Kansas City Laser Hair Removal
Our lasers/IPL can treat ALL skin types for hair removal, including ethnic skin types. We have the newest and most effective technology to protect pigmented skin. Further, the StarLux 500 hair removal system, which is Palomar Medical's newest technology, is considerably more comfortable than other hair removal systems. We strive for best prices in Kansas City!
Our lasers can treat ALL skin types for hair removal, including ethnic skin types. We have the newest and most effective technology to protect pigmented skin. Further, the StarLux 500 hair removal system, which is the newest technology, is considerably less painful than other hair removal systems based on our patient comments that have been to other clinics and used other systems, because it has one of the best cooling systems in the business. We have some of the great prices in Kansas City for laser hair removal.
OUR CLINIC HAS FOUR DIFFERENT HAIR REMOVAL SYSTEMS, BUT WE LIKE THE STARLUX 500 SYSTEM THE BEST.
StarLux 500 is the most powerful, and in our opinion the highest quality aesthetic system in the world. It delivers the high powered light pulses to kill the hair follicle, and at the same time is, in our opinion, one of the most comfortable hair removal systems in existence. The StarLux 500 has one of the coldest "contact" refrigerated IPL hair removal handpiece systems ever made, which makes it extremely comfortable, and puts other systems to shame. Our clinic has had patients frequently comment about the effectiveness and comfortableness of the StarLux compared to their previous clinic or spa. Frequently patients switch to our clinic for it's high quality systems and Dr. Leiker and his staff's experience. After experiencing the StarLux System for Hair Removal, they are amazed at the fabulous results, ease, bargain prices, and comfort of the treatment.
How does hair reduction work?
The laser/pulsed light is a non-invasive light therapy device specifically designed to eliminate undesired hair from all parts of the body. The laser/pulsed light generates a pulse of intense, concentrated light which is directed through a small hand-piece which is gently applied to the treatment site. This laser/pulsed light energy passes through the skin to the hair follicle, where the energy is absorbed by pigment in the hair and hair follicle, causing selective damage to the hair root without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. Hair is shed over the next 2-4 weeks. The laser can be used just about anywhere on the body, and requires no anesthesia. Even sensitive areas such as the nipples, upper lip and bikini line can be treated easily and with minimal discomfort. Dark and coarser hair responds the best, and blond, gray, or thinner hair responds the least. Hormones can also effect the hair follicle and vary the result.
How do lasers differ?
Intense pulsed light - these systems (newer one's built since 2005) are flash lamps producing a spectrum of light energy rather than laser light. Intense pulsed light systems often have larger treatment heads than many lasers, and thus take less treatment time, making it more convenient for the patient. Our office's pulsed light system (very sophisticated technology) works on all skin types, but it is wise to avoid a fresh suntan to reduce risks with any laser or pulsed light system. The new pulsed light systems since about 2007 are much improved technologically.
Other types of lasers (older laser systems):
Ruby 694 nanometer Second generation Alexandrite 755 nanometer Third generation Diode 800-810 nanometer (Riskier technology for tanned or dark skin, although many clinics still advertise the diode as up-to-date). These relatively short wavelength lasers can produce good results in some circumstances, but because they produce light which has a shorter wavelength, their laser energy both scatters more in the skin, and is mostly absorbed in the top few millimeters of the skin, and above many of the hair roots. This means that sometimes not enough energy reaches the hair roots, where it is needed. Short wavelength lasers can be difficult or impossible to safely use on people with dark, tanned or black skin.
Other systems, like ND:YAG lasers (we have one) use deeper penetrating 1064 nanometer wavelengths. They often reach even the deepest hair roots, which can be 4-6 mm below the skin surface in some cases and can be used on all skin types.
Our office uses the newest and most powerful StarLux 500 pulsed light system and/or the long 1064 nanometer wavelength of the ND:YAG. It is possible to safely and effectively treat all people -- even those with black skin. Try not to have a fresh suntan (within 1-2 weeks of appt.) when you come in for treatment, the treatment will be better because we can use more energy without a tan. Tanning can make for more sessions, because the power may need to be reduced.
