Laser Hair Removal in Chicago - Best of the Best

By: Timothy Croy

Although cities like Los Angeles and New York are the capitols of a variety of cosmetic and plastic surgeries, Chicago has a speciality of its own - laser hair removal. You see, unlike the other cities throughout America, Chicago laser hair removal is world renowned as one of the best places to go if you have excess hair that you want to get rid of. Doctors and other health professionals have pioneered technique after technique for laser hair removal in Chicago - putting it on the map for hair removal using this brand new, high tech, procedure.

Chicago laser hair removal centers are so good at what they do because they use the best possible equipment and the latest techniques. Unfortunately, they also charge quite a bit of money for their services. But you wouldn’t want to pay a discounted price for heart surgery - so why would you want to cheap out on your laser hair removal procedure? The last thing you want are patches of rogue hairs in the areas where they were supposed to be removed, or damaged skin as a result of a faulty or poorly maintained laser system.

But because you choose to use a Chicago laser hair removal center for your hair removal treatment - you don’t have to worry about any of those problems arising. The vast majority of laser hair removal specialists in Chicago are well trained in using their lasers, only work the the best equipment, and are willing to work with you through any unforeseen problems that may arise as a result of the procedure. That’s what makes Chicago laser hair removal centers so well known throughout the world.

So you are probably wondering which laser hair removal specialists you should visit in Chicago. There certainly are a few to choose from, but it ultimately depends on how much you are willing to spend and the quality of treatment you want. However, here are a few front runners that you should look into: American Laser Centers, Hair Today Gone Tomorrow, and Dr. Sami Bittar. No matter which Chicago laser hair removal center you visit, be sure to ask plenty of questions during the orientation and you will find that the treatment will go much more smoothly.

Questions About Laser Hair Removal

By: Kelly Jensen

This article answers a few of the most common questions about laser hair removal, including who it is suitable for, how much it will cost, which areas of the body it is most suitable for, and how permanent the results are.

Who is laser hair removal suitable for?

It is not suitable for everyone. The general rule is that the hair in question must be a darker color than the skin surrounding it. If the skin is a very dark pigmentation, it you may absorb too much of the laser energy, and so the treatment is not advisable. Those who are tanned with light hair are also unsuitable. Those who are tanned with dark hair should not have the treatment until their tan has faded.

Generally speaking, it is easier to perform the treatment on someone with light hair, as opposed to someone with dark hair.

How much does it cost?

The average session costs in the region of $500. Four or more sessions are usually recommended. Large areas (such as the back) will obviously result in a larger bill, and smaller areas (such as the upper lip) won't cost as much. Private consultations are recommended to assess the cost, as the number of sessions needed varies from person to person.

What areas of the body can hair be removed from using laser hair treatment?

Anywhere where there is excess hair. The only real exception is around the eyes. The most common areas are legs, back, bikini line and underarms.

Is it permanent?

Unlike shaving and waxing, laser hair removal is considered to be a more permanent form of hair removal, but the results differ according to the patient in question. As with all beauty treatments, do not choose the practice which offers the lowest price, as the treatment may not be of the best quality.

Laser Hair Removal Treatment

By: Param

Heredity and ethnic background are factors for unwanted hair. In women, hormonal causes such as pregnancy, menopause, hormonal problems, and taking certain male hormonal supplements, for birth control, weight loss/muscle firming, or at menopause are common.
Traditional methods such as shaving, plucking, depilatories, waxing, and electrolysis and more recent advances such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Laser treatment are using to be free from unwanted hair.
Laser Treatment:
The process takes from several minutes to several hours, depending on the area of the body involved. Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser. The laser energy passes through the patient's skin, being absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. A percentage of the follicles are instantaneously and permanently disabled with each treatment. In most cases, no anesthesia is necessary.
Intense Pulsed Light and Lasers heat the area at the base of the hair where hair is formed, and the resultant damage reduces hair regrowth. Treatment feels like the snap of a hot rubber band, lasting only a few seconds. Surface anesthetic cream can be used before the procedure.

What kind of results can I expect?
Most patients receive well to excellent results with long lasting reduction in the amount and coarseness of hair growth. Some patients, may have less satisfactory results because of hormonal factors, skin or hair type, or because an optimal treatment series was not completed.
How many treatments will I need?
Hair must be treated during a specific phase in its growth cycle, the active or anagen phase. Because hair grows in staggered growth cycles, multiple treatments are required so that all the hairs are treated during their growing phase. The number and frequency of treatments vary by body site and for each individual.
Does it hurt?
Results:
These methods should be considered long lasting rather than permanent hair removal. The length of time that the hair is gone and the completeness of removal vary. The hair that re-grows may be lighter in color and finer in texture.
Immediately after the procedure:
Redness or bruising may occur either around the hair follicle or in larger areas, lasting for a few hours to a few days. The hair may be bleached or singed.
Side effects of IPL or laser hair removal:
Intense Pulsed Light and Laser hair removal are most effective and safest for dark hair on light skin. For that reason it's important to avoid intentional sun or tanning bed exposure to the area to be treated for one month before each treatment, and to use a broad spectrum sunscreen to areas not covered by clothing. Certain medications increase light sensitivity and need to be discontinued briefly before treatment. Always check with the prescribing physician before discontinuing any medication. Side effects of treatments can include discoloration, temporary redness or swelling, and rarely scarring in the surrounding skin.
Benefits:
• A non-invasive, gentle technique that eliminates undesirable hair from all parts of the body.
• Leaves skin looking smoother and silkier.
• Treats larger areas effectively because it removes more than one hair at a time.
• Minimal discomfort.
• Replaces waxing, electrolysis and razors.
• Immediate return to normal activities.
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Laser Hair Removal May Increase Hair Density for Some Men

