Unwanted Hair

Smooth, Hair-Free Skin Starts With U

Between the razor burn, the ingrown hairs, the stubble that is back before the end of the day and the endless cycle of shaving and waxing, managing unwanted hair can sometimes feel like a full-time job. Temporary hair removal methods demand continual maintenance and often leave the skin feeling more irritated. If you are tired of the upkeep, professional hair removal can be a great alternative that frees you from the routine.

At U Laser Med Spa, we believe that smooth skin should not require daily effort. Board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. William Umansky and Dr. Jeffrey Umansky oversee a team of registered nurses and laser technicians who specialize in hair removal treatments that provide a long-lasting solution to unwanted hair. We want you to spend less time maintaining unwanted hair and more time enjoying smooth, beach-ready skin.

How Does Hair Grow?

Each one of your hair follicles cycles through different phases. The first is anagen, the active growth phase when the hair is firmly anchored in the follicle and contains the most melanin. Follicles in this stage are ideal for light-based treatments. The catagen phase, or transition phase, causes the follicle to shrink and the hair to detach from the blood supply. This is a short one to three-week phase.

During the next stage, called the telogen phase, the follicle is resting and becomes dormant for three to four months. The hair forms a white bulb of keratin to keep the hair in place until it sheds. Finally, the follicle will enter the exogen phase, where the old hair shaft sheds, and the new hair starts growing back in. Hair tends to shed at a rate of 50 to 100 hairs per day.

Common Causes of Unwanted Hair

Wanting to remove facial or body hair is a personal decision. Many people simply prefer the look and feel of smooth skin and are tired of the inconvenience of shaving or waxing. The choice to pursue professional hair removal is yours alone.

With that said, some people do experience more hair growth than others due to genetic or medical factors, though this is often a cosmetic concern rather than a medical one. Common causes for increased hair growth include:

Genetics and Ethnicity

Some people have more hair due to genetics. Hair color, density and distribution patterns are largely inherited traits. Certain ethnicities have a higher density of hair follicles per square centimeter. Other ethnicities tend to have thicker and stronger hair strands, or more body or facial hair.

Hormonal Changes

Fluctuations in hormone levels during puberty, pregnancy, menopause or conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can trigger increased hair growth in areas where it was minimal before. Hormonal shifts can also cause finer hairs to become thicker and more noticeable.

Certain Medications

Some medications, including hormonal therapies and steroids, can stimulate excess hair growth as a side effect. If you suspect your medication is contributing to your unwanted hair, be sure to talk to your provider to find out how your treatment may be affected.

Age-Related Changes

As your body changes with age, it is normal to have some shifts in hormone levels that alter your hair growth patterns. While many people lose hair and notice their hair getting finer or thinner, sometimes new hair growth can occur in unexpected areas.

Common Treatment Areas

Unwanted hair can appear virtually anywhere on the body. The most common areas our patients choose to treat include:

Face
Underarms
Arms and Legs
Bikini Area
Back and Chest
Neck and Shoulders

Your Hair Removal Treatments at U Laser Med Spa

We have carefully selected our hair removal technology with one goal in mind: to safely and effectively deliver lasting results across a wide range of skin tones and hair types. We reduce hair growth progressively over a series of treatments while keeping your skin healthy and comfortable throughout the process.

Cynosure MaxR IPL Hair Removal

The Cynosure MaxR handpiece uses intense pulsed light (IPL) technology to specifically home in on the melanin that is present in the follicles of actively growing hair. The energy delivered by this device disables the follicle and reduces its ability to produce new hair. The device also has a built-in cooling system that keeps the surface of the skin comfortable and safe while the follicles are being treated. We use adjustable settings to customize each session based on your hair color, density and skin type.

Treatment sessions with IPL are fast, and smaller areas like the upper lip only take a few minutes. Most larger zones, like the legs or back, can still be treated in under an hour. The sensation of the IPL energy feels like a warm snap on the skin. After a treatment session, there is no downtime, but we do recommend keeping the treated area out of the sun and avoiding irritating products.

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What to Expect During Your Hair Removal Treatment Plan

Your treatment will start with a consultation about your skin type and hair characteristics, along with your medical history and goals, to make sure you are the right fit. Between sessions, we recommend that you protect your skin from the sun and avoid waxing and plucking since these remove the hair shaft that is needed to attract the light energy to the follicle.

Every treatment plan is going to be unique because of differences in hair density, hair color, skin type and the number of follicles in the active phase of growth. However, everyone can expect to have to schedule multiple appointments since not all follicles are in the anagen phase at the same time. The goal with hair removal treatments is to schedule treatments in a way that eventually catches each hair during its growth phase. Most people need at least six to eight sessions to see significant hair reduction.