What areas on the body can be treated?
Most parts of the body can be treated with our hair removing laser and pulsed light systems. In women, the most common areas for treatment are the upper lip, chin, cheeks, neck, bikini line, underarms, and legs. In men, the most common areas for treatment are shoulders, back, chest, abdomen, and the neck and beard area. We do not treat eyebrows, lashes, or upper brow because of the inherent risks involved.
What are the benefits of laser/pulsed light compared to other treatments?
The primary benefits of laser/pulsed light hair removal include:
o Larger areas may be treated with less discomfort than with electrolysis, waxing, tweezing, or plucking.
o speed, comfort and long lasting reduction.
o They work!
o Even though no one has proved they are not safe for use on pregnant women, we ask that you avoid treatments at that time. Please inform us if you are pregnant, and we can arrange treatment after you have delivered. We do not do treatments on pregnant patients or nursing mothers. Please wait till you are done to start treatments.
Hair removal methods like plucking or waxing which cause irritation may actually stimulate hair growth. Laser/pulsed light hair removal offers long lasting reduction, and even if hair does eventually grow back (hormone influences) it is usually finer in texture and lighter in color than the original hair, and much less of a cosmetic problem. No system can guarantee 100% permanent hair removal forever (anyone that says this is lying and in violation of Fair Trade laws)! When a franchise clinic tells you hair is gone 100% permanent forever, this is fraudulent and in violation of FDA regulations.
How does it compare to electrolysis?
Electrolysis can be a tedious process. Even a small area like the face, for example, in the case of a woman with heavy facial hair, could require electrolysis for 2 -3 hours per week for 2 years, with further treatments over an undetermined period of time, for a total treatment time exceeding 100's of hours. Hair removal is much faster with a laser/pulsed light system because each "pulse" of laser light disables a large number of hair follicles, and pulses can be delivered as often as twice every second.
What does it cost?
You will find that the fees listed below for laser hair removal using the efficient, effective, lasers/pulsed light systems are surprisingly affordable. Fees are per treatment session and must be paid with Visa, MasterCard, approved check, or cash in full at the time of service. Individual treatments are expected to be paid on the day of the treatment session. Ask us if any coupons are running, they will often be on the web site to print. Treatment may be scheduled for the same day as the consultation if there is a time slot available, or it may be scheduled for a later date.
Pricing per session: Our lasers are among the few in the Kansas City Metro area that can treat ALL skin types for hair removal, including ethnic skin types. We have the newest and most effective technology to protect pigmented skin. Patient's should compare the overall cost of the entire treatment program. . *For the best permanent hair reduction, we recommend a minimum of five or six treatments in the same treatment area. Even doing one or two treatments results in significant hair reduction and decreases the coarseness of hair.
Is laser covered by insurance?
Laser/pulsed light treatments are considered cosmetic procedures and are NOT covered by insurance. Sometimes it may be covered by your health savings plan.
Is it a tax deductible medical expense?
Laser hair removal services may be a tax deductible medical expense, consult your tax adviser! Often medical savings plans will cover and reimburse you for laser and cosmetic treatments, contact your plan administrator.
Risks of laser hair removal?
Short-term side effects may include a slight reddening of the skin or local swelling which typically lasts less than an hour or two usually, although it may very infrequently last a few days. Long wavelength 1064 lasers and pulsed light treatments are less likely than older lasers to cause prolonged irritation, pigment changes or blistering. Even a single blister is very rare. Even though adverse reactions are rare, no one can guarantee that they will not occur in some individuals, we do everything in our power to try and reduce any incidence of adverse reactions, but even with the best of care, they can still occur in certain individuals because of various individual sensitivities, genetic variances, and allergies to laser/pulsed light, which is impossible to predict or know in advance of the treatment. Try to reduce fresh suntans or sun exposure before any laser and pulsed light treatments.
