That might have been the case with some of the laser hair removal systems on the market in the past. But there is a new, improved laser in town and it's addressing all of those previous concerns.
Rockledge Medspa at the Dermatology & Clinical Skin Care Center www.dermskin.com in
Bethesda is now featuring the Duet, considered to be the most exciting innovation in laser hair removal in over 10 years. The Duet is especially efficient for large areas which now can take half the time or less than they did before. And of course the reduction in discomfort would be enough to win us over since we like to keep our suffering for beauty to a minimum!This is the time of year to start the treatments so you'll be ready when shorts and beach weather are in full swing. With that in mind we spoke to Jennifer Whitman, a Physician's Assistant at the dermatology practice who also uses Duet to answer some of our basic questions about how it works:
Q: Can you tell us about the Duet laser hair removal system and what makes it better than some other systems?
A: This laser is different from other lasers for a few reasons. It uses a 810 nm wavelength which is the most specific wavelength to target hair pigment. It also is much less painful than other lasers because it uses a suction device to pick the skin up before the laser fires and this greatly reduces any discomfort. The suction device also improves the efficacy of the laser because it blanches any competing pigments in the the skin and brings the hair follicles closer to the laser.
Q: Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal with this system?
A: The laser can be used on more skin types than the majority of lasers currently in use. We can treat skin types I-IV. This includes very fair skin, European skin types, Hispanic, and East and South Asian Skin types. Although the Duet has been used in clinical trials on darker skin types (African Americas), our providers’ personal experiences with this laser have shown that some undesirable pigment disturbances have occurred with the Light Sheer, so we still treat darker skin with a Yag laser which has been very safe and effective. All hair lasers work by targeting brown pigment so none of the hair lasers can treat blond or white hairs because they lack pigment.
Q: How
many sessions will it take for some of the most popular treatments like underarms, legs, bikini and back?A: For underarms, bikini, arms, legs and back most patients will need an average of 6-8 treatments to achieve 80-90% reduction. Facial hair can require more treatments depending on ethnic background, genetics and hormonal factors.
Q: Are there any risks or side effects with this laser?
A: The Duet has very few side effects. There can be temporary redness, swelling, or discoloration of the treated areas.
Q: Is the hair removal permanent or will it require touch ups later on?
A: With enough treatments, the hair removal will be permanent. With every treatment, the patient has a permanent reduction in the amount of hairs, the coarseness of the hairs, and the rate that it re-grows. For all these reasons, this is a great option for people who are prone to ingrown hairs, “hair bumps” and discoloration from shaving, tweezing, and waxing. Recently we have seen a great increase in the number of male patients who are choosing laser hair removal of their facial hair as an alternative to daily shaving.
Q: What is the approximate cost for the most popular areas to be treated?
A: Cost of treatments varies according to size and location of areas treated so it is impossible to give a complete price list. Complimentary price consultations are available in our Med Spa.
Rockledge Medspa
6410 Rockledge Drive Suite #205
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-968-1200
www.dermskin.com
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