Nirvana Laser Hair & Skin Clinic
Services

 

Laser Hair Removal

Typical sites of treatment include:

Women:
Upper lip, chin, cheeks, between brows, forehead, front of neck, back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, lower arms, underarms, chest, abdomen, nipples, bikini, lower legs, thighs, feet, hands, buttocks, back

Men:
Beard, scalp, back of neck, front of neck, areas of ingrown hair, shoulders, ears, nose, between brows, underarms, upper arms, forearms, hands, chest, abdomen, bikini, back, thighs, low legs, feet

The day and age of permanent hair reduction is here. Not only is it quick and efficient, it is also safe in the right hands. It is certainly affordable when consideration is given to the lifetime cumulative cost of temporary hair removal.

Nirvana is fully committed to permanent hair removal by laser or intense light. This is the main full-time focus of the practice, now established since 2001. The director of the clinic is a Family Physician, licensed to practice in Saskatchewan, and Certified by the Canadian College of Family Physicians, and specially trained in the field of laser hair reduction. She has trained specifically at seminars, conferences, and preceptorships over the past 9 years. She is current with the literature. Of course, she has a great deal of experience in hair removal as she has been practicing this full time since establishment of the clinic.

Almost half of the new inquiries to Nirvana originate as a result of positive word of mouth about the clinic.

You will not have to resort to strategies such as shaving, waxing, tweezing, or creams again, with their ongoing expenses, and their discomforts and side effects. Laser hair reduction is performed on regions of skin quickly, safely, and comfortably to achieve permanent hair reduction. There are no needles. It is quicker than electrolysis, the other method of permanent hair removal. The laser is used to sweep the region of dark unwanted hairs quickly and effectively over a series of 3-6 treatments. In most cases this will achieve “permanent hair reduction”.

Sometimes unwanted hair may represent a spectrum of colors, including gray, fair red, or blonde, as well as brown or black hair. Technology of this day and age are uniformly dependent on recognition of pigment in the hair, and therefore blonde or gray will be left behind. If this is the case, then some hair may escape the laser and require electrolysis for permanent removal.

According to the experts at the 2002 conference of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, there is yet no laser on the near horizon that will permanently rid a person of fair or gray hair, despite claims to the contrary in the marketplace. It may be necessary for some to utilize the services of an electrologist to manage any residual unwanted gray or fair hair after or instead of laser hair reduction.

As with any technology, there is no “magic bullet”. There are minor side effects. More serious side effects may occur, but experts and insurers agree that these are uncommon, especially in the situation of specialized clinics. All patients are seen by the M.D. consultant prior to entering the laser hair reduction program, without extra charge, so that each case is considered individually from the medical and laser perspective, to maximize results, and minimize risk.

The scientific basis of laser hair reduction is summarized as follows: The laser utilizes electricity to generate specialized light rays that penetrate but do not disrupt the skin, focusing on the pigmented hair follicle. This light falls in the spectrum of visible light or near the infrared portion of the spectrum, and excludes rays that are “ionizing”, or DNA damaging, like an X-ray. That is, the rays are distant from any that are linked to cancer. (After more than 10 years of laser hair reduction, the specialists in the field are unaware of any deleterious long-term adverse effects, including cancer.) The delivered light is preferentially absorbed by pigment such as that in brown or black hair. The light/heat strikes, and singes the hair, right to its base in the hair follicle where heat will dissipate and cauterize the cells that are responsible for hair growth. If adequate heat is achieved, then the follicle is permanently disabled. If only partially disabled then the hair will grow back finer, and fairer. It is normal to expect some of each, and it is normal to expect more than one treatment. Any follicles without a target hair within will simply grow again and be treated next time around. Any dormant hairs will be activated, and these will simply be treated next time around.

Disabled follicles produce a variety of hair growth patterns including:

  • Hair growth is halted permanently, or profoundly delayed.
  • Those that continue to grow are finer and less pigmented.
  • Those that become activated from dormancy may produce a crop for laser treatment on the second occasion. This is actually beneficial to a good laser result because it increases the percentage of follicles with a target hair.