Is laser hair removal "permanent"? There is NO hair removal method (including laser) which can guarantee anybody "permanent hair removal forever". Due to hormonal stimulation it is possible that there may be some hair regrowth in the treated area. The most realistic description of the results after laser/pulsed light treatment is: "long-term hair REDUCTION". This means: After four to six treatments the total amount of hair is greatly reduced -- often by 70% to 90% -- and hair which does grow is often much finer and lighter in color. Most people are very pleased with this degree of improvement, as long as they know that this is what to expect before they have laser hair removal treatment.
Will I be "hair free" in the treated area?
No, most patients experience a 70-90% reduction (varies by number of treatments) in the amount of hair in a given area, and a reduction in the thickness and color of the remaining hair, but you should not expect to be "hair free". Hormones can effect the hair follicle both before or after treatments.
How much hair will grow back?
The laser/pulsed light work by destroying hair roots which are active at the time of treatment, and which have enough pigment to absorb sufficient laser energy. The hair shafts in the treated hair follicles will fall out or be "shed" for 2-4 weeks after treatment. After the first treatment, hair regrowth may resume within a few weeks or it may be anywhere from 2-4 months before any true hair growth is observed.
Why are four treatment sessions or more usually needed?
Hair follicles in their "dormant" phase have no hair shaft in them and so will not be affected by the laser. Because hair follicles cycle through "active" and "dormant" phases, additional sessions are usually desired once the "dormant" follicles become "active", and also to deal with hair follicles which were stunned but not killed by previous treatment. Newer lasers and pulsed light systems use the longest, most deeply penetrating wavelength, and maximize the number of killed hair follicles and minimize the number that are stunned during each treatment session. At any one time, depending on the location on the body, about 15-16% of your hair roots are good targets for the laser beam and can be damaged, stunted, or destroyed in any single laser session. We recommend a minimum of five or six treatment sessions.
The number of treatment sessions needed will depend on:
o the desired degree of hair reduction
o hair color (people with naturally lighter colored hair sometimes need more treatments) & (darker skin types usually require reduced energy to be used)
o hormonal status (constant high hormone levels restimulate hair follicles)
o area being treated (i.e., lips often require more sessions)
o hair density
o age and genetics and other syndromes (i.e., androgen producers, PCOS)
o weight (obesity can increase hair growth)
o medication (for example medicines like Dilantin™, minoxidil, cyclosporine and various hormones can increase hair growth)
If you had previous laser treatments or electrolysis and it hurt or did not help?
No problem, we can usually help with the newer systems!
Who should get hair removal?
The unique design of newer laser/pulsed light systems allows treatment of people with all skin colors and treatment of even light brown hair. Because hair which is naturally blond, light red, or white does not have enough pigment in the roots, it cannot be reliably treated with any type of laser. Fewer treatments are needed when the hair is dark and the skin is light colored -- so to get maximum effect from each session avoid tanning prior to treatments. Children can be treated if they have a problem with excessive hair, but the children must be old enough (for example, 14 to 16 years old) to cooperate with treatment. We treat children age 14 and up if they are stable emotionally and able to cooperate and have parental consent.
Does hair color matter? Because lasers/pulsed light target the PIGMENT in hair roots, lasers work best on black or brown hair. Red hair or very light colored blonde hair may require a minimum of 5 or 6 treatment sessions, and may respond only partially. White hair does not respond well to treatment -- so get your treatments before your hair turns white or gray!
Things to ask yourself before hair reduction:
How much are you bothered by your facial hair or other areas? How much are you bothered by the time you spend removing, treating, or concealing your facial hair? How uncomfortable does your facial or other unwanted hair make you feel in exchanges of affection (such as intimate exchanges with your partner)? How uncomfortable does your unwanted hair make you feel when you meet new people? How uncomfortable does your unwanted hair make you feel when you go to social gatherings or other public place? How uncomfortable does your unwanted hair make you feel when you go to work or school? This is some of the best money you will ever spend for overall self-satisfaction and for one's mental health and physical well-being.
