Hair Removal and Regrowth using Laser Technique

One of the biggest misconceptions with laser hair removal is that when you get it, you never have to have it done again. Well, this is not true. When you get laser hair removal done, you have to go back for more sessions in order to have all the hair removed. Then, once a year, you have to go for a laser hair removal session so that any new hair that has popped up can be removed.

The reason for all of this is not that laser hair removal is ineffective. The problem is that our hair grows in cycles, and that presents a problem for laser hair removal. Right now, about 80 percent of your hair is growing, 10 percent is falling out and 10 percent is about to grow. So, your hair is always changing as a result. When you have laser hair removal done, the hair is removed but that doesn't stop the new hair from growing. So, you have to go back for sessions every few months in order to remove the hair that has grown in the time it took for the previous hair to fall out.

Once you are done with your laser hair removal treatments, you need to go back for laser hair removal because your hair re-grows over time. So, a better way of describing laser hair removal would be to call it laser hair reduction. The hair is not being removed completely, but it is being reduced greatly.


Hair re-grows constantly and it is an amazingly durable part of our bodies. When someone goes through chemotherapy, their hair will re-grow after the chemo is done, even though all the hair fell out. In fact, it comes back in different colors and styles. Hair is amazing and tough to get rid of. Even if you wax, the hair will re-grow. Simply put, there is no way to get rid of your hair forever, but you can reduce it and that is where laser hair removal comes in.

Laser for hair removal is the best way to reduce the problem hair you have.

As time goes on and the re-growth of hair slows, you will not have to get as much laser hair removal done. You can probably go in every two years eventually. This is a pretty small price to pay considering you used to have to shave every few days to remove hair. Depending on where you had the hair removed, the re-growth will be different. Hair on the face and underarms grows much faster than hair in the pubic region or on the chest and shoulders.

Laser hair removal and hair re-growth can be a pain but it is something that has to be dealt with every year. Your yearly appointments will not be as involved as other appointments in the past, and it is more of a touch up than anything, usually taking much less time than your first sessions in the laser hair removal process.

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Center for Laser Surgery

The Center for Laser Surgery has over ten years of clinical and research experience in laser hair removal. Our Center was one of the first in the world to use the Lightsheer 800nm Diode laser from Lumenis (formerly Coherent Medical group). The Center for Laser Surgery has six unique hair removal lasers on site enabling us to provide individualized treatment programs.
Our long term experience and the availability of these innovative laser systems allows us to provide treatment for all patients regardless of skin color. Research studies conducted in conjunction with physicians at Harvard has increased our success in the treatment of African American patients with excess facial hair and facial bumps secondary to ingrown hairs. Please call 202-966-8814 for a complimentary laser hair removal consultation.
Scroll down for before and after photos and more information on laser hair removal.

Before vs. Two years after 4 treatments
Laser Hair removal - African American patient
To date the Center for Laser Surgery has trained over 1000 physicians world wide in laser hair removal procedures.
Laser Hair Removal - Back
Laser Hair Removal - Back Hair Removal Lasers Currently In Use at our Center Lightsheer Diode Laser (Lumenis/Coherent Medical)* Apogee 9300 Alexandrite Laser (Cynosure Medical) Apogee Elite Neodymium-YAG Alexandrite Laser (Cynosure Medical) Long Pulse Ruby Laser ( Wavelight Corp. Germany ) Long Pulse Neodymium-YAG Laser ( Cutera Medical)* Long Pulse 100msec Diode Laser* *Safe for dark skin patients including African Americans
Over the past ten years the Center for Laser Surgery has been involved in patient treatment and clinical research regarding laser-assisted hair removal. We are pleased to offer a wide variety of advanced laser systems for removing unwanted body hair. The following material will inform you of the benefits, risks and anticipated results associated with laser hair removal.