Additional information pertaining to laser hair reduction include the following:

  • Laser therapy is ineffective in removal of white, gray, blonde, or fair red hair. Electrolysis is the treatment of choice in these situations. This service is available at Nirvana.
  • Laser hair reduction is effective and permanent in approximately 90% after 6 treatments. Some individuals may require more, and some fewer treatments, to achieve satisfaction.
  • Women who suffer male pattern hair growth due to the influence of male type hormones may require maintenance treatments unless hormonal issues are addressed.
  • In order to maximize efficiency, the laser treatments are optimally spaced when the bulk of the surviving hair begins to re-grow, and this varies between 1 week (e.g. a beard) and 4-6 weeks (e.g. back). The re-growth represents stunned hair recovery and activation from an originally dormant follicle.
  • It is important to realize that waxing or tweezing is counter-productive to laser treatment because the hair is required as a target for the laser to selectively penetrate to the follicle or root. If the hair has been removed from the follicle, then the laser light will pass by without significant impact on the “root”, and the hair will re-grow again.
  • The laser may alter coloration of freckles and moles, and therefore these are avoided if there is any concern about their status.
  • Tattoos and permanent make-up will be absolutely excluded from treatment, as these will be altered by the treatment. It is important to inform the laser technician of any such marking on your skin.

 

PRE AND POST-TREATMENT CARE FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL

  • Keep the treatment zone particularly clean for the next 3 days by washing twice daily with an anti-bacterial soap lotion, such as Tersaseptic. Then pat dry and apply antiseptic gel or ointment, such as Polysporin. Both of these products are over the counter at your pharmacy. If you would rather a prescription for an ointment, this is available and will often be covered under your health plans.
  • For dark skin types, or treatment of very dense hair zones, eg bikini or man’s beard, some prescription ointment with Hydrocortisone is recommended together with Fucidin, a highly effective antibacterial ointment.
  • If the underarms were the treatment zone, then it is better to avoid applying antiperspirant deodorant for a couple of days. This reduces the risk of infection in the follicles. It is not so difficult to stop antiperspirant when you are washing with antibiotic soap twice daily.
  • If the treatment zone is in the region of the upper or lower lip, then call the clinic promptly if there is any tingling or any other symptom suggestive of a newly developing cold sore after your treatment. Dr. Genesis will provide you with suitable oral or topical medication to prevent, or minimize, the cold sore.
  • Avoid going into a chlorinated swimming pool or hot tub for the next 48 hours. The chlorine has the potential to cause an inflammatory and itchy rash.
  • Avoid deep tanning for one week after the treatment. And of course, if you have plans to resume the laser treatments in the near future it is best not to be deeply tanned for your next treatment. A small amount of suntan is acceptable.
  • The general recommendation is to return when you see a new wave of hair growth. This is variable for different individuals and different zones of treatment. The timing is not crucial. It may be done when it is convenient for you.
  • You will notice gradual thinning of the treated hair zone. It may take up to one month to slough all of the treated hairs. And don’t forget that it takes more than one treatment to complete the hair removal, so not all hairs will be eliminated in the first treatment.
  • Between treatments, feel free to shave, or use cream depilatories, or clip, or do nothing. Bleaching is acceptable if it is something you feel you must do, although it may be that results will be slightly slowed. Clearly it is not helpful to tweeze, or wax, or otherwise pull the target hairs out of their follicle. For many women who have unwanted hair on their face, there is no other way to wait the period between treatments. Do not worry about a few tweezed hairs in this case. It won’t be long before there will be nothing to tweeze and it will be much easier to resist tweezing between treatment times.
  • If you have concerns about the progress of your hair removal, then please discuss this with the laser technician, or the receptionist staff who are very knowledgeable about these matters. If you still feel you have an unresolved concern, then please feel free to book a follow up appointment with Dr. Genesis for further consultation.
  • If you find the treatment to be uncomfortable or painful, then you may elect to apply topical anesthetic before your next treatment. You may apply it at home and drive in with the anesthetic under some occlusive plastic wrap (such as Saran Wrap), or you may apply the anesthetic at the clinic approximately one hour in advance of your laser hair removal appointment. Bring your book and relax in privacy. For more information about topical anesthetic options for purchase, refer to the website at www.laserhairandskin.ca, or contact one of the Nirvana staff and they will mail or fax some information to you.
  • Should you experience adverse effects, or uncertainty after your treatment please feel free to call Nirvana for further assistance. 931-8828

 

Sciton Inc.: Licence #39385, Profile Laser System Indication: For use in surgical applications for the removal of unwanted hair.

Manufacturer: LUMENIS LTD.

Licence: #15537, Light Sheer Diode Laser  Class: 3

Indications: Lasers for use in dermatology.  Hair reduction.

 

For more information visit:

Click here to view before and after photos

Click here to read what our patients have to say about laser hair removal

 


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