HairRemovalJournal.org Laser hair removal information and resources
The Hair Removal Journal
Information from the nation's top laser hair removal physicians
About Laser Hair Removal
According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, laser hair removal is the second most popular cosmetic procedure in the United States with almost 1.3 million procedures done in 2008, second only to Botox. Many people don’t realize that laser hair removal should be considered a medical procedure and should be performed only by a medical professional with knowledge of the skin. Many “medispas” today employ persons inadequately trained to deal with complications that may arise during a “simple” laser procedure which can cause a potentially dangerous situation.
This is why the Hair Removal Journal was created to provide credible information about physician supervised laser hair removal. Hundreds of thousands of laser hair removal related searches take place on search engines every month and many of these searchers find the Hair Removal Journal to be among the best websites on the topic.
- “This site is one of the best I have seen. Wish I had seen it before I had my (hair removal) experience.”
- Anonymous,
- Savannah, GA
The information published on the Hair Removal Journal is provided and reviewed by some of the leading doctors in the field of cosmetic and laser medicine.
Procedure and Costs
Laser hair removal is achieved by using the laser to heat up the hair which triggers the follicle to enter resting phase called telogen. Because hair grows in a cycle it can take several session to produce the maximum results. Since a laser is actually a beam of light it interacts with a shaft of hair much like wearing a dark colored shirt on a sunny day. The darker the shirt the hotter it gets because it is absorbing more of the sun's energy. The same is true of hair, the darker the hair being treated the more heat energy it will absorb from the laser. This means darker hair is treated more effectively by the laser.
The catch is that if you have a tan or dark skin tone, this will also absorb the light energy. If your laser hair removal provider is not familiar with the physics involved with darker skin types, there is a greatly increased risk of the laser causing burns on the surface of the skin. It is possible to treat dark skin types but it requires the correct type of laser with the correct wavelength settings.
The cost of laser hair removal can vary greatly from city to city and how big of an area the patient wants to have treated. A medispa may seem like a good deal but it may be worth it to pay the extra money to make sure there is a doctor on hand to advise or even perform the treatment.
Importance of Physician Supervision
Although many so-called "medispas" would have you believe that almost anybody can operate a modern medical grade laser, there are actually several factors that go into accurately and safely analyze the patient's skin before treatment. This kind of analysis should be done only by a medically trained expert with knowledge of the skin and preferably by a physician.
Dr. Eric Bernstein, a dermatologist located in Bryn Mawr, PA explains the importance of choosing an experienced laser hair removal provider.
The Patient's Guide
The Hair Removal Journal is a member of the Patient's Guide family of websites. The Patient's Guide was created to be the credible source online about cosmetic skin procedures. The scientific advisory board is made up by some of the world's leading minds in cosmetic and dermatologic laser. For more information you may view the Advisory Board or email us at : 
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