If you are visiting this page your probably pretty interested in Laser Hair Removal in the Chicagoland area. Well, your in luck! We offer top service with the most experienced aestheticians. The conversation below covers topics such as: which lasers work best, good/bad candidates, and how to pick a laser hair removal clinic. To book an appointment or talk to one of our aestheticians contact us here!
Dr. Shah: (00:11)
So we’re going to be talking about Laser Hair Removal. I’m Dr Shah. Next to me is Ranen and Sara, and we’re gonna be talking about Laser Hair removal today. Before we get started, we’ll talk about the science of laser hair removal and basically what laser hair removal is. Its is the removal of hair by life that specifically targets the hair follicle. This local damage targets the dark matter of the hair, which is Melanin. Now for some of us is Melanin is going to be lighter in nature and that’s called EuMelanin. That’s where those of us with blonde hair and red hair, but those are the ones with darker hair, which is called Pheomelanin. The laser is much more effective and we’ll target that specifically.
Dr. Shah: (00:57)
With that little background on laser, any thoughts on laser hair removal while we get started Ranen?
Ranen: (01:04)
I think laser hair removal is, an excellent way to help reduce hair on the body anywhere on your body. The best hair to target would be the darker, coarser hair. Usually, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean hair.
Dr. Shah: (01:27)
There’s sort of a misconception about, you know, laser hair and laser hair removal and all that. Any skin colorations that you have difficulty with. Is there anyone who can’t do laser hair removal, someone who has darker skin, someone who has lighter skin, what are your thoughts?
Sara: (01:45)
So the toughest people to treat, I guess welll, we can’t treat would be your Fitzpatrick’s like 1 and 2 cause they have that lighter skin. Fitzpatrick like 1 or 2 is like if you think about Nicole Kidman, she’s very, very light skin. She’s got that, you know, green eyes, kind of reddish blondish hair. So her hair is not a target. We cannot target that type of hair.
Dr. Shah: (02:12)
That again is going to be because of the Eumelanin, which doesn’t have the dark pigment, which is what the laser is going to specifically target.
Sara: (02:19)
Right. So, like a really good candidate. Is somebody who has lighter skin with darker hair, that’s like our perfect, that’s our way. Absolutely. I see them. I Say yes we can reduce your hair. Though with laser technology, we can treat Fitzpatrick’s five and six. Um, we use NdYag.
Dr. Shah: (02:36)
In Fitzpatrick’s five and six. Again, for those of us at home are going to be patients with, with darker skin. All of us here would probably be four. Five and six would be a little bit darker pigmentation than, than everyone here on the panel.
Sara: (02:50)
Right. So with laser technology, we have NdYag and a diode laser. Um, here in Dr Shaw’s office, I use a diode laser very safely on patients with really dark skin. I have a method that I use and it’s proven to be really helpful for my patients and does take longer because I have to lower the energy and I only do one pass on darker skin types. So I will tell you it does take longer than say my skin to get that hair reduced. But it does work. I have patients that I’m treating for both acne and hair that laser light really helps with patients who have like folliculitis on their face. I have a lot of women that come to see me with dark skin who have folliculitis on their skin, which is ingrown here. So what is happening with that is their hair follicle is getting infected with bacteria, it turns into acne and they have a full face of this. So when I always had them do first is see me for laser hair removal, we’ll take care of that first and then treat acne. So theory is getting that hair reduced so that hair follicle is not there to get infected by the bacteria. After that we work on getting just skin, a more even skin tone. So that’s what I really love to use.
Speaker 1: (04:11)
[inaudible]
Dr. Shah: (04:11)
I think when people talk about laser hair removal, it’s not on one type of laser. There’s really only like four basic types of laser that do laser hair removal. One thing we’re going to call a laser isn’t technically a laser. That’s IPL. IPL I don’t think is quite as effective for laser hair removal. Some of the studies show its near equivalent. Um, I’m not as big a fan of IPL in laser hair removal study. There is an Alexandrite laser, diolade laser and an NDYag which is probably best suited for like dark hair and ambitions with darker pigmentation. So I like the diode laser is kind of the best overall laser
Speaker 1: (04:56)
[inaudible]
Dr. Shah: (04:56)
If someone comes to you and says, “I want to get treated, I want one session to treat me all with laser hair removal” Will that work Ranen?
Ranen: (05:05)
I mean, if there is something out there like that, I would love that. But unfortunately there is, I mean, a minimum of at least six treatments is what I tell my patients, especially with the darker, coarser hair. Only, because the way our hair grows in those three rate phases, it’s impossible to get all of your hair in one session.
Dr. Shah: (05:26)
Talking about the three phases of hair growth. What Ranen is referring too is our hair grows in three different phases. And those phases are the anagen catagen and telogen phases and laser hair removal only works on the early phase of Anagen. So if your hair is in different cycle during that time, what’s gonna happen is it will not be targeted by the laser. So you’re getting your hair different cycles at different times.