Ingrown Hair...           2 years after treatment At the present time four laser wavelengths are available for the treatment of unwanted body hair. In essence, these wavelengths target pigment granules in the hair (melanin) in an effort to destroy hair follicles. Hair follicles are capable of producing hairs of various thickness and colors. Dark hair contains the pigment melanin which serves as the target for energy at these wavelengths. Four wavelengths, 694nm. produced by the Ruby laser, 755nm. produced by the Alexandrite laser, 800nm. produced by the Diode laser, and 1064nm. produced by the Neodymium-YAG laser, have been shown to be effective in the removal of pigmented hair. The pulsed laser energy is absorbed by the pigmented hair shaft and transferred to the surrounding follicle. The heat build-up caused by the absorption of energy by the hair itself is capable of creating follicular damage and retard or prevent future hair production by that follicle.
Don't pay attention to false and misleading claims by so called experts. Patients will achieve varying degrees of success. The application of these laser energies to the skin results in almost complete removal of all actively growing hairs. The number of hairs that are permanently removed as a result of one treatment can vary. Part of the difficulty in eradication of unwanted or excess hair lies in the fact that the follicle has tremendous regenerative capabilities and that these recuperative powers are highly variable from individual to individual and from one anatomic site to another.
In most instances multiple treatments are necessary in order to achieve permanent hair reduction and in some instances treatment may fail to permanently remove all the hair in a given anatomic site. In order to understand the process it is important to understand the biology of hair growth itself. Hair growth cycles are divided into three phases. The anagen follicle or growing hair is the major target for laser energy and represents the most vulnerable phase of the hair growth cycle. Telogen or resting hairs are not actively growing and appear to be more resistant to the laser energy. The transitional phase between anagen and telogen phases known as the catagen phase is brief but also relatively resistant to laser removal.

Laser Hair Removal (chin) Depending on the body site, various percentages of hairs are in the anagen, catagen and telogen phase. As a result, it is necessary to treat a given anatomic area more than once in order to attempt to achieve permanent hair removal. Since the anagen phase is most vulnerable, a period of one to three months between treatments is necessary to allow the resting or telogen phase hairs to once again enter the anagen cycle and become more sensitive to the laser energy.
Laser hair removal is a time-consuming but relatively straightforward process. You may be given a prescription for topical anesthetic cream and may also be instructed how to apply this cream (BLT) at home. We can also apply the cream in the office if desired. This cream greatly reduces the discomfort associated with the laser hair removal process. Prior to treatment the hairs will be shaved and the laser treatment will proceed. Treatment times vary from a few minutes for areas such as the chin and neck to a few hours for extensive areas of the legs, back and chest. After the procedure cool compresses and soothing gels are applied to the treated area and patients spend time relaxing before being discharged. Patients are asked to return in one week for a follow-up visit and then are examined monthly in order to determine when it is best to re-treat the involved areas.
The application of laser energy to the skin results in a pink color and on occasion crusting in the area will develop lasting a few days. Discomfort similar to a sunburn may be noted over the first 24 hour period and in extensive cases Tylenol or mild Codeine containing analgesics may be used. In certain instances, especially in darker complected individuals, temporary pigmentation changes may be noted. One may notice hair within the follicles for up to two weeks after therapy, however, this will fall out leaving smooth, hair-free skin.
During your initial consultation you will be asked to provide a detailed medical and hormonal history. When indicated, we will obtain blood tests in order to uncover any hormone-related causes which may be associated with the excess production of body hair. Patients who are darker skin type may use a bleaching cream (Hydroquinone 4%, or Kojic Acid) for three to four weeks prior to treatment in order to lessen the effects of brown melanin pigment in the skin surrounding the hair follicle.
Laser hair removal has proven to be a very safe procedure when performed in physicians offices, not at spas and strip malls. Since laser pulses are a constant energy, there is little chance of scarring associated with this process. In certain instances temporary increased or decreased pigmentation will be noted within the lasered sites, especially in more darkly pigmented patients. In certain cases there may be some degree of crusting during the postoperative period which is treated by the use of bland emollients or topical antibiotics.
Nurses and physicians are on call 24 hours a day to assist you through your postoperative period and to answer any questions you may have during this time.
Laser hair removal involves the use of sophisticated expensive laser equipment in order to deliver precise and effective energy pulses. During your initial consultation the areas to be treated will be determined and a fee quote per treatment session will be given to you. This fee involves the cost of the procedure, dressings and postoperative visits. The fee for re-treatment sessions at one to two month intervals may be the same or less than the initial treatment depending on the extent of follow-up treatment needed. Our aim is to provide safe, effective and affordable laser treatments for patients wishing to avail themselves of this service.
Laser treatment for hair removal currently represents one of the most exciting areas within laser medicine and surgery. Patient variation and the nature of hair follicle growth make it difficult to predict the exact outcome in every case. We are committed to excellence and will attempt to provide a pleasing cosmetic result for all of our patients, however, no specific guarantees can be made with regard to the final outcome.

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