New Mexico Ave. Over the past five years the Center for Laser Surgery has been involved in clinical research regarding laser-assisted hair removal. In April 1997 results of our research were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Laser Surgery and Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona. The following material will inform you of the benefits, risks and anticipated results associated with laser hair removal. At the present time four laser wavelengths are available for the treatment of unwanted body hair.
Hair follicles are capable of producing hairs of various thickness and colors.
Dark hair contains the pigment melanin which serves as the target for energy at these wavelengths. Four wavelengths, 694nm. produced by the Ruby laser, 755nm. produced by the Alexandrite laser, 800nm. The pulsed laser energy is absorbed by the pigmented hair shaft and transferred to the surrounding follicle. The heat build-up caused by the absorption of energy by the hair itself is capable of creating follicular damage and retard or prevent future hair production by that follicle. Patients will achieve varying degrees of success.