Ranen: (05:58)
Depending on the amount of you hair growth. The majority of my patients, I’ve done a minimum of six treatments. Once you hit, probably around two to three treatments my patients feedback is usually, oh my God, my hair is growing back less! And it’s like in spots, it’s growing in some spots and not in others, which is excellent. It means we’re getting there. But it does, it does definitely from my experience take at least six treatments.
Dr. Shah: (06:45)
Yeah. Sometimes. You hear marketing words like: painless. Is Laser Hair Removal in Chicago painless?
(06:45)
There are tricks that I do here in the office. Number one: I always tell them I’m going to press kind of hard into your skin with this tip because it kinda like numbs the patient. I also have a roller that I use that I keep in the freezer. I have the patient roll with that first and then I go over the area. And different parts of the body if they requested, I will have that available to them. It makes it more comfortable for the patient.
Ranen: (07:16)
Yeah, I agree. We do have a roller that we use. It’s really nice and cold. The patient can actually roll that if, you know, he or she would like.Unfortunately I believe that the more coarser hair in certain areas, are going to be a little bit more uncomfortable. We do try and make it as comfortable as possible by using the roller, and we do put extra Gel, and that helps make it makes it a little bit more comfortable.
Dr. Shah: (07:52)
What about numbing gels? Do you think they help?
Ranen: (07:57)
I personally use numbing gels. I’ve used it on beards
Dr. Shah: (08:06)
This is a topical anesthesia. And which numbing Gel, we’re you using? LMX or the laser gel compound we use for that.
Ranen: (08:16)
I was using the compound.
Dr. Shah: (08:18)
We have a specially formulated compound, that we use for our laser patients. Which is fairly strong. I learned about it at a conference and we have a specially formulated in a pharmacy and it takes about 30 minutes for this to work. What were the patients experience using the, the topical Gel vs those who don’t?
Ranen: (08:35)
He had a lot of in-growns and stuff, especially on his neck area. And that was the main reason he came to see me. We did do the Gel and I would leave it on for at least 30 minutes, wipe that off and then right after go ahead and laser him. First Time I’ve treated him, I didn’t use the laser gel on the second and afterwards use the numbing gel and it was a huge difference. It was a little bit more tolerable. He was able to like sit through it, he was fine. But it’s a little uncomfortable either way you look at it. Gel definitely did help though.
Dr. Shah: (09:12)
I’ve heard of certain ways lasers being marketed as you know, painless or pain free. My back is sort of pin cushion of sorts because everyone always wants to test different lasers on it. My back’s been lasered multiple times. I think the lasers that work, the most effective way for me are the diode lasers. They seem to be more effective when it’s a diode laser Compared to other things such as IPL. NdYag even is about the same with pain when it targets the hair. If it hits the hair, there’s a little bit of discomfort that you’re going to feel. But it’s well worth it. Comparing this to even things like waxing and other things, a hair removal in general has a little bit of discomfort.
Speaker 2: (10:13)
[inaudible]
Dr. Shah: (10:13)
Anything you can’t do after? Some people come in and say, “I’m going to Mexico in a week”. Is this a good idea? Thoughts?
Sara: (10:24)
Where SPF! Have a good time! Our laser that we have here does not cause injury to the skin if your using it. Right. It does not cause trauma to the surface of the skin. So, that same day that they get treated, I just tell them not to add extra heat to the skin. Like don’t go to the gym.Just take it easy. But if they’re leaving for vacation in a week, they’re totally fine.
Ranen: (10:54)
I wanted to jump as far as doing any kind of laser before a vacation, is fine. I think afterwards is where you kind of want to be careful. When you’re on vacation and you come back and you have nice color and you’re Tan, we’re not going to get the accurate skin tone. You definitely want to not be tanned when you come in. That’s a big factor.
Dr. Shah: (11:23)
That’s going to go with the science of laser, which again, you want the difference between your dark hair and your skin, So you can target the hair and not the skin. So if you’re darker, it’s going to be harder for the laser to pick up the difference between the two. That’s kind of the science behind it. So you’re much more likely to have an adverse effect from the laser. Um, can anyone do laser hair removal? What are some of the issues, like minimum qualifications you want to see in someone doing laser hair?
Sara: (11:55)
At least 16 and over. Just some of the contraindications would be obviously somebody who’s pregnant, somebody who is susceptible to seizures. Any kind of skin disorders like Eczema like any where there’s a rash, that would be like a contraindication. Those are patients I wouldn’t typically treat. You just have to wait until those things go away and then come see me. Definitely if you are susceptible to seizures and sensitivity to light, You are not a good candidate.
Dr. Shah: (12:32)
Yeah, I would agree. What about places that do laser hair removal in Chicago, IL. Why would one person go to one provider versus another? Laser Based? Do you pick it based on the provider? Is the combination of the two? How much experience does someone need to do laser hair removal. Is it the cost of laser hair removal?
