Laser Hair Removal Q & A

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a noninvasive procedure that can permanently reduce hair on your legs, arms, back, underarms, bikini line, and other areas of the body that often have unwanted hair. 

Marti uses the Solta Pelo system or the Alma Harmony XL Pro laser system to destroy hair follicles at the source, ensuring the hair in the treatment area can’t grow back.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal targets the pigment in your hair. The hair shaft absorbs the laser energy, which then converts to heat. The heat ultimately kills the hair follicle, preventing it from regrowing hair. 

In most cases, laser hair removal reduces hair growth by up to 80% in any given treatment area. Hair that does grow back is typically lighter and softer.  

Does laser hair removal hurt?

 A topical anesthetic to numb the skin can be applied around your treatment area before activating the laser, but it is not always necessary.

The treatment should not feel painful, but it may be slightly uncomfortable. Many patients describe the feeling as like a rubber band snapping against the skin. Laser hair removal typically feels less painful with each session.

How many laser hair removal sessions do I need?

The number of laser hair removal sessions you need depends on the size of the treatment area. Treating the upper lip takes fewer sessions than the legs, arms, and back. 

In general, most individuals need about 6-12 treatments, spaced out about 4-6 weeks between each session, to achieve their desired results.

Is there downtime with laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal has no downtime, and you can resume your normal activities immediately. However, your skin may be red, swollen, and sensitive after each session. 

It’s important to avoid sun exposure after the treatment to protect your skin from damage. When you do go outside, make sure to wear sunscreen.

When will I see results from laser hair removal?

While results vary, most patients see a hair reduction of about 10-25% after their first laser hair removal session. After that, you should notice a visible reduction in hair in your treatment area after each session.

To see if you're a candidate for laser hair removal, call Elevate Medical Aesthetics and Wellness today.

What laser hair removal devices do we offer at Elevate?

• Alma Harmony XL Pro® (coming soon)
• Solta Pelo®

Laser Skin Resurfacing Q & A

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing reduces wrinkles, sun damage, and age spots. It can also effectively eliminate scars due to injuries, surgery, or acne. Other lasers can target vascular formations and veins. Elevate uses laser technology that contains concentrated beams of light. The lasers can precisely remove damaged skin one layer at a time or eliminate vascular lesions, depending on the type of laser used. Lasers can also heat the underlying skin, triggering your body’s natural healing response to produce new collagen. You may need 1-2 treatments or sometimes 5-6 treatments, depending on the condition of your skin and the type of laser treatment you receive.

As your skin heals, new skin cells form to create a smoother, firmer facial appearance. If you receive a laser to treat veins, the issue can disappear with 1 treatment but could take several to achieve your desired outcome. 

Elevate Medical Spa offers several resurfacing technologies including:

• Solta Dual Fraxel®
• Solta Clear and Brilliant®
• Alma Harmony XL Pro®- with Clear Lift, Erbium Yag, LP Yag, Dye VL

What happens during laser skin resurfacing procedure?

The team at Elevate offers laser skin resurfacing treatments in a comfortable office environment. To ensure your comfort, they will apply topical anesthetics to numb the treatment area for @ 30-60 minutes. The Laser procedure will then take @15-30 minutes. Depending on the type of Laser procedure you received, will determine your post-procedure restrictions. The staff will review your post-procedure restrictions and plan. It is important to follow these post-procedure plans for optimal healing.

What can I expect after a laser resurfacing treatment?

Immediately following your treatment, you may feel a sensation similar to a sunburn. Your face may also appear red and slightly swollen. These symptoms disappear with a few hours to a few days. If you experience pain, you can take over-the-counter pain relievers and apply cold compresses for the first one to two days after treatment. With some lasers, you may be sent home with skincare products to assist in your healing.

What are the benefits of laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing treatments offer dramatic results without the risks of surgery. You can enjoy several benefits, including:

• Smoother, younger-looking skin
• Improved skin texture and tone
• Reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
• Elimination of acne, surgical and injury scars
• Reduction in pigmented lesions

Some skin resurfacing treatments can require little to no downtime, others may require social downtime of 3-5 days. It really depends on the type of laser resurfacing you had. Typically, after 1-2 days of rest, you can expect to return to your normal activities. It is important to clarify any restrictions with your provider prior to leaving after your procedure.

What type of Lasers are offered at Elevate? 

Solta Dual Fraxel™

The first non-ablative fractional skin resurfacing treatment, Fraxel improves tone, texture, and radiance for aging, sun-damaged, or scarred skin. It is for people that want to look younger without dramatic changes or extended downtime. It addresses fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage or pigment, surface scarring, and even actinic keratosis. Treatments are recommended 1-2 times/year and downtime is typically 3-5 days of potential mild swelling and a coffee ground appearance to the face.

Solta Clear and Brilliant™

Alma Harmony Pro™: Clear Lift

ClearLift is a facial treatment that erases the signs of aging and sun damage in the decollete, neck, and face. It can be safely used to  rejuvenate all skin types.

This treatment bypasses the skin’s outermost layer to create microscopic holes in underlying tissues using short bursts of light. The body recognizes these “injuries” and goes into healing mode- that involves the amplified production of collagen to give skin a more youthful appearance. Meanwhile, the surface of your skin remains damage-free to minimize downtime and promote faster recovery.

We LOVE this treatment because it offers virtually NO DOWNTIME, does not require any numbing agent, and can be done in under 30 minutes. So it is perfect to do on your lunch hour or at the end of your day.