Laser Hair Removal in Burnaby Vectus Diode Laser

Most people describe a quick snap, like a rubber band against the skin, with brief warmth. The chilled sapphire tip cools the skin during each pulse, which helps. Sensitivity varies by area: the upper lip and bikini line often feel sharper than the legs or back. Numbing cream can be used on sensitive areas; mention it when you book so there is time for it to take effect.

Most people need about 6 to 8 sessions, spaced about 4 to 8 weeks apart. Hair grows in cycles and the laser only affects hairs in the active growth phase, so each session catches a different group of hairs. The face, hormonal areas and lighter hair may need more. The physician sets the plan after looking at your hair, skin and the area.

Laser aims for permanent hair reduction, not permanent removal. After a course, treated areas usually grow fewer, finer and lighter hairs, but some regrowth is normal. Hormonal changes, including conditions such as PCOS, can activate new follicles, and those areas often need more sessions. Occasional maintenance sessions, often once or twice a year, are common.

Usually not well. The laser targets pigment in the hair, so white, grey and very light blonde or red hair has little for it to absorb and responds poorly. Dark hair responds best. If most of the hair in an area is light, the physician will tell you at the assessment whether laser is worth trying or whether another method suits you better.

Shave the area about 24 hours before each visit, and shaving between sessions is fine. Do not wax, pluck, thread or use an epilator for about four weeks before your first session or at any point during the course, because the laser needs the hair root present in the follicle. Let treated hairs shed on their own rather than pulling them out.

It can be, with measured settings. Deeper and tanned skin holds more melanin, which competes with the hair for the laser energy and raises the risk of burns or pigment change if settings are guessed. The Skintel reader measures your melanin so the physician can choose settings suited to your skin, and a test area may be done first. Treatment is delayed after a recent tan.

Common areas are the face (upper lip, chin, sideburns), underarms, bikini and Brazilian areas, legs, and back and shoulders. Skin Art MD treats both men and women, and men often ask about the back, shoulders and neckline. Session time depends on the size of the area, from about 15 minutes for the underarms to about an hour for full legs or the back.

IPL (intense pulsed light) uses a broad spectrum of light, while Vectus is a dedicated diode laser at one wavelength aimed at hair pigment. Both are used for hair reduction and both need a series of sessions. Which suits you depends on your hair, skin tone and the area, and the physician explains the options at assessment. The DPL Photo Facial page covers light-based skin treatments.

Mild redness or small bumps around the follicles are common and usually settle within a day or two. For about 24 to 48 hours, avoid sun, saunas, hot baths and strenuous exercise, and use sunscreen on treated areas. Most people go back to work or normal activities straight away. Treated hairs shed over one to two weeks.

Treated hairs usually shed within one to two weeks of a session. A visible reduction often shows after the first 2 to 3 sessions, and the overall result is judged once the course is complete. Hairs that were resting during one session grow in later and are treated at the next, which is why sessions are spaced weeks apart. Results vary with hair colour, hormones and area.

Skin Art MD is at #101 – 4378 Beresford St, Burnaby, a short walk from Metrotown Station on the Expo Line, which makes it easy to reach from Vancouver, New Westminster and Richmond. The clinic is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. Consultations are available in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Treatment is postponed during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. There is little safety research on laser hair removal in pregnancy, and hormonal changes at that time can affect hair growth and results. You can start or resume your course afterwards, once you and your doctor are comfortable. Let the team know at booking so the timing can be planned.