In our hair removal centers in Chicago and Phoenix we utilize a high energy, narrowly focused laser beam that is directed at the (Catagen) growing hair to damage its follicle. Treatments are between 4-6 weeks apart to make sure the maximum hair is removed during the three growth cycles. The frequency of treatments will involve many factors; color of hair, hormonal medications, dormant hairs and more. With each treatment, the hair will grow back slower and finer until the hair follicle produces no or very little hair. Safety goggles are always worn by the patients and medical aestheticians for optimal safety.

There really is no age limit, but we never treat toddlers. Young people that are still growing will develop new hair as they grow, and will require touch ups to maintain the results. We currently do not treat children under the age of 13. Older people with gray hair will usually not respond to the laser treatment.

All laser hair removal clinics require a parent or legal guardian’s consent to perform the procedure on a child under 18 years of age. Although laser hair removal may be an option for unwanted hair, teenagers are advised not to get laser hair removal until they are through with puberty. No two teenagers are alike, so the age when a teenager finishes puberty can vary. During puberty new follicles are being created and hair grows faster. The laser is attracted only to hair that is in the growth stage so teenagers, who normally have more rapid hair growth than adults, may have to undergo more treatments to target the new hair they are producing.

Possible side effects of laser hair removal for teenagers is the reddening of the area treated, that can last for several days after a laser procedure. Swelling in the treated area can also occur for several hours. Hair will usually thicken first, then fall away within a week or two, so expectations of the actual visit should not be set too high. It is a good idea to schedule a procedure during a school vacation.

As with adults, laser hair removal doesn’t always work with every type of hair or skin. The affects are usually best with the combined light skin and dark hair. Teens that go tanning or are exposed to sun frequently, may not be good candidates for laser hair removal. Tanned skin can prevent some of the laser energy from reaching the hair follicles because the darker the skin, the more light energy it absorbs.

Teenagers can benefit from laser hair removal if they are prepared for the procedure, possible side effects, and cost. The teen and parent(s) should consult with a laser hair removal specialist to decide if laser hair removal is right for the teen.

When a person shaves or waxes their hair, the broken off or short embedded hair that remains can get trapped inside the hair follicle and grow sideways or can grow back into the skin. This ingrown hair may or may not be accompanied by an infection of the hair follicle or razor bumps and can be painful. Ingrown hair most commonly appears on the face, legs, and bikini line, but can appear anywhere. Sometimes ingrown hair occurs naturally without shaving, as blocked pores, too much dead skin, or tight clothing prevent hair from emerging from the follicle.

Laser hair removal can eliminate ingrown hair, leaving your skin smooth and hair-free for longer and even indefinite periods of time. During laser hair removal, the laser beam targets the hair follicles deep beneath the skin, disabling the root and stops any regrowth from that follicle. Since the entire hair follicle is destroyed, you do not have to worry about ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal can be performed on almost any part of the body and will make hair lighter, finer, and prevent ingrown hairs.

If you are thinking about laser hair removal as a treatment for ingrown hair, HairLasers.com offers a directory of trusted laser hair removal clinics in your area. Get a free, instant consultation to find out if laser hair removal is right for you!

The Apogee Elite Laser has both a high powered 1064nm Nd:YAG, and a 755nm alexandrite! The longer wavelength of the Nd:YAG is used to treat darker and tanned skin types,and the shorter wavelength is used for lighter skin types. No matter what anyone tells you, there is no "one" laser that can treat every skin type both safely and effectively. Centers that choose to do this are either compromising your results or your safety.

The Apogee Elite Laser System 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.

When the pulse of light is delivered, most patients describe this as a pinching sensation or like a rubber band snapping. Additional cooling to the skin is provided through a cold air-cooling machine before and after the laser to minimize any discomfort. No anesthesia is required.

Most areas require 6-8 treatments, but the number of treatments you may require depends on various factors such as your hair's thickness, the area treated, and your hair's growth cycle. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time. Laser hair removal works by disabling the hair that is 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.

Immediately following your Laser Hair Removal treatment, the area may appear a bit red and swollen. Several days after treatment you may experience what seems to be re growth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed and are not regrowing. Do not wax or pluck hair in between treatments; however shaving is permissible.

There is minimal downtime; for the most part you can return to your normal activity right away. However, since some redness may occur, you may want to plan your work or social engagements accordingly. You must use sunscreen on treated and exposed areas and limit sun exposure for at least 48 hours.

Most common side effect is mild redness and local swelling of the skin, similar to sunburn, the most common side effects that may occur in some people are mild redness and local swelling of the skin. These effects are usually transient and may last up to a few hours. Other side effects are rare and will be discussed at your consultation with the doctor.

Shaving, waxing, tweezing, threading, plucking and depilatory creams are all temporary methods which must be repeated on a frequent basis. Over time this can this can be very time consuming and expensive! Apogee Elite laser is FDA cleared for permanent hair reduction for lasting results.

Electrolysis is a timely, invasive, expensive and painful process that involves inserting a needle into individual hair follicles and delivering an electrical charge, one at a time to destroy them. It requires years of treatments at regular intervals and is not practical for large body parts. On the other hand lasers deliver light energy to hundreds of hair follicles in just seconds, which would take hours for electrolysis!

Other facial hair removal methods (for information only, Ideal Image does not offer):

Depilatory creams: These creams work by dissolving hair at the base of the follicle. They are better suited for widespread and less sensitive areas like the legs, but can be problematic when used on the face because they irritate the skin and often don't remove all of the hair. The only real upside of depilatory creams are that they are relatively inexpensive. However, on the average, results will last for one to two weeks before one needs to repeat the procedure. Still in the long run, the laser facial hair removal procedure is more cost effectivet.

Electrolysis: This procedure uses low-level electricity to disable, or render the hair follicles inactive. On the plus side, results last longer than with waxing and depilatories, but the process is time consuming, costly and many say painful due to the hair by hair removal process. Often, it takes years of repetitive treatment and a great deal of expense to achieve the desired result. Finding a reputable practitioner is a little scary because electrolysis, when performed incorrectly, can cause scarring. If you do opt for electrolysis treatment, make sure your practioner uses a new needle for each session. Remember, at Ideal Image we only perform hair removal with laser.

Tweezing: Some women choose to tweeze unwanted hairs, but this isn't an ideal solution because repeated plucking can cause irritation of the hair follicle. On darker-skinned women, tweezing may result in scarring. Also, hair will grow back thicker and stiffer once it's plucked. Unless you have just a few stray hairs that occasionally pop up, avoid tweezing or plucking unwanted hair.

Waxing: This has been one of the most popular solutions for hair removal. Generally, it's an effective method to remove hair on the upper lip and fine vellus hair on the sides of the face, but it's not recommended for the chin area where hair tends to be more coarse. Waxing may also be problematic for darker-skinned women, who sometimes experience discoloration due to irritation and inflammation. Depending on your hair type, waxing results only last from two to six weeks and often require you to grow out the unsightly hair in between treatments.