What is Laser Hair Removal?
With the new advanced pulsed light and radio frequency energy technology available, there is no need for all those other painful and tedious means of hair removal. The elos hair removal system can safely, effectively and permanently reduce unwanted hair of any color. With a quick flash of light and radio frequency energy, hundreds of hair follicles become disabled. The advantage of having hair removal done by this method is that it causes little discomfort during treatment, and the results are more permanent.
The elos hair removal system is effective for even the lightest hair, with minimal only short-term side effects, such as mild local swelling and redness. The benefits of pulsed light and radio frequency energy hair removal is that in just a few treatments you can be hair free and say good-bye to those tweezers and electrolysis appointments.

How does laser hair removal work?
Just think back to science and the color spectrum. Dark colors attract light energy and hold it, while light colors reflect light energy.
The dark pigment in the follicle absorbs the laser light energy. The lighter skin does not absorb the light energy; in fact, energy dissipates. The follicle absorbs more and more energy, dies, and can no longer grow hair.
Not everyone has the combination of skin or complexion color and hair color. The differences or combination types have an effect on the outcome of the treatment.
Each individual hair is formed inside a hair bulb deep in a hair follicle. The follicle is a tiny but powerful factory, which throughout many people's lifetime hardly ever stops working.
None of these treatments affects the growth of the hair in the hair bulb, even though some may seriously damage the hair shaft.
Finally the hair spontaneously falls out. The follicle rests for a little while, and then starts to produce yet another new hair. This is the hair cycle.

Stages of the hair cycle
Between starting to grow and falling out years later, each hair passes through three distinct stages. These are so important that they have been given special names: anagen (the growing phase), catagen (the intermediate phase) and telogen (the shedding phase). When you understand these stages you understand how laser hair removal works and why you need multiple treatments.
So, if the hair is up and about and has visible pigment it is in its anagen phase. Its pigments can absorb the laser and the follicle can be destroyed, this is the only stage in which the hair receives blood supply.

When the hair is its resting phase or catagen/telogen phase it is not visible or capable of absorbing the laser light and no destruction of the follicle will occur. Since laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an anagen growth phase, more than one treatment may be required to disable hair follicles that subsequently enter this growth phase.

What are the advantages of Laser Hair Removal?
It is important to note that laser hair removal is a non-invasive method of hair removal, which does not require needles or chemical creams. The advantages of laser hair removal include:

The technique is safe if performed properly.

It is considered to be less painful as compared to other methods.
Most consumers experience long-lasting hair removal or even permanent hair reduction.

The method is very useful for removing hair even in the large areas, such as backs or legs.

Other unexpected advantages
Hair removal lasers are effective treatment for pseudofolliculitis barbae more commonly known as “ingrown hairs” or "shaving bumps". After several laser hair removal sessions, you'll notice your hair shedding and the dark spots and bumps from folliculitis disappearing.
Many men who hate having to shave too frequently, but aren't willing to completely give up their beard-growing ability, can use laser hair removal for permanent hair reduction.
All it takes is several laser treatments to achieve permanent hair reduction.

Does skin color and hair color have an impact?
Due to the fact that a laser targets melanin, the more melanin an individual has in his/her hair, the more effective a laser will be. Therefore, someone with gray, red, or blonde hair is not the best candidate for laser hair removal.
In addition, the more melanin in your skin, the darker it looks. Since the laser does not distinguish between melanin in hair and melanin in skin, the more melanin present in the skin, the more the laser is going to target the skin rather than the hair.
By using the Fitzpatrick scale you can determine whether you are a good candidate.

Fitzpatrick Scale
1. Very fair, “transparent”; always burns, never tans
2. Fair; always burns, tans minimally
3. Fair to light olive; sometimes burns, tans gradually
4. Olive to brown; rarely burns, tans easily
5. Dark brown; very rarely burns, tans very easily
6. Black; never burns, always tans

If you are a Difficult or Poor Candidate:
What is possible is determined by: Your unique characteristics (hair type and skin type)
Your willingness to be accepting of a probable outcome (you may only achieve a 40% reduction in hair)
Your willingness to work with our practice that prescribes a treatment plan that is designed with you in mind (common practice is 5-6 sessions, you many need 8 or 9)
Our skill in working with poor or difficult candidates
Our investments in technology and new lasers.
The chart above describes common thinking about candidates for laser hair removal. It is a guide to decision making, and nothing more. In the hands of an expert with the latest in technology, nearly everyone, even people with fairly dark skin, can have a good result.