Since ancient Egypt people have sought ways to remove unwanted hair. Modern medical lasers, at last, offer a nearly permanent, painless way of eliminating unsightly hair growth

DENVER, CO – Many people, men and women alike, experience unwanted hair growth on their bodies and look to various methods of reducing or removing the hair. Shaving, waxing and chemical hair-removal creams are the most rudimentary forms of removal as they are each temporary and need regular application to keep unwanted hair growth at bay.

Breakthroughs in medical lasers over the last 13 years, however, now offer many patients the opportunity to secure long-term or even permanent hair removal, and recent advances in these lasers make the procedure a relatively painless therapy that can solve the problem is as little as a few sessions with minimal healing downtime.

Medical lasers for unwanted hair removal are used under the guidance of a physician and highly trained technicians. These experts report that the most common requests for hair removal come from women experiencing hair growth on their faces, and men who seek to remove excess hair on their backs and torsos.

There are essentially two types of hair removal, depilation and epilation. Depilation refers to removing the hair above the skin line, and in its most common forms involves shaving, trimming and the chemical creams, called depilatories, which have been on the market for decades under such brand names as Neet and Nair. Depilation has been around for centuries, with historical records dating back to ancient Egypt describing the reasons for and the methods through which unwanted hair was removed.

Epilation involves removing the entire hair, including growth under the skin, where such methods as waxing and electrolysis, although the former is temporary at best, and the latter involves treatments that can take as much as two years to complete with satisfaction.

Laser hair removal, on the other hand, has taken hold in recent years as a highly effective hair-removal therapy featuring lasting results and minimal lifestyle changes during treatment.

Using modern medical lasers, hair can be removed from practically any area of the body, including the face, legs, back, arms and even underarms. The type of hair removal that is ideal for each patient depends on a number of factors, including hair color, hair texture, skin color and what is causing the superfluous hair to grow.

Superfluous or excessive hair, sometimes called hirsutism, can be a result of congenital or systemic conditions or even medications that cause abnormal hair growth like steroids and birth control pills. Congenital conditions — the patient’s genetic blueprint — determines the amount, location and timing of hair growth, and treatment schedules and results vary with hair and skin color, ancestry, the location of the unwanted hair, and the size of the hair-removal area.

The latest medical lasers on the market for hair removal are the Cynosure Laser with TKS and the Apogee Elite.

With the Cynosure Laser, a gentle beam of laser light can reduce unwanted hair on men and women in as few as three or four sessions. This relatively quick and painless treatment uses a laser that emits a gentle beam of energy that passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The energy is then transformed into heat which damages the follicle. The scientific principle called Thermokinetic Selectivity (TKS) makes this method of hair removal particularly effective.

The only untreatable areas are those adjacent to the eyes. Fair-skinned patients with dark hair are the ideal candidates, although patients with darker complexions can be treated after a successful test patch. Also, blonde hair does not respond well to laser treatment. Patients with a tan are advised to wait until the tan subsides before receiving laser treatment.

Depending on how large an area is being treated, this procedure can last from a few minutes to more than one hour. The hair is treated with a beam of concentrated laser light that selectively absorbs the melanin in the hair shaft as well as the surrounding hair follicles. Laser procedures can treat hundreds of hair follicles at a time, unlike electrolysis which kills one hair follicle at a time.

For best results, treatments are performed approximately 4 to 6 weeks apart. Lasers tend to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, therefore more than one treatment is generally required to disable hair follicles still growing. After each treatment patients may return to work immediately, and experience some swelling or a burning sensation that typically lasts no more than 24 hours. Blisters and burns are extremely rare but do occur, particularly to patients with dark skin. Although some hair may still be present, shaving is not recommended; less and less hair will be evident over the course of treatments.

With the Apogee Elite Laser, a beam of light is emitted that heats the target area or hair follicle and the light energy damages the target while sparing the surrounding skin. In addition to treating unwanted hair, the Apogee Elite treats small facial veins, bluish-purple leg veins and spider veins. And it works on all skin types including dark and tanned skin.

The number of sessions needed to treat unwanted hair using the Apogee Elite laser depends on the selected treatments and the skin and hair type. Sessions are usually 10 to 15 minutes long, although larger areas, like full leg, may take longer.

After treatment, exfoliation will occur naturally in 7 to 14 days and during this time, patients may shave, but plucking is discouraged. Immediately after treatment with the Apogee Elite laser, normal activities may resume, although a sunscreen may be recommended.

The type of laser used for unwanted hair removal depends on a wide range of factors – hair color, skin color and type, the area being treated, etc. – and the determination is generally made by the physician in consultation with the patient before the treatments begin.

