eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Cosmetic Surgery

Laser Hair Removal: Follow-up

Author: Mounir Bashour, MD, CM, FRCS(C), PhD, FACS, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, McGill University; Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Sherbrooke University; Medical Director, Cornea Laser and Lasik MD
Coauthor(s): Andrea James, MA, Director of HairFacts.com, Deep Stealth Productions, Inc
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Jul 2, 2009

Outcome and Prognosis

Outcomes vary, and any assurances of 100% effectiveness or 0% regrowth (often stated in marketing campaigns) should not be believed. Certain patients have a minimal response, whereas others have exceptional response. In addition, the treatment applied is often variable in the outcome.

Treatment at painless, low-energy levels produces a response that the present authors call laser waxing. This technique essentially induces the follicles to enter the telogen phase so that they grow back over time; however, they grow back exactly as they had been.

For permanent hair reduction, the laser must be applied to its limit for the particular patient and for the area being treated (as determined with careful patch testing). This requirement usually means a painful treatment and a need for local anesthesia. Only this method truly provides an opportunity for permanent follicular death. Any claims to the contrary should be viewed with suspicion.

Treatment as described provides gratifying and permanent results, and patients are often extremely pleased.

Future and Controversies

Laser manufacturers will further refine their products, and other modalities (eg, oral or topical medical therapy) may eventually supplant laser hair removal. Until then, current laser treatment probably has reached its maturity, and the field lacks only long-term studies to prove the permanent efficacy of laser hair removal when it is properly applied.

In 2007, Sand et al published a paper that studied the use of sprayed-on liposomal melanin (Lipoxome; Dalton Medicare B.V., Zevenbergschen Hoek, The Netherlands) to allow removal of blond/white and gray hair with a diode laser.10   Their study found a very mild increase in the removal of such hairs after 6 months, but "the clinically observed hair reduction was so weak that additional effort as well as higher costs argues against the application of the tested formulation."

 


More on Laser Hair Removal

Overview: Laser Hair Removal
Workup: Laser Hair Removal
Treatment: Laser Hair Removal
Follow-up: Laser Hair Removal
Multimedia: Laser Hair Removal
References
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References

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  2. Ohshiro T, Maruyama Y. The ruby and argon lasers in the treatment of naevi. Ann Acad Med Singapore. Apr 1983;12(2 Suppl):388-95. [Medline].

  3. Anderson RR, Parrish JA. Selective photothermolysis: precise microsurgery by selective absorption of pulsed radiation. Science. Apr 29 1983;220(4596):524-7. [Medline].

  4. Grossman MC, Dierickx C, Farinelli W, et al. Damage to hair follicles by normal-mode ruby laser pulses. J Am Acad Dermatol. Dec 1996;35(6):889-94. [Medline].

  5. Dierickx CC, Grossman MC, Farinelli WA, Anderson RR. Permanent hair removal by normal-mode ruby laser. Arch Dermatol. Jul 1998;134(7):837-42. [Medline].

  6. Helou J, Soutou B, Jamous R, Tomb R. [Novel adverse effects of laser-assisted axillary hair removal.]. Ann Dermatol Venereol. Jun-Jul 2009;136(6-7):495-500. [Medline].

  7. Aldraibi MS, Touma DJ, Khachemoune A. Hair removal with the 3-msec alexandrite laser in patients with skin types IV-VI: efficacy, safety, and the role of topical corticosteroids in preventing side effects. J Drugs Dermatol. Jan 2007;6(1):60-6. [Medline].

  8. Richards RN, Uy M, Meharg G. Temporary hair removal in patients with hirsutism: a clinical study. Cutis. Mar 1990;45(3):199-202. [Medline].

  9. Breadon JY, Barnes CA. Comparison of adverse events of laser and light-assisted hair removal systems in skin types IV-VI. J Drugs Dermatol. Jan 2007;6(1):40-6. [Medline].

  10. Sand M, Bechara FG, Sand D, Altmeyer P, Hoffmann K. A randomized, controlled, double-blind study evaluating melanin-encapsulated liposomes as a chromophore for laser hair removal of blond, white, and gray hair. Ann Plast Surg. 2007;58(5):551-554. [Medline].

