Delicate enough for a woman's fine, sensitive skin and robust enough for a man's beard, back or arms. This versatile laser was specially created to treat excess, unwanted dark hair on virtually any skin tone or type.

LightSheer treatment is fast, gentle and precise. Treatments that might span months or even years with electrolysis or electrothermolysis take a few short visits with the LightSheer Diode Laser.

Here's How it Works
The LightSheer's laser beam targets the pigment located in hair follicles (pigment gives hair its color). The laser pulses (emits its light) for only a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment, thus destroying or significantly impeding the hair's ability to regrow, but not long enough to affect the surrounding skin. A unique, patented sapphire-tipped hand piece cools on contact, protecting the skin while directing the laser energy to the hair follicle.

What You Can Expect
The length of a laser session may be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase, more than one treatment may be required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase.

Laser treatment itself may cause a slight tingling sensation. Most clients tolerate the procedure well. But because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia is always available.

The appearance of the treated area immediately after a laser session will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of treatment and skin type. Immediate after-efects, if any, are minor. They may include redness and swelling, which disappear in a short time. Most people return to normal activity right away. We will be happy to tell you more about your treatment and what you can expect during your consultation.

LightSheer Q&A
How does hair grow?
Hair follicles develop from a complex series of interactions between different elements of the skin. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time. They actually go through distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. The duration of each phase is dependent upon several factors, including body location. For example, at any one time 90% of the hairs on the scalp are in the growth (anagen) phase, compared to only 70% of the hair on our arms. During the regression (catagen) phase, the surrounding skin begins to absorb the hair bulb. Finally, the hair enters the resting (telogen) phase, at the end of which the hair falls out and the follicle begins the cycle again.

What are the alternatives for hair removal?

• Shaving - A simple method, it doesn't affect the coarseness, thickness, growth rate or cycle of the shaved hair. However, it is only a transient solution, and requires a constant commitment to maintaining a hair-free appearance.
• Tweezing - Is tedious, painful and impractical for large areas.
• Waxing - This procedure can cover a large area at a time and results may last a month or more, but it's painful and can often cause allergic reactions and inflammation of the hair follicle.
• Electrolysis - This involves inserting a needle into each hair follicle and applying an electrical current. Expertly used, it can be successful in eliminating hair permanently. However, because you can treat only one hair follicle at a time, it is a tedious, time-consuming process.
  
  

How does the LightSheer system remove hair?
The light emitted by the LightSheer laser 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 disrupt the hair follicle. The LightSheer's unique, patented contact-cooling handpiece helps protect the skin by cooling during the laser energy delivery. The diode light at 810nm is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and this energy is converted to heat which results in thermal damage to the hair follicle. This thermal damage causes delayed re-growth of the hair, and in some cases permanent destruction of the hair follicle.

Is it safe?
Yes. The LightSheer System was developed from years of research at the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world's leading and most respected medical research institutions. The laser parameters were carefully defined to inhibit the regrowth of the hair by studying the anatomy of the hair follicle and precisely matching the laser output to the size, depth and location of hair follicles. A unique component of the LightSheer System, the actively-cooled handpiece was designed to conduct heat away from the skin before, during, and after each pulse.

Does it Hurt?
You may feel a tingling or stinging sensation, and some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, but most people tolerate the procedure well. If you find the initial treatment too uncomfortable you can request a prescription for a topical anesthetic from your physician.

How many treatments will I need?
The LightSheer laser works by disrupting hairs that are principally in the active growth phase at the time of the treatment. Since other hairs will enter the growth phase at different times, additional treatments will be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Our staff will help to develop the best program that fulfills your needs. Treatments are given at intervals of 6-8weeks. At least three treatments are usually necessary.

What happens after treatment?
Within several minutes, the treated area may become slightly red and puffy. This reaction subsides quickly and within a day or so the areas return to normal. Since the LightSheer laser does not cut the skin, bandages are not necessary and most people return to normal activity immediately. DO NOT, however, plan any important social engagements for one week after your treatment.

Your technician will advise a special treatment gel to be applied for 3-7 days following treatment. Around day 3-7 after treatment you may experience what seems to be hairs re-growing. Many of these hairs, however, are being shed and are not regrowing. In-between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hairs.

Who is a good candidate for LightSheer laser treatment?
The ideal candidate has dark hair and light skin. Darker hair absorbs more of the laser light, and lighter skin interferes less with the movement of the laser light into the hair follicle. Dark or tan skin runs a higher risk of pigmentation changes following the procedure. Keep in mind that it's not impossible to treat darker skinned individuals. Dark skin requires a test patch first and will require more visits using more conservative settings. Your laser technician can determine during your initial consultation if you are a good candidate.