The Cool Glide™ is a high powered, long pulsed yag laser that is used to remove hair & impair hair regrowth. Attracted to the pigment of the hair, the laser penetrates the skin to heat & disable numerous hair follicles simultaneously. The machine has an actively cooled handpiece for skin protection & comfort of treatment. Gel is not necessary, but small amounts are sometimes used for ease of treatment. Some of the hair will come out during treatment, but the remaining treated hair usually falls out within 2 weeks.
No. This should be considered a long lasting hair maintenance program. The FDA considers the word "permanent" to mean a small reduction in hair growth for 3 growing cycles. A person treated for hair removal could actually have a 10% permanent loss of hair, but would not really be able to tell that 10% is gone. When the hair comes back after treatment, it frequently comes in lighter & finer.
It varies from person to person according to hair type & skin type, but hair may stay away anywhere from 3-4 months to over 2 years.
No. The darker the hair, the better the results. The light is attracted to the pigment in the hair follicle. There is no pigment in white or gray hair, and blond hair does not have much pigment, so would probably need more treatments.
Everyone responds differently, but it usually takes an average of 5-8 treatments. It also varies according to the body area being treated.
It works only on the hair that is in an active growing phase, so it is best to do a treatment when you see new growth coming in- or usually about 6 weeks to 3 months apart, depending on the body area treated. More frequent treatments are not any more effective.
It is a heat source, so there is the potential to burn, but that is rare. Short-term side effects may include slight swelling or redness that usually lasts less than an hour, but on rare occasions may last a day or two. Hypo-pigmentation (loss of color) or hyper-pigmentation (darker color) can be another rare side effect, but usually resolves with time.
Because it is such a deep laser, the CoolGlideT is safe for all skin types, as well as sun-tanned skin. Recent studies on tanned patients show that any rare instances of skin discoloration had resolved 3-6 months following treatment. Patients with the contrast of fair skin and dark hair seem to respond the best.
It eliminates leathery skin, scarring, acne & ingrown hairs for those who are plucking or shaving almost daily. People who bleach or wax their faces complain about skin irritation because they do it about every 4 weeks. The CoolGlideT treatments free up time spent dealing with unwanted hair.
Electrolysis is done by inserting a fine needle into each hair follicle & delivering an electrical current to destroy the root. It can be a very lengthy and painful process, with only small areas being done at one session. Often you need treatments once a week over several months to treat a large area. With the CoolGlideT, we treat the entire area at each session.
Let hair grow 24-48 hours pre-treatment, so we can identify the treatment area. The area will then be shaved close to the skin before treatment. Some patients wish to use a topical anesthetic prior to treatment. Please discuss this with us.
There is a slight sting similar to the snap of a rubber band, which usually lasts from a few seconds to no more than 20-30 minutes. Women often find that they are more sensitive to the treatment just prior to and during their monthly cycle. Scheduling your appointment mid-cycle may be helpful, as well as use of a topical anesthetic if desired.
The skin is usually pink to red for a few minutes to a few hours. Makeup can be applied soon after a treatment.
The CoolGlide™ has a 1064 wavelength, which is the deepest hair laser on the market. The longer wavelength bypasses the majority of the skin surface, reducing epidermal heating and damage, but reaching deeper to the melanin in the hair follicle. With the built in cooling system, the dose can be turned up without increasing side effects. This makes it more effective and safer for darker skin types.
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