Advanced Aesthetics of Jacksonville uses the most effective lasers available for hair removal. After tons of research about the different types of lasers out there, we have chosen the Candela GentleMax Pro™ containing both the755nm Alexandrite laser and the 1064nm YAG lasers for many reasons

Let’s start with type of laser (Alexandrite and YAG), then we’ll cover the brand (GentleMax). Here goes:

Different types of lasers are determined by their wavelengths. When choosing a laser for hair removal, you most often want a longer wavelength, so that the beam can reach even the deepest hairs. Depending on the type of hair and where it is on the body, a hair shaft will grow anywhere from 1mm to 5mm deep. The wavelength of the 755nm Alexandrite laser allows the beam to penetrate as deep as hairs can grow, 5mm.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treatment, which is very common, is generally referred to as laser hair removal, even though it does not use a true laser. IPL machines have a shorter wavelength than most lasers and are not as effective at targeting the deeper, thicker hair; they are more successful when used to remove fine, thin hairs with shallow roots. Although it is not found to be the best machine for hair removal, several med-spas choose IPL’s because they are very versatile and can do many other types of skin treatments that the med-spas offer.

At Advanced Aesthetics of Jacksonville we use the Alexandrite laser, which is hands down, the best technology available for removing hair. The Alexandrite laser works much faster than other types of lasers such as the ruby and diode lasers, and effectively targets the hair root. However, the Alexandrite laser beam is limited in other ways. It is not the best or safest laser to use on darker skin types or tanned skin. This is where our YAG wavelength laser comes in. While the Alexandrite laser treats lighter skin types, the YAG laser is the safest choice for darker skin types or people who are too tan for the Alexandrite.

When removing hair with a laser, the beam passes through the skin and heats up the hair’s shaft and root, disabling its ability to regrow hair. Although the laser only specifically targets and heats up the hair, the shaft itself transmits heat to the surrounding tissue for a few milliseconds. Because of this heat transmission, it is necessary to cool the skin to avoid discomfort. This is where the GentleMax excels. Both the Alexandrite and YAG lasers use a unique Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD), which emits a highly focused spray of coolant on the skin just before each laser pulse, so no messy gels are needed. This processes effectively cools the epidermis during both low and high fluency laser treatments, protecting the epidermis and making the treatment much less painful.

Our state-of-the-art lasers are also extremely fast, treating areas like the face, bikini, and underarms in 5-10 minutes so you can be out the door in no time. This clever combination of both the Alexandrite and YAG lasers allows us to treat just about any type of skin, year round!

The Laser Hair Removal system emits near-infrared laser light that is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or turned on, for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to damage the follicle, while the system’s unique, patented contact-cooling hand piece, and helps protect the skin by conductive cooling during the laser energy delivery.

The Laser Hair Removal hand piece cools and soothes as it glides along your skin. When the pulse of light is delivered, some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required; however, some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated. Patients usually experience mild pain which can be followed by several hours of a sunburn-like sensation.

Following Laser Hair Removal treatment, you can return to your normal activities right away, but the treated area may appear a bit red and swollen. The use of sunscreen is recommended on any treated areas exposed to the sun. In addition, your physician may recommend that you use a specially formulated skin care product line or prescribe a skin care regimen especially formulated for your skin type. Three to seven days after treatment you may experience what seems to be regrowth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not regrowing. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hair, but it is permissible to shave.

Although patients experience few side effects with Laser Hair Removal, the most commonly noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin, similar to a sunburn. These effects typically last for several hours or less. In rare instances, blistering may occur. Consult with your medical professional for complete information on the benefits and risks of treatment.

You may experience stinging, mild swelling and pigmentation changes immediately after treatment. These effects are temporary, as are the rare appearance of blisters and lesions. Scarring and the activation of viral infections, such as herpes and shingles, may occur if you are already predisposed. For this reason, you must give a complete medical history before treatment.

Laser Hair Removal can remove hair from all parts of the body including the face, legs, arms, underarms, and back. It can also treat sensitive areas like the chest, nipples, and bikini line.

Most areas require 3-6 treatments. However, the number of Laser Hair Removal treatments required for optimal long-term benefits depends on multiple factors – hair thickness, the area treated and your hair’s growth cycle. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time and actually go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. Laser Hair Removal works by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area. Most fair skinned people need 6-8 treatments. Brown skin is usually 8-10 treatments. Most people need 6-8 treatments for 95% hair loss and then once a year follow up treatment. Hair removal is only effective on growing hair and so you need multiple treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart on your face and 8-10 weeks apart on your body.