Lasers have become very commonplace in almost every aspect of modern life over the last 40 years a or more, however effective laser hair removal treatments with medical lasers were first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997. Since that time advancements in laser technology have taken quantum leaps and today the procedure is highly effective and in wide-spread use.

You’ll get less satisfaction out of your laser hair treatments if you shave, pluck, tweeze, wax or sunburn prior to your laser removal appointment. Even using sunless tanning products will compromise the results, according to Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, owner and medical director of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics in Cherry Creek North, Denver’s premiere shopping district.

The better you prepare for treatment, the more likely the treatment is to be successful. Studies show that laser hair removal treatments reduce hair growth from 20 – 90%, depending upon the individual. If you take these precautions, chances are you’ll increase your success rate, says Dr. Raval.

Do not tan, not even sunless tanning, 4 – 6 weeks prior to treatment. A tan increases side effects of blistering and skin discoloration. If you do tan, you’ll have to wait weeks to let the tan fade completely before undergoing laser hair removal.

Avoid waxing or plucking hairs including electrolysis prior to treatment too. Laser hair removal is most effective if hairs are visible but shaved short. You can shave the day of the procedure.

During the procedure, patients wear goggles to prevent accidental exposure of the eyes to laser light. Sometimes the physician or laser tech will apply a topical local anesthetic to the treatment area to reduce any discomfort, although many patients claim there’s nothing uncomfortable about the treatment other than the smell of singed hair which is normal.

Treatment can take minutes to several hours depending upon the area of the body being treated. It’s normal for the cost of the laser hair removal treatment to be based upon the length of time it takes to perform the service, so hair removal from the lip will be less expensive than hair removal across an entire back.

Call Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics today for an appointment. 303-985-8520.

Then turn back the clock

Exactly 40 years ago in 1969, a couple of out of work kids from New York collaborated to put together a music festival. Promoted as “An Aquarian Exposition,” the weekend-long music confab (August 15 to 18) was skedded to take place on a 600-acre dairy farm owned by a man named Max Yasgur. Max never imagined that the event would attract a half million concert goers or 32 of the best-known musicians of the day.

They arrived at Max’s farm without supplies of food, water and sunscreen. Sun tanning back then wasn’t frowned upon like it is today. Sunscreens weren’t as evolved either.

Today, the “kids” who ventured to Woodstock for that historic concert are in their mid-50s or older. Most of these Baby Boomers feel younger than their age and wouldn’t mind turning back the clock to look somewhat younger too.

Whether you’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, or if you just plan to head to a few concerts at Red Rocks this summer, Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics in Cherry Creek North can help turn back time.

The great outdoors can take a toll on your skin, especially in Colorado where we’re at altitude, cautions Jeffrey R. Raval, MD, FACS, owner and director of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. Besides the fact that Coloradans have the highest rate of skin cancer in the entire United States, protecting your skin from the sun’s damaging rays can go a long way toward keeping it unwrinkled and absent of age spots.

If your past as a sun worshipper is beginning to show, try the Diolite Laser at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. Say goodbye to any dark or brown spots caused by sun exposure. Have those cherry angiomas removed at the same time. It is a quick procedure with no down time required.

In summertime, skirts are shorter, tops are lower, and even makeup is sheerer and more revealing. If you’ve been working up to swim suit season since New Year’s or if you’re just now realizing summer is the season for looking fabulous, Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics can help.

With a few quick and easy injections, Dr. Raval who is known as The Filler Doc can turn back time, leaving your skin smooth and crease free. Dr. Raval chooses the best filler for your skin and your desired results from Botox, Juvederm, Perlane, Restylane, Sculptra, Radiesse, VolumaLift, Dysport or PureTox, depending upon where the treatment area is and what the individual’s needs are.

With age comes volume loss and to restore your skin to it’s young and healthy look, adding filler could be all you need.

Injections take but minutes and deliver immediate results. The improvements last an average of six months to a year depending on the type of filler used. Fillers are ideal for a lunch hour treatment. By the time you leave Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, you’ll say, “What wrinkles?”

The Filler Guy, AKA Dr. Raval, will consult with you regarding the fillers he recommends and the results you can expect to enjoy. Most commonly, injectables treat the wrinkles surrounding or under the eyes, especially “crow’s feet,” and around the mouth, namely the nasolabial folds or “marionette lines.” Fillers are also used to smooth out the indentations in the glabellar region between the eyebrows.

Dr. Raval uses fillers to contour the shape of the face, smoothing the jaw line that becomes saggy and uneven with age. Fillers are also used to plump up the lips that narrow with age. Filler around the lip area is ideal to eliminate the fine lines that develop around the lips from smoking too.

Restore your skin, volume, shape and confidence with a visit to Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. Visit www.rockymountainlaser.com or call 303.985.8520 for a consultation.