Cohen Surgical Arts
Cosmetic, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Denville, NJ
973.627.6006
The LightSheer™ laser is specifically designed for hair removal. Dr. Cohen chose this laser because of the extensive clinical research which demonstrated its effectiveness for permanent hair reduction. Other laser hair removal systems that we investigated cannot make this claim. Also, the LightSheer™ laser is the only laser that can safely treat a broader range of skin tones, including patients with darker complexions.
This laser targets the pigment located in the hair follicle and shaft. The light is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and the energy is converted to heat which results in damage to the hair follicle. This damage causes delayed re-growth of the hair, and in most cases permanent destruction of many of the hair follicles. Unlike electrolysis, which kills one hair follicle at a time, the laser reaches and treats hundreds of follicles at one time.
The LightSheer™ system was developed from years of research at the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, one of the world’s leading medical research institutions. The laser is pulsed, or “turned on,” for only a fraction of a second and the duration of each pulse is just long enough to disable the hair follicles. The actively cooled sapphire hand piece was designed to protect the skin by actively cooling it before, during, and after the laser light is transmitted.
The cooling tip has a mild anesthetic property, which allows tender areas to be treated in a relatively painless fashion. You may feel a tingling or stinging sensation during the treatment, but most people tolerate the procedure well.
All hairs do not actively grow at the same time. They go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. The LightSheer™ works by disabling hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all hair follicles in a given area. Treatments are usually given at intervals of 8-12 weeks, depending on the particular area of the body being treated and the density of the hair in that area. Our staff will work with you to develop the best program that fulfills your needs.
The LightSheer™ causes permanent hair reduction and delayed re-growth of the treated hair follicles. The majority of patients experience long-term hair loss, and thinner, lighter re-growth.
Within several minutes, the treated area might become slightly red and puffy. This reaction subsides quickly and within one or two days, the areas return to normal. Depending on the area treated, you should plan work or social engagements accordingly. Around day 3-7 after treatment you may experience what seems to be re-growth of hair. Actually most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not re-growing. In-between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hairs, but it is permissible to shave.
The ideal candidate for most hair removal lasers has dark hair and light skin. Darker hairs absorb more of the laser light, and lighter skin allows more transmission of the laser light to the hair follicle. Although dark or tanned skin may run a higher risk of pigmentation changes following the procedure, the LightSheer™ laser’s unique longer wavelength at 810nm allows treatment to these patients. No other hair removal lasers have this property.