Other syndromes or familial issues:
o Hirsutism is excessive growth of hair in androgen (testosterone)-dependent areas of a woman’s body where hair is not normally found, including the face, neck, chest or medial thighs.
o Hypertrichosis is excessive growth of hair in non-androgen dependent parts of the body (i.e. Areas other than the face, neck, chest and medial thighs).
Some "familial" hair growth in certain ethnic groups can be very stubborn to treat and may require recurrent maintenance for years. This can be common in certain Middle Eastern or Asian ethnic groups but can effect any culture or race in certain instances.
Do you have Unwanted Female Facial Hair?
Growth of hair on the face which is coarser, longer or more profuse than is "normal" for the age and race of the woman. Unwanted facial hair is a chronic problem for millions of American women who remove facial hair at least once a week (or at the very least would like it removed). Other cultures and ethnic groups have familial or genetic facial or neck hair and can usually benefit from treatments.
How can I get the best value from each treatment?
To get the best results with the smallest number of treatment sessions, please pay attention to the following guidelines as you work with us: A. Avoid waxing, tweezing, plucking, and electrolysis. lasers/pulsed light like active growing hair roots. B. Tanning should be minimized within 7 to 10 days prior to your treatment session! Our office uses lasers and pulsed light systems that are safe and very effective for ALL types of skin, even Blacks/African-Americans who cannot be safely treated with other hair removing lasers. The lighter your skin color at the time of treatment, the better the laser beam can get through the skin to the hair roots, where it is needed. If you avoid tanning you will get the maximum possible benefit from each treatment session. C. Shaving or clipping the area to be treated is not a problem. In fact, we like the areas to be shaved 12-24 hours before treatment. Some people find that the skin is less sensitive if it is shaved at least 12-24 hours before treatment. Another advantage is that you can shape the area to be treated exactly the way you want it to be. This is of particular importance in areas like the sideburns and bikini line/bikini area/pubic area. If our office has to shave the area for preparation it may well increase the charges. The fee structure is based on patients preparing the area by shaving prior to treatments. Hair ABOVE the surface of the skin will simply absorb and waste laser energy. D. Bleaching? No problem! It is fine to bleach hair in the areas to be treated because bleaching will not affect the color of the roots. E. How often are treatments: On the lip, chin, and face we do treatments at 4 week intervals. For underarms and bikini areas treatments are spaced out by 4-6 week intervals. Areas such as the back or legs average about 8-10 week intervals. F. Medications? You should be off Accutane™ for 6 months. Anabolic steroids should not be taken unless medically necessary, because these can increase male-pattern hair growth in some cases. Women who take injections of (testosterone & estrogen & progesterone) as part of therapy for menopause and to increase libido often experience unwanted hair growth, which can be treated with laser/pulsed light hair removal. We prefer the patient to hold tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline medications for several days prior to treatments if possible, because of light sensitivity issues. Pre-treatment with anti-viral medicines is usually not necessary, unless you tend to get a lot of cold sores in the area to be treated.
Moles, freckles and tattoos in the area to be treated?
Small moles and freckles do not require any special precautions. We generally prefer not to treat over tattoos. Tell us if you have permanent lip liner or permanent eyebrow liner, because these are tattoos. It is your responsibility to warn the clinic of tattoo ink.
What will happen on the treatment day?
