Dr. William Paull

Columbus Dermatology
7301 Blackmon Road Columbus, GA 31909

Call For Appointment
706.568.2700

Fax Number
706.568.2705

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Laser Hair Removal

You may be surprised to learn that virtually your entire body is covered with hair. Because most of this hair is fine and pale, it usually isn’t visible to the naked eye. But, when darker, coarser hair appears in places which may make you uncomfortable – like on the face, neck, abdomen, breasts, legs or underarms in women of on the shoulders, chest, and back in men, it may be time to consider laser hair removal. by Dr. Paull uses LightSheer™ diode laser by Lumenis. Understanding Hair Removal In the past, the usual remedies for unwanted hair included plucking, shaving, waxing or chemical depilatories. Some are painful, some are4 messy and all are only temporary. For long-term hair removal, electrolysis is popular and effective, but it is a time consuming procedure, which can be painful and is useful only in removing hair in small areas. During electrolysis, an electric current passes through a needle to destroy each individual hair root. It typically takes months and numerous regular visits to clean even small areas, like the upper lip. Laser hair removal is a more effective solution. Columbus Dermatology uses the LightSheer™ diode laser, a state-of-the-art system specially designed to remove unwanted hair fast, with less discomfort and more reliability than other methods. The design of the diode laser system provides for enhanced comfort during treatment, minimal risk of infection, speed and accuracy. How Does It Work? The LightSheer™ diode laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. The light emitted by the laser is well absorbed by the pigment located in hair follicles. During the procedure, the laser pulses for a fraction of a second, long enough to heat up the hair and significantly impede the follicle’s ability to re-grow. An important part of the procedure is the cooling of the skin. A special contact-cooling hand piece allows the doctor to treat even the most sensitive skin. It protects and cools the upper layer of the skin before, during and after each laser pulse while directing the laser energy to the hair root. The LightSheer™ diode laser is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to damage only the hair follicle while minimally affecting the surrounding skin. Since it is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced.The process also treats numerous hair follicles simultaneously. Therefore, this procedure is appropriate for treating even the largest areas of the body both quickly and effectively. What Results Can Be Expected? The length of a laser treatment may last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. It is important to know that the hairs in an active growth phase (referred to as an anagen) are most affected by the laser. As all hairs are not in this phase at the same time, more than one treatment will be necessary to achieve the best results. The laser treatment itself may cause some discomfort. Most patients tolerate the procedure well, but because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia can be an option. The appearance of the treated area immediately following the procedure will vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of the procedure and skin type. Side effects, if any, are minor. They nay include redness and swelling around the hair follicle, which are, in fact, desired clinical results and indicate that the follicle has responded to the treatment. Most people return to regular activity right away. Copy used by permission of Lumunis. For more information or to set up an appointment, contact Columbus Dermatology.

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