in the hair follicle and after several treatments, permanently kills off the hair itself so it is unable to regrow. That being said, if hair is blonde, white or gray, the laser cannot “see” the pigment in the hair follicle and, therefore, laser hair removal only treats dark brown or black hair.

Many of our patients are interested in treating areas such as their legs, bikini area, underarms and upper lip. The great thing about laser hair removal is that it can work on dark hair on almost any part of the body.

The best way for you to find out if you are a good candidate for this procedure is to schedule a consultation at Torrey Pines Dermatology in La Jolla. Our team is going to give you a realistic idea of what you can expect from laser hair removal. We will also answer any other questions you may have. Our office happily serves the San Diego and surrounding cities. Contact us today to book an appointment to learn more.

Almost everyone who has unsightly body hair they would like to have permanently reduced is a good candidate for laser hair removal. Although the results of the procedure will depend on the amount of hair in the area and the patient’s skin type, laser hair removal is a safe and effective way to remove unwanted hair.

Laser hair removal works by using laser to target the pigment in the hair follicle. The heat from the laser makes it so that the follicle is not able to grow any more hair. The laser light is absorbed as heat into the pigment in the follicle and kills it. The follicle gradually comes out and will no longer grow hair. Hair has three main growing stages, including the beginning, growth and falling-out stage. Laser hair removal is only effective during the growth stage, which is why multiple sessions are necessary.

You are a good candidate for laser hair removal if:

• You will follow the directions of our specialist for before and after care. This will give you the best results possible.
• You have reasonable expectations. Laser hair removal is not permanent hair removal. However, it may permanently reduce the hair, and any hair that grows back is thin and pale. It requires several treatments as well as follow-up sessions. Some people need follow-up treatments after three or four months, and others need them only after several years.
• You want hair removed from your chest, shoulders, arms, legs, armpits, back, upper lip, chin or bikini line. These areas of your body are considered safe for laser hair removal. It is a great option for large areas, such as the back and legs.
• You are tired of constantly shaving, waxing or plucking unwanted hair and want long-term hair removal results.

During treatment, the upper lip may take as little as 15 minutes and the back or legs may take several hours. The hair follicles may start to come out about one week after treatment, and may take up to two weeks to come out completely.

The best way to know if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal is to consult with our specialist at Torrey Pines Dermatology in La Jolla. Our office also serves the San Diego and surrounding areas. During your consultation, you will learn about your options, and approximately how many sessions you need to completely remove the unwanted hair in your selected area. Contact us today to schedule your appointment to learn more.

There are parts of the body where we are very happy to have hair. Both men and women appreciate having a thick head of hair. When it is properly styled and well-maintained, it can add it to the aesthetic appeal of a person’s face. Most men also appreciate the ability to grow a beard or a mustache. However, there are other parts of the body where having excessive hair can be considered a drawback. For example, having hair between the eyebrows in a way that forms a uni-brow is not considered to be attractive.

Most women do not want facial hair. Some men find excessive hair growth on their back or chest to be frustrating. For individuals who are tired of shaving, plucking and waxing unwanted hair off their body, laser hair removal may be the perfect option.

Laser hair removal is extremely popular. In fact, it counts among one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States today. Lasers are used to transmit concentrated light to a person’s hair follicles. The pigment in the follicle absorbs the light, which affects the hair.

Lasers can be used on different parts of the body. They are most commonly used to remove unwanted facial hair, arm hair, leg hair and hair along the bikini line. There are a lot of benefits to using laser hair removal as opposed to manual ways of removing hair. For example, lasers are extremely precise. A laser can be used to remove hair while at the same time not damaging the underlying skin. This cannot be said of razors. Razors not only remove hair, but often damage the skin underneath the hair.

Another benefit of using lasers is that they are fast. Within a fraction of a second, lasers can remove hair in an area that is approximately the size of a quarter. This means that a person can have a laser hair removal treatment on their upper lip in less than 60 seconds. The same procedure can be performed on a larger area, such as the back or on the legs, in less than one hour. Laser hair removal is also very predictable. After multiple sessions, a patient is guaranteed to have permanent hair reduction.

Having a full head of hair is great. However, for women, having a full face of hair is not so great. For men, having an overgrowth of back and/or chest hair can also be seen as a negative thing. Laser hair removal treatments can effectively address these problems.

To learn more about how laser hair removal can benefit you, set up a consultation at Torrey Pines Dermatology in La Jolla. Our team of experts will be happy to address your questions and concerns as we determine if this treatment is right for you. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment!