Laser Hair Removal
COMFORTABLE & EFFICIENT LASER HAIR REMOVAL
at Refresh Dermatology in Houston, TX
Schedule your complimentary consultation today by calling us at 713-344-0450
Women spend approximately 1,728 hours shaving their legs over the course of their life. From a cosmetic standpoint, utilizing LHR will decrease the frequency of and, in some cases, permanently eliminate shaving. If you suffer from in grown hairs on the neck, face, arms, and groin area, laser hair removal can dramatically improve your quality of life by decreasing these ingrown hairs.
Technological advancements have made laser hair removal comfortable and efficient. LHR of the face, underarms, or bikini area typically takes only a few minutes to perform. Since Dr. Chilukuri and Refresh Dermatology always utilize the most effective equipment, we can even treat an entire man’s back within 10 minutes.
Please always come in for a consult to see if you would benefit from laser hair removal. A complete history and examination will be performed to ensure that you will have the best results with the fewest treatments.
During your consultation, Dr. Chilukuri and one of our aesthetic team will review your full history and perform a proper examination to assess your hair and skin type. This will help determine which laser technology to utilize and estimate the number of sessions you may need. For instance, if you have polycystic ovarian disease (PCOS), more sessions with less interval time may be required to achieve your desired results. The physical examination is also vital to determine if you are likely to develop paradoxical hypertrichosis (more hair growth in the treated areas). The consult will allow you, Dr. Chilukuri, and our team to develop the customized plan for you.
Refresh Dermatology is the cutting-edge practice of Dr. Suneel Chilukuri, an internationally recognized expert in cosmetic dermatology with more than 20 years of experience providing and perfecting a range of aesthetic treatments. Dr. Chilukuri is a board-certified dermatologist with extensive education in cosmetic surgery at top institutions like Yale and UCLA. Along with his hand-selected team at Refresh Dermatology, Dr. Chilukuri provides only the top treatments using the most advanced techniques with a focus on effective non-surgical options. Our approach ensures that our clients can achieve beautiful, natural results for all of their aesthetic concerns without the added worry of surgical risks or recovery time.
Find out about our options for body sculpting, anti-aging, skincare and more — schedule your consultation today at our comfortable and state-of-the-art center in Houston, Texas.
Expect some mild redness and minimal swelling after your treatment. Depending on your skin’s reaction to the laser or IPL, we may apply a cold compress to the skin. Please avoid significant sun exposure to the treated area for approximately one week. For darker skin types, we may prescribe a topical steroid cream for 2-7 days following your LHR session.
The Diolux is a state-of-the-art, gold standard laser for hair reduction, permanent hair reduction and treatment of benign vascular and pigmented lesions. The Diolux features a variable pulse mode to treat all skin types, and offers safe and effective treatment with less pain and much faster speeds than traditional lasers. The Diolux provides high power, high speed and a wide, spot-size application not available with previous equipment.
The DIOLUX is approved to treat the following areas: Back, Chest, Stomach, Neck, Legs, Arms, Bikini, Chin, Brows, and even the Upper Lip.
Laser Hair Removal (LHR) utilizes either laser (one wavelength of light) or an intense pulse light / IPL (multiple wave lengths of light) technology to target the pigment at the bottom of the hair shaft. By using either a 755 nm Alexandrite laser, an 810 nm Diode laser, a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, or the Max R or Max Y IPL, we can safely treat any color skin. While LHR requires three to ten sessions, significant improvement will typically be seen after the first treatment. With every treatment, fewer and fewer hairs will grow back, leaving you with smooth skin. As your hair thins, we will adjust our treatment plan and laser technology to make sure you have the most effective results each and every visit.
Yes! We have multiple lasers and IPL technologies that allow us to safely treat all skin colors (even Fitzpatrick Skin Types IV, V, and VI). Since melanin (pigment) absorbs the light, we choose the laser source that will be most effective. As your hair regrowth decreases, we often change or combine lasers and IPL to make sure you receive the greatest value with each session. If you have fair skin with dark hair, you will typically need fewer treatments than those with darker skin.
Most people equate the laser pulse to a rubber band lightly snapping against the skin. Remember that everyone’s pain tolerance is different but our newer technologies utilize contact cooling to minimize any discomfort. Our patients actually enjoy coming to the office for a treatment as this discomfort pales in comparison to the pain of waxing, tweezing, or threading. . If you do find any part of the session uncomfortable, our highly trained aesthetic team applies a topical anesthetic cream, such as Prevadyne or BLT to numb the area within 5 to 7 minutes.
You will see results immediately after treatment and there will be decreased hair growth over the next 3-4 weeks. Results will depend on the color and thickness of your hair, area being treated, and the color of your skin. Most patients see a minimum of 25% reduction of hair growth after the first treatment.
While some areas only need three to four sessions for permanent hair reduction, other areas may need 6-8 treatments. Once you have achieved your goals, maintenance is infrequent with some patients coming in once every year to year and a half for a couple of stubborn hairs. We have tremendous success with LHR of the axilla (armpits) and find almost complete removal of hair within 3 treatments. Again, results may vary. When the hair does grow back, these individual hairs tend to be finer and lighter in color.
The treatment intervals vary from 3 weeks to 8 weeks depending on the area being treated. For instance, the face usually needs 3- to 4-week intervals while the axilla (armpits) may need 8 week intervals. The best results occur when we treat the hair during its growth phase (called the anagen phase).
Common Side Effects:
Uncommon Side Effects:
When treated properly, you should not experience any blistering of the skin. Remember to always seek an expert. Dr. Chilukuri is often referred cases of scarring after laser hair removal. The best way to treat these scars is to prevent them in the first place.