Laser Hair Removal

Laser Hair Removal

Daily bodily maintenance is necessary as you age to keep your appearance as attractive, youthful, and healthy as you can. When you’re younger, this routine is often quick and simple. However, some aspects of this daily routine in Hawaii take longer the older you get, which can be annoying, especially shaving or tweezing unwanted hair on your legs or armpits.

If this describes you, you might be an ideal candidate for one of the country’s most popular cosmetic procedures: laser hair removal. Laser treatment for hair effectively removes any unwanted hair from virtually any area on your body and leaves smooth, silky, touchable skin you’ll be happy to show off again. If you’ve been thinking about undergoing a procedure for removal of unwanted hair, contact Honolulu dermatologist Dr. Kory Kitagawa at Kitagawa Dermatology for a consultation to discuss your particular situation.

Laser Hair Treatment in Honolulu for Any Part of Your Body

At Kitagawa Dermatology, we use GentleMax Pro™  treatments for our laser hair removal treatments. The GentleMax Pro is a dual platform laser by Syneron Candela, one of the industry’s leaders. This dual-platform laser combines a 755nm Alexandrite laser and a 1064nm Nd:YAG laser. The procedure shoots beams of highly concentrated light into your follicles during their growth cycle. The pigment within the follicles absorbs this light, impeding the ability of the follicles to regrow and eventually leading to the destruction of the targeted hair.

Laser hair removal with the GentleMax Pro.Laser hair removal with the GentleMax Pro.

Although the light energy from these devices are concentrated, it is safe enough to pass through your skin without damaging it. Each pulse of the laser is capable of removing large patches of unwanted hair nearly anywhere on your body. The advanced laser treatment for hair combined with Dr. Kitagawa’s skilled technique removes armpit hair efficiently and completely, allowing your natural, beautiful skin to glow. Some of the most commonly treated areas of the body in Honolulu include:

  • Eyebrows
  • Above your lip
  • On or under your chin
  • Ears
  • Neck and Shoulders
  • Arms and Underarms
  • Chest
  • Back
  • Thighs and Calves

Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

This is a common question we get, as many of our patients have tried waxing or electrolysis hair removal only to find that the pain is almost intolerable. As always, there is no simple answer, as it depends on your pain tolerance, how much leg hair you want to be removed, and the thickness of the hair.

However, with laser hair removal, you might feel no more than a modicum of discomfort. Although most of our patients don’t request anesthesia, it can be administered if you’re averse to pain or if you simply want to eliminate any risk of discomfort or pain. In lieu of anesthesia, many patients choose to have a topical numbing agent applied.

Laser Treatment Benefits

You mean besides the resulting smooth, silky skin that positively glows? The benefits of this hair removal procedure in Honolulu include the following:

Flawless Precision

A major benefit for many patients in Hawaii is that the laser treatment precisely targets the hairs you want to have removed yet leaves the surrounding skin untouched and undamaged. We use the GentleMax Pro because it is the gold standard for effective hair removal in most skin types, depending on each patient’s needs.

Lightning Speed

Each laser pulse treats many hairs in the blink of an eye – a patch of hair roughly the size of a quarter can be taken care of in less than a second. This allows treatment in a variety of areas that won’t ruin your busy schedule. For example, it might take one to two minutes to treat your upper lip while larger patches on your back or legs could take as long as an hour.

Laser hair removal with the GentleMax Pro.

Tangible, Permanent Results

Although the number of laser hair removal sessions you need to reach your goals varies from person to person, many patients begin seeing great results after one or two sessions. More realistically, though, it takes three to six sessions to reach your goals. It is truly permanent hair removal. During each session, targeted hair follicles are damaged beyond repair, and the hair will not grow back. This is repeated with each subsequent treatment session until your skin is smooth and hair-free.

Side Effects

Once your hair treatment procedure is finished, you can reduce any discomfort you have with ice packs anti-inflammatory lotions. Regardless, for about 48-72 hours after treatment, your skin will be inflamed and red, and you’ll feel stinging or tingling sensations. You may also experience mild swelling or even some scarring. However, within a month, all of your treated hair will have fallen out, and your skin will be smoother and silkier like never before.

For the Hair Removal Results You Seek, Follow These Steps

If you’re serious about getting results, avoid sun exposure in Honolulu as much as possible about a month prior to a session. You should also avoid it for at least a month afterward. Right before you come in for your session, shave the area being targeted. Furthermore, because the laser targets your follicles for removal, you should reduce if not outright eliminate any plucking, waxing, or electrolysis about six weeks prior to a session (otherwise, there’s nothing for the laser to target).

To learn more about laser hair treatment in Hawaii, visit WebMD.com.

Learn More about Laser Hair Removal at Kitagawa Dermatology

To understand more about permanent hair removal, contact Kitagawa Dermatology in Hawaii. Our friendly, experienced staff can answer all your questions about removing unwanted hair safely, effectively, and permanently. Contact us online or call us at 808.533.4434 today. Or drop by our Honolulu office in the Kuakini Medical Plaza to set up an appointment.

Laser hair removal with the GentleMax Pro.

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