  11. Anderson RR, Parrish JA. The optics of human skin. J Invest Dermatol. Jul 1981;77(1):13-9. [Medline].

  12. DiBernardo BE, Perez J, Usal H, et al. Laser hair removal: where are we now?. Plast Reconstr Surg. Jul 1999;104(1):247-57; discussion 258. [Medline].

  13. Dierickx C, Alora MB, Dover JS. A clinical overview of hair removal using lasers and light sources. Dermatol Clin. Apr 1999;17(2):357-66, ix. [Medline].

  14. Goldberg DJ. Unwanted hair: evaluation and treatment with lasers and light source technology. Adv Dermatol. 1999;14:115-39; discussion 140. [Medline].

  15. Goldberg DJ, Ahkami R. Evaluation comparing multiple treatments with a 2-msec and 10-msec alexandrite laser for hair removal. Lasers Surg Med. 1999;25(3):223-8. [Medline].

  16. Goldberg DJ, Arndt KA. Is a medical degree necessary to perform laser and surgical procedures?. Dermatol Surg. Jan 2000;26(1):85-6. [Medline].

  17. Goldberg DJ, Littler CM, Wheeland RG. Topical suspension-assisted Q-switched Nd:YAG laser hair removal. Dermatol Surg. Sep 1997;23(9):741-5. [Medline].

  18. Goldberg DJ, Silapunt S. Histologic evaluation of a millisecond Nd:YAG laser for hair removal. Lasers Surg Med. 2001;28(2):159-61. [Medline].

  19. Hickman JG, Huber F, Palmisano M. Human dermal safety studies with eflornithine HCl 13.9% cream (Vaniqa), a novel treatment for excessive facial hair. Curr Med Res Opin. 2001;16(4):235-44. [Medline].

  20. James A. Laser hair removal. 2001;Available at: http://www.hairfacts.com/methods/laser/lasermain.html. [Full Text].

  21. James, A. Hair Facts. Hair Facts. Available at http://www.hairfacts.com. Accessed 06/07/2007.

  22. Kolinko V, Littler CM. Mathematical modeling for the prediction and optimization of laser hair removal. Lasers Surg Med. 2000;26(2):164-76. [Medline].

  23. Liew SH. Unwanted body hair and its removal: a review. Dermatol Surg. Jun 1999;25(6):431-9. [Medline].

  24. Littler CM. Hair removal using an Nd:YAG laser system. Dermatol Clin. Apr 1999;17(2):401-30, x. [Medline].

  25. Wheeland RG. Laser-assisted hair removal. Dermatol Clin. Jul 1997;15(3):469-77. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

laser hair removal, photothermolysis, hair removal, ruby laser, neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser, Nd:YAG laser, hair-removing lasers, hirsutism, facial hair, unwanted hair, excessive hair growth, polycystic ovary disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypertrichosis, congenital hairy nevi

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Mounir Bashour, MD, CM, FRCS(C), PhD, FACS, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, McGill University; Clinical Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology, Sherbrooke University; Medical Director, Cornea Laser and Lasik MD
Mounir Bashour, MD, CM, FRCS(C), PhD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, American College of International Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Biomedical Engineering Society, Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Ophthalmological Society, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, International College of Surgeons US Section, Ontario Medical Association, Quebec Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Andrea James, MA, Director of HairFacts.com, Deep Stealth Productions, Inc
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Paul S Nassif, MD, FACS, Consulting Surgeon, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Spalding Drive Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology
Paul S Nassif, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, and California Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Dominique Dorion, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Program Director and Division Chair, Professor of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of Sherbrooke, Canada
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Christopher L Slack, MD, Otolaryngology-Facial Plastic Surgery, Private Practice, Associated Coastal ENT; Medical Director, Treasure Coast Sleep Disorders
Christopher L Slack, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA, Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and American Head and Neck Society
Disclosure: Covidien Corp Consulting fee Consulting; US Tobacco Corporation unstricted gift unknown; Axis Three Corporation Ownership interest Consulting; Omni Biosciences Ownership interest Consulting; Sentegra Ownership interest Board membership; Syndicom Ownership interest Consulting; Oxlo  Consulting; Medvoy Ownership interest Management position

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