With advances in laser technology for permanent hair removal, men and woman can be permanently hair-free after a few treatments. At GOLDCOAST medspa, Ltd. we use the latest FDA-approved laser equipment to remove hair from any and all body areas. Treatment is safe, effective, and fast.

Why is laser hair removal better than shaving or waxing?

If you've ever had any part of your body waxed, you know all about repetitive expense and pain. You know about ingrown hairs, and you've had to allow unsightly, unwanted hair to grow between appointments.

Laser treatments can remove your unwanted hair permanently. Lasers leave the skin smooth to the touch, without irritation or razor bumps. Instead of contributing to ingrown hairs, lasers destroy the very follicles that create this troublesome condition.

How is laser technology used to safely remove unwanted hair?

Lasers emit a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin and targets the pigment in the hair follicles. The pigmentation that exists in black or brown hair attracts the laser light and causes it to convert to heat, which cauterizes the base of the hair follicle. The hair follicle dies and will never again produce a hair. The laser does not harm pores or the structures of the surrounding skin.

What kind of laser equipment is used at GOLDCOAST medspa, Ltd.?

At GOLDCOAST medspa, Ltd., we effectively and safely treat ALL skin tones using the most advanced state-of-the-art FDA-approved laser technology. We employ two different lasers, which allow our staff to achieve optimal results by using the technology most suited to a client's particular skin type.

The GentleLASE® Plus is a long- pulse alexandrite laser approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal. This is the only laser available that has an 18 mm spot size, which is larger than other lasers and permits more hair follicles to be treated simultaneously. Thus, larger areas such as the back or legs can be treated in an hour or less. The GentleLASE® Plus incorporates an exclusive Dynamic Cooling Device®, which reduces discomfort and protects the skin during the treatment.

The Altus CoolGlide™ is a long pulse Nd: YAG approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal. This laser utilizes a 1064 nanometer wavelength, which makes it possible to safely treat all skin tones, including men and women of color and people who are tanned.

At times, it can be confusing for the lay person seeking laser treatment because there are many types of laser technologies available and not all are suitable for all skin types or for all types of treatment. For a detailed comparison of laser technologies, please visit www.consumerbeware.com.

How do I find out if I am a good candidate for laser hair removal?
Call us to schedule a complimentary initial consultation with a licensed medical practitioner who specializes in laser work. This is a no-charge opportunity for you to state your goals and expectations and to learn what the laser can and cannot do specifically for you.

During this meeting, a registered nurse will discuss your personal goals for laser hair removal. We will describe our process and will ask you to complete a brief medical history to establish that you have no contraindications to laser treatment. A test area may be treated if you desire. Prophylactic antiviral therapy may be prescribed if you have a history of genital or perioral (cold sores) herpes.

The laser's hair of choice is brown or black with a texture that is coarse. It will also remove hair that is fine, although more treatments may be required. Advanced laser technology is safe for all skin tones, including women and men of color and people who are tanned; however, not all lasers in use are appropriate for darker skin. The ideal laser type for darker tones is an Nd:Yag 1064 wave length with a high peak power, such as the Altus CoolGlide™.

If your hair is white, gray, blond, or red, no laser is likely to achieve permanent results.

Laser treatment is not recommended for individuals who have been on Accutane® during the past year.

What areas of the body can be treated?
The laser can be used for permanent hair removal from most body areas except around the eyelids. Typical areas of treatment include the back, chest, breasts, arms, legs, cheeks, upper lip, hairline, underarms, the back of the neck, the bikini line, and the genital area.

What if the hair I want permanently removed is in an embarrassing place?

You might feel a little shy or self-conscious at first, but it's important to remember that medical professionals are accustomed to seeing the human body in all its many forms.

We routinely remove hair from the most intimate areas. Other than the shaping of the eyebrows, there are no parts of the body where the laser cannot safely go.

What should I expect during treatment?
The evening before your appointment, you will shave the area to be treated as thoroughly as possible to remove any hair above the skin that could divert laser light from the base of the hair follicle. About two hours before your laser session, you may if you chose, apply a prescribed topical anesthetic to numb the treatment area.

Your clinician will conduct a patch test to determine the proper laser settings for your hair and skin type, and you will be asked to wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from any exposure to laser light. The laser light is then delivered through a hand-piece that the clinician moves lightly over your skin. Your skin will be cooled and protected before each laser pulse.