Please do not wear makeup on the areas to be treated, because some kinds of makeup can absorb and waste laser/pulsed light energy, or even heat up to the point where your skin would be irritated. Makeup will need to be removed before treatment, and may be re-applied immediately after treatment if you wish. There is less irritation if you wait at least 12-24 hours between shaving and having laser treatment. Shaving also allows you to shape the exact area you want treated -- this is sometimes very useful in the bikini area. Excess hair above the surface of the skin absorbs and wastes laser/pulsed light energy, and reduces the amount of energy that reaches the hair root. Excess hair above the surface of the skin also increases the chance of burning or irritating the skin. Everyone in the treatment room must wear protective goggles when the laser is operating. The length of the procedure itself can range from a few minutes for the upper lip to an hour or more (for example, a man’s chest and back). A thin coat of clear gel or lotion may be used, depending on the laser/pulsed light system used, then the laser/light pulses are quickly and evenly applied. Please do not bring young children into the treatment room.
Does it hurt?
You may feel a tingling or snapping sensation like a rubber band. There is no bleeding and no open wound is created. People are more apprehensive during the first treatment, because they are not sure of what to expect. It is best to just try and relax, the laser treatments are generally well tolerated. StarLux 500 is an "extremely comfortable" system. While some areas of the body like the upper lip and pubic hair area are more sensitive than others, many patients report little or minimal discomfort. Cooling methods are often applied during and after treatment.
What will happen after treatment?
Redness has often faded greatly by the time you get home. The hair follicles may appear slightly more obvious or a bit pink for the next day or two, but this is seldom a cosmetic problem. It is best to avoid lotions, moisturizer, or aloe vera type products. Do not use topical antibiotics, ointments, or salves for this will often aggravate rashes or a folliculitis to occur.
Why does the hair sometimes look like it's “growing” for 1-3 weeks after laser treatment?
Lasers/pulsed light destroy hair roots which are active at the time of treatment, but do not remove hair shafts instantly. Hair shafts in the treated hair follicles will fall out, or be "shed" mostly in the several weeks after treatment with most out within 2-3 weeks. It is normal that some hairs in the treated area may not fall out within 2-3 weeks. These will treated in the next session. These hairs which are being shed will come out on their own. Please be very gentle to your skin.
Are there any restrictions on my activity after treatment?
Since the laser does not burn or cut the skin in any way, no bandages are necessary. You can return to work the same day and resume all your regular activities. It is OK to resume shaving or clipping hair in the treated area after 3-4 days. You should NOT have waxing, plucking, tweezing, or electrolysis, because these things will temporarily remove pigmented hairs from the hair roots and reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment. You can shave as often as you want.
Pre-treatment instructions:
Please do not do any waxing, plucking or tweezing for at least 2-3 weeks before treatment.
Please try to minimize tanning and sun exposure for 1-2 weeks before treatment: a fresh tan can interfere a bit with the effectiveness of the laser/light treatment, though this is less of a problem now with newer lasers than with older lasers.
Please do not wear makeup on the areas to be treated. Makeup can be re-applied immediately after laser treatment, if you wish.
Please shave or clip the areas to be treated the day before treatment (12-24 hours before). This way, the skin will be less sensitive. Excess hair above the surface of the skin also increases the chance of burning or irritating the skin.
Finally, it is always best to relax. Remember you are doing this to feel better about yourself. The StarLux 500 cooling system usually makes the treatment very comfortable and minimizes discomfort.
Post-treatment instructions:
Redness often has faded greatly by the time you get home. Most have some redness for 1-4 hours, rarely that may extend to 1-3 days with very coarse or dark hair. Try to avoid tanning for at a few days after treatment. Hair shafts will be released from hair follicles in the treated area for 1-3 weeks after treatment. You do not need to do anything, but you may shave the areas if you wish, wait 3-4 days to start shaving after treatments to avoid excess irritation. Plucking, waxing and tweezing should be avoided because these things could reduce the effectiveness of your next laser treatment. It is important for the untreated hairs to remain in the follicles for the subsequent treatments.
Please call our office at (913) 962-1869 for a complimentary hair removal consultation. Our office would like to care for you. Come in now for best prices on Kansas City Laser Hair Removal sessions.
*In the article and the references above, we refer to laser and pulsed light systems as equivalent option.