By: Steve Buchanan

About 55 million American men have some degree of hair loss, thus creating a potentially big market for an effective at-home treatment.

The HairMax LaserComb may be an option for men who don't want to pay for hair restoration surgery but who also don't have high expectations. It delivers a specific wavelength of light that stimulates the hair follicle, says its manufacturer, Lexington International.

In studies by the manufacturer, the device increased the number of thick hairs in 93 percent of 120 users. The average increase in hair density was 19 hairs per square centimeter — roughly a 20 percent improvement in someone with thinning hair.

The device costs $545 and must be used 10 to 15 minutes a day, three times a week to maintain the effect.

In contrast, laser hood treatments, which are available in clinics and cover the entire scalp, can cost hundreds of dollars per treatment and need to be repeated at least twice a week.

Hair transplants provide a more permanent solution but typically cost thousands of dollars.

Topical medications, such as Rogaine, run about $10 per bottle for the generic but produce only modest results for some users.

The laser hair comb is not backed by randomized, controlled studies done by independent researchers, says Dr. Paul Cotterill, president of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.

The device may be best suited for men who are serious about hair regrowth, such as those who undergo hair transplantation and want to augment the result at home, he says.

"This new laser comb won't hurt, and it may help at maintaining hair," Cotterill says. "But I want to see third-party studies — studies that have not been done by the people who produced it."

Other laser hair regrowth devices are on the market but haven't received FDA clearance to make claims of effectiveness. Sunetics, which sells the Laser Hair Brush, is applying for FDA clearance, says John Carullo, the company's marketing director.

What Hair Removal Laser Is Right For Me?

By: Eric Bernstein M.D.

First of all, what is a laser?

A laser is a device that produces light of a single color or wavelength. In dermatology, these lasers produce pulses of high-energy light that is taken up by the desired target. In the case of hair removal, the target is the melanin pigment contained within the hair shaft. The tricky part of laser hair removal is targeting the hair shaft without damaging the melanin pigment in the surface of the skin. Thus the laser light has to be on long enough to heat the hair, but not too long to allow that heat to spread to the surrounding skin causing damage.

What laser is right for me?

The right laser for an individual patient depends upon the thickness of the hair and the patient's skin type. Some lasers are faster than others, so for treating very large surface areas one may choose a laser that is able to treat large areas in a reasonable period of time.

In addition, if the hair on an individual patient becomes thinner and less dense following laser treatments, I often switch lasers to accommodate the change in the hair type and texture. There are a number of parameters that can be selected on a given laser. While each laser gives a unique color, or wavelength of light, other settings such as the energy, and how long the light stays on (the pulse duration) can be selected by the user. Because there are a number of settings which can be chosen during a treatment session, it is very important to have an experienced laser operater who understands how lasers work and the risks and benefits of various settings.

Is laser different for people with darker or tanned skin?

In my opinion, very dark skinned patients often do better with the Nd:YAG laser, while lighter skinned patients may respond better to the diode or alexandrite lasers.

Lasering people with dark skin is much more tricky than lasering people with light skin. However, the hair must be dark in order to be 'seen' by the laser. Lasers are absorbed by the pigmentation in the hair shaft which produces heat that then results in inflammation which sends a signal to the hair to go into a long-term resting period. The ideal laser patient that would be easiest to treat and respond best would be someone with very light skin and dark hair. However, people have all different degrees of skin and hair pigmentation. The trick with laser hair removal is to avoid injuring the surface of the skin where the melanin pigment lives, while effecting the pigmentation in the hair shaft. The problem is, your skin and hair don't know whether they are supposed to absorb the laser light or not. Therefore, any dark pigmentation will absorb most forms of laser light. Certain lasers are somewhat less 'noticed' by epidermal melanin pigment. The laser that is most commonly used on very dark skin would be the Nd:YAG laser. This laser has the longest wavelength of any of the hair removal lasers, and thus is less absorbed by melanin pigmentation over-all. Because is it less absorbed by the melanin pigment in the surface of the skin, it runs less of a risk of injuring the surface of the skin.

It's important that before any cosmetic procedure you contact your personal physician to discuss whether a particular treatment may be right for you. Make sure you consult your physician first prior to treatment.