Ranen: (12:52)
I personally think you definitely want to go by somebody who you feel comfortable with who’s qualified and certified and also, um, has experience with lasers. Someone who is Properly trained. Only because you know, you can really hurt somebody with a laser if you don’t know what you’re doing. I believe in the diode lasers, which is what we have in the office and is an excellent laser for the majority of our skin types here. I’ve seen excellent reviews with it. I would look at all of the above.
Sara: (13:32)
I’ve seen patients come here from like coming from Medspas where perhaps the aesthetician was not properly trained. I’ve had patients getting pucked or waxed between their laser treatments. That person that was treating them was not telling them the right information. What they should’ve told them was that you can only shave so that there’s no plucking no waxing while you’re being treated for laser hair removal. We’re trying to target that hair follicle. What this patient was doing between her laser treatments getting waxed and her treatment was not effective at all. So she came to see me and she was like, “wow, nobody ever told me that!” So you definitely want to know, go see somebody who is trained, has been working with the laser for at least two years, and most importantly under a reputable doctor just for safety reasons. There’s so much things that can go wrong. You want to have somebody that you know is following all the rules, like wearing glasses, have proper signage on the doors. Those are really good indications that the person that you are going to be treated with is professionally trained.
Dr. Shah: (14:56)
Any areas that is becoming more popular infor men and laser hair removal? What about women? Do you see any trends happening?
Ranen: (15:14)
Well, A lot of women are doing more of like full body. They’re hair free like 100%. Men as well! I think men are more with their contouring of like their beard, you know, or their neck. Knowing that they don’t have to worry about like in growns and stuff like that. I think its an excellent treatment for men.
Dr. Shah: (15:45)
And what does it feel like? What if someone said, “Well, why don’t I just wax?” What does it feel like for the laser hair patients, you know, when they’ve had laser hair removal, let’s say they have 10 sessions versus someone who waxes, what does it feel like to the skin? What does it feel like? What does it look like? Is there any differences when you see someone? Can you tell someone who’s had laser hair removal versus someone that has not? And any differences in how it looks?
Sara: (16:06)
Yeah, so somebody who has had laser hair removal, you can see that the skin is smoother. What happens is in certain areas of the body, it’s definitely depending on your ethnicity, you will see folliculitis, which is the ingrown hair. I will see somebody who has a ton of ingrown hairs and they’ve been being waxed. It’s basically when the hair grows back into the follicle. So with laser hair removal, we’re weakening that follicle that after like one to two treatments, automatically stops. It’s really nice. A big thing that I see with laser hair removal is the smoother skin, like that bumpiness goes away.
Dr. Shah: (16:40)
So you’re avoiding the raise your bump. Is there anything you’ve notice Ranen? Someone with laser skin removal versus someone who just waxes?
Ranen: (16:54)
So before I was a waxer, before I started doing laser hair removal i used to wax and folliculitis was a huge issue. Constant in growns, especially with the being Arab. It’s just not that great. Knowing that you’d have to do it like once a month or whatever it was awful. I’d rather get the laser hair removal done.
Sara: (17:25)
I have patients that actually like how that laser feels. You can feel it destroying the follicle. After they leave, they’re always like, “I feel so clean!” It’s like a renewal for them. They love to come to their sessions, they’re excited, they know it’s going to be a tad uncomfortable. But the overall I love when they say, ” Oh my God, it’s been two months and I haven’t had to shave this area is huge improvement!” The patient is always very happy.
Ranen: (17:54)
Also, I mean going back to like acne, it definitely helps that too. I Feel like it helps with acne. So like doing laser hair removal on a patient with acne on their back or whatever it is. You see them and you’ll see the difference the next time you come in and they’ll even tell you like, wow, my acne has definitely gotten under-control.
Sara: (18:14)
Lasers, YAY! Yeah, we love our lasers.
Dr. Shah: (18:18)
Any other thoughts on lasers?
Sara: (18:22)
I just think it’s a great invention. I’m so thankful for it. I’m thankful to work in this industry that I can treat myself, I can treat my patients. They are so happy when they come in for their laser treatments. It’s just like a really good feeling to offer that service, especially with the laser that works. Earlier Dr. Shah was talking IPL versus laser. So IPL is intense pulse light. It’s sporadic light. It’s spread out, that’s what you’ll see in a lot of Medspas, because they’re less expensive. They’re also just easier to carry. That’s why a lot of Medspas carry them. With our laser it’s a directing and killing that follicle. That hair disappears faster. I’m really thankful that I get to work with that type of laser because it’s results.
Ranen: (19:04)
To have to shave less. Why wouldn’t you want to get laser hair removal? I used to have to shave every day, literally. And now it’s like I can go on vacation. I’m hairless! I have to worry about it or even spending a lot longer in the shower. It’s an excellent treatment
Sara: (19:22)
Less headache. I feel like less hair is more fun. That’s the way of the future.
Dr. Shah: (19:27)
Well, I guess that that’s a wrap on laser hair removal. Thank you.