While your skin may be slightly reddened after laser treatment, this redness will recede and gradually disappear within a day or two. You should wear sun screen with an SPF15 at least.

Does it hurt?

Laser treatment feels somewhat like a rubber band snapping against the skin. Clients find the sensation uncomfortable but tolerable. Individual comfort levels vary as treatment progresses. A topical anesthetic may be applied prior to the treatment. Following treatment, cool compresses and a soothing lotion will be applied to the treated area.

How long does one treatment take?
Laser sessions last from ten to forty minutes.

Smaller areas, such as the bikini line or underarms, can be treated in ten to twenty minutes. Larger areas, such as the back, can be treated in less than an hour.

What results should I expect after my laser treatment?
Immediately after the treatment your skin will be red. This redness may last from several hours to 2 days. Your skin may be slightly sensitive, but generally not painful. You may immediately resume your normal activities.

Over the next 2 to 3 weeks, the hairs that were treated will fall out, leaving your skin smooth and soft. You will need to wear a sun block with at least an SPF15 for a minimum of two weeks and must avoid prolonged sun exposure three to four weeks before and after treatment or until your nurse will allow.

You will be asked to return in six to eight weeks to treat new hair growth.

Since the laser addresses large areas at one time, why are multiple treatments necessary?

Everyone's hair grows in cycles. The laser can only permanently destroy hair follicles that are in the active growing cycle, and since only about ten to thirty percent of your follicles are in this phase at any one time, multiple treatments give the laser a chance to treat the dormant follicles as they cycle through the active stage.

How many treatments will I need?
Typically four to six treatments will be necessary to reach the majority of the hair follicles while they are in the active growth phase. The number of treatments will also vary depending on skin color, hair color, and the coarseness of the hair being treated. We recommend spacing treatments six to eight weeks apart.

How permanent is laser hair removal?
Once a laser destroys an active hair follicle, that follicle will never produce another hair.

However, no practitioner can completely guarantee that after an individual completes his or her series of treatments hair won't grow back on the treated area. This is because hair follicles can stay in the dormant phase for an extended period of time. Most clients experience a seventy-five to ninety percent reduction in hair. Hair that does grow back is much finer in texture and sparser in quantity.

From time to time, certain body changes, such as hormonal fluctuations, may activate dormant follicles. If this happens individual hairs or isolated patches of hair may appear on the treated areas, and touch-up treatments may be required. Once the laser cauterizes these newly active follicles, they will cease producing hairs.

Are there possible side effects?

Following treatment, you can expect localized swelling and a slight reddening of the skin, which usually lasts about an hour, although it may occasionally last for 1 to 2 days.

Besides laser, are there other viable alternatives for permanent hair removal?

Electrolysis is a hair-by-hair procedure that is sometimes used to remove unwanted hair. During an electrolysis treatment, a needle is inserted into the skin next to the hair shaft. This needle delivers electric current to the root of the hair follicle. If the treatment is successful, the hair follicle is destroyed and then must be tweezed away.

Compared to laser treatment, electrolysis has several disadvantages. It is invasive. The needle breaks the skin, which can lead to infection and scarring from post inflammation hyperpigmentation. Since electrolysis can only treat one hair follicle at a time, many more treatments are required to achieve the same results as with laser technology. Because of this, electrolysis isn't practical for large areas of the body. Electrolysis also is more painful and typically more expensive than laser treatments.

Light-based hair removal, also called intense pulse light, is older and less technologically advanced than laser hair removal. IPL uses a flash lamp that produces a spectrum of light energy instead of laser light. These treatments are often not as effective as laser sessions in destroying active hair follicles, and many more treatments may be required for the same results.

How much does laser treatment cost?
Laser treatments are priced according to the size and complexity of the area treated. While prices and services vary considerably based on the expertise and medical training of the clinician, for about what you could spend on a regular program of waxing over two years, you could have permanent hair removal for the rest of your life.

Our prices are competitive, and discounts are available to clients who purchase packages or who have multiple areas treated during one session. These details will be discussed with you during your complimentary consultation.

• We accept Visa and MasterCard. Most health insurance plans and policies do not cover cosmetic procedures. Please consult your carrier for more information.