Laser Hair Removal safely and effectively treats all skin types (Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-VI) as well as tanned skin. For darker skin types and people with tans, appropriate fluences are generally lower and appropriate pulse widths are generally longer to prevent damage to the epidermis. Using the appropriate treatment parameters, however, people with all skin types can benefit from Laser Hair Removal.

Shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams are all temporary methods that must be repeated on a frequent basis and none of those methods can successfully reduce ingrowns. By eliminating the hair follicle, Laser Hair Removal offers permanent hair reduction and treatment of ingrowns for lasting results. Laser Hair Removal provides enhanced comfort during treatment, minimal risk of infection, speed and accuracy and also minimizes skin irritation that other methods may create.

Electrolysis is a tedious, invasive, and painful process that involves inserting a needle into each individual hair follicle and delivering an electrical charge to them one at a time. Electrolysis often requires years of treatments at regular intervals. Since Laser Hair Removal is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced. Laser Hair Removal is fast, allowing for larger areas to be treated and considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process. By delivering light energy to hundreds of hair follicles at a time, Laser Hair Removal effectively treats an area in just seconds that would take over an hour with electrolysis.

Using the latest technology in Laser Hair Removal, we offer Candela GentleMax Pro. The system was designed from the ground up for hair removal, so it possess’ the wavelength, fluence, pulse width and active epidermal cooling system, ideally suited for Laser Hair Removal. Cleared for permanent hair reduction, our Laser Hair Removal systems can treat men and women of all skin types and tones safely and effectively, even patients with a suntan. Our Laser Hair Removal systems can rapidly address large areas without the limitations of older technologies and are adjustable enough to treat the fine hair on a woman’s upper lip just as easily and effectively as the coarse hair on a man’s back. The customized cooling feature increases patient comfort and minimizes the adverse skin reaction commonly seen with other lasers and the unique design and longer wavelength allows extremely effective, safe and permanent results.

The basics of Laser Hair Removal are explained in our Gallery page

Laser Hair Removal is a common, quick and safe procedure. A variety of lasers have been FDA approved for hair reduction.

No. The area may be red and swollen immediately after treatment. You can return to your normal schedule, but keep out of the sun and use sunscreen. Over the next few weeks your hair will appear to grow as it falls out.

Results are revealed as your hair goes through its normal cycles. By six months, you should have an idea of how much hair has been reduced.

The procedure may take anywhere from minutes to hours depending on the size of the area to be treated.

Our lasers treat individuals of all skin and hair types. Laser Hair Removal works best on those with darker hair than skin tone. Laser Hair Removal is less effective in the following hair colors/types: Red, Blonde and gray.

If you have a history of keloid formation, excessive scarring or poor healing, you may not be right for this treatment. Tattoos and permanent makeup can be altered by Laser Hair Removal. This treatment cannot be performed in areas with open sores, lesions or infections.

Patients usually experience mild pain which can be followed by several hours of a sunburn-like sensation.

Results vary from person to person. Permanent reduction is common but cannot be guaranteed.

Keep the area clean and dry. For the first few days, do not scrub or irritate the skin with heavy creams, chemicals, lotions or sun exposure. Use sunscreen with SPF 45 or greater. Apply moisturizers, cold compresses or over-the-counter steroid creams at your discretion. Contact your physician if you develop blisters, scabbing or signs of infection. Your hair will still appear to grow for two or three weeks as it falls out. Additional treatments can be performed until you achieve the desired effect.

Instructions prior to treatment: Avoid Accutane® for six months before treatment, and avoid anti-inflammatory drugs and Retin-A® for three weeks before treatment. You should not tan (sunless or otherwise) or use any method of hair removal besides shaving for six weeks prior to your session and one and a half weeks after treatment.

Do not wax or tweeze at least six weeks before their laser hair removal session and must only shave and continue shaving throughout their laser hair removal sessions.

Yes! This is where the GentleMax Pro is fantastic. It is not only safe but comfortable. For safety reasons you will need more treatments, at least 10-12 per area

In general we recommend once a year for bikinis just prior to summer and bathing suits. This is a one-time treatment not a series. Other areas are treated as you see necessary.

Normally laser hair removal treatments are spaced from three to eight weeks in between sessions depending on the body area and the hair cycle for that area. In general small areas are treated every 4 to 5 weeks; medium areas 5 to 6 weeks and large areas 8 to 10 weeks.

No