I am a middle-aged woman who had never used any hair removal procedures on my body other than razors and waxing (just once!). I practically live at our cottage in the summer and having to shave every day to keep that ‘smooth’ look was tedious, to say the least. Not to mention the times that I realized that I missed a spot… ugh! I also love going to the gym and no matter how many times I shave under my arms, I always have that ‘Day Old Growth’… a dark shadow where the hair grows.
As for waxing, I bought very expensive spa products. They looked pretty and smelled wonderful but the procedure was tortuous and the results left me with a rash and ingrown hairs to deal with for the next couple of months.
Then I discovered Ottawa laser hair removal at Concept Medical. A friend of mine recommended laser hair removal at Concept Medical, she said the clinic is beautiful, the location is perfect, and the staff is very professional. Her results are phenomenal and she stated that she has thrown away her razors. I didn’t need to hear more… I picked up the phone and booked a consultation.
The consultation was a great chance to learn about laser hair removal in Ottawa, as well as exploring the other laser, cosmetic, and medical services that Concept Medical has to offer. I had a health history review to make sure that laser hair removal was safe for me and that the results would be effective and in line with what I was expecting.
I really appreciated the professional yet friendly approach and felt that I could discuss any concerns that I might have along the way. I booked my laser hair removal for the next week and felt very confident in my procedure choice and with Concept Medical as my clinic.
The following week I was in for my very first laser hair removal treatment in Ottawa. The clinic was clean and welcoming and each room was designated for a different procedure. The laser hair removal room is placed at the end of the hallway providing optimal privacy. Because Concept Medical is a physician-supervised clinic, the laser is medical-grade providing a high degree of performance while still ensuring a safe treatment for the clients.
The two areas that I decided to treat with laser hair removal were my axilla (under the arms) and linea (the hairs below the belly button). I was told to shave the areas to be treated the morning before the laser hair removal treatment. I met with the medical aesthetician who was friendly and very informative. She explained everything beforehand and was always checking with me to assess my comfort level throughout my first laser hair removal treatment.
Although I did my best to shave the areas, she made sure and any touch-ups were done immediately prior to the laser hair removal treatment. We both wore safety glasses to protect our eyes during the treatment while the laser was working. A cool gel was applied to the area before the treatment. My axilla was treated first. She held the laser on the gel and she gave me a ‘1-2-3’ before the first few laser pulses. The feeling was very minimal, a small tingling sensation at most.
The medical aesthetician waited a minute to ensure that I had no further sensations of heat then proceeded with the full area. The laser procedure itself took no more than 30 minutes. My skin was slightly pink when I left the clinic but that disappeared within the hour and that evening I did not notice any differences in appearance.
I was told that I would need 5-10 treatments to decrease most of the hair. I understood that laser hair removal is not totally permanent but hair growth would be dramatically decreased for a very significant period of time. Each laser hair removal treatment is scheduled about a month apart, this is because the hair follicles need to regrow to a point that the laser can effectively target them, decreasing their coarseness and texture with each session. I found that even after the first laser hair removal session, my hair growth had diminished quite a bit.
My experience at Concept Medical in Ottawa was top notch from start to finish. I was treated very professionally and felt that my overall experience from start to finish really mattered. I was explained about the procedure beforehand and what to expect afterward as well. I was booked a follow-up appointment along with the second treatment so that I had time with the medical aesthetician to go over the results.
Now, I have had 6 laser hair removal treatments in Ottawa and I can’t remember the last time I had to shave. My axilla area is smooth and white, no traces of hair at all! I am confident that no matter what day of the week I can wear a bathing suit without a second thought. My only negative thought is why I didn’t do this sooner in life. By the way, my legs are next.
GUEST POST: Lip Fillers – 9 Things You Should Know Before Getting Them By Dominique Baker
Recently, a girlfriend of mine had lip fillers and I was surprised to find out that she wasn’t thrilled with the procedure. She stated that it really hurt and sadly, a small lump had formed at the corner of her top lip. This was due to the improper injecting technique used by the nurse practitioner who had injected the product. I felt for her and wondered what went wrong…and that’s when I thought I would do some research and put together a list of things you should know before going under the needle.
FULL DISCLOSURE: I have not had lip injections, but I did speak to the lovely Dr. Sam Hetz of Concept Medical to find out what exactly you need to know before plumping up your pout. If you are looking to have any cosmetic procedures done, Concept Medical is the place to go. I did a full write-up on this beautiful clinic which you can read here, and did undergo botox, cheek and chin fillers under Dr. Hetz’s careful hand. You can watch the video on that procedure here:
Dr. Sam Hetz by the way is very experienced with this procedure and is known for in-depth and honest consultations. His work is very subtle and natural also, making him a leader in the city for administering this procedure.
1. RESEARCH YOUR DOCTOR
STEP AWAY FROM THE GROUPON DEAL. Take the time to find yourself a board-certified doctor. The physics of the face are very precise. A knowledgeable, trained injector will be able to administer just the right amount of product to give you a subtle look.
Ask for references, study the pictures of his or her past work carefully and ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel comfortable and secure in your decision. Poor injection technique can result in serious complications like nerve damage and/or worse – necrosis (death of tissue).
2. DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF FILLER WILL BE RIGHT FOR YOU
Not all fillers are created equal. Some fillers are soft and silky, while others are firmer and provide more volume. Your doctor or trained injector will help you decide what is best for you. Remember – one size does not fit all.
3. BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER
Lip fillers really should look natural, not fake or overdone. A proper lip augmentation will look like your own lips but subtly plumped and enhanced.
This is a buildable procedure too. You can always go a little bigger if you are unsatisfied with your first enhancement.
4. IT SHOULDN’T HURT
Your lip enhancement really shouldn’t hurt. An experienced injector will use a topical numbing gel or freeze inside the mouth to numb the lips. This is key to providing a pain-free treatment.
5. WHEN DO YOU SEE THE RESULTS?
Directly after the procedure, your lips will swell. Patients are advised to apply ice to their lips to prevent bruising. While you will see the effects of your lip enhancement immediately, it does take about 24 hours to see the full effect.
6. DOES IT FEEL NATURAL?
When done properly, your lips should not feel any different from your natural lips.
7. HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?
Typically, the results will last anywhere from about four to 12 months.
8. WHAT IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE RESULT?
The beauty of hyaluronic acid (HA) lip fillers compared to collagen fillers is that HA-based filler can be dissolved almost immediately. Your injector can use an enzyme called “hyaluronidase” to reverse the treatment.
9. THE COST
Alright – lip fillers ain’t cheap, especially when you take into account that they results aren’t permanent. Typically, the results will last anywhere from about four to six months. This treatment costs anywhere from $350-$1000 per visit, and most people usually like the results so much that it can become a regular thing.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
That “duck lip” look is caused by too much filler too soon. Go slow and have small amounts of filler injected over two or three sessions. This will help your lips maintain their natural shape.
Your teeth support your lips, so uneven teeth can cause a little unevenness in lips.
Don’t forget to look at your face as a whole and consider how fuller lips will affect the proportions of your face. Volume loss in other areas affects the way your lips look!
Remember, there is nothing wrong with undergoing treatments that help you feel better and more confident. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about your decisions.
I’m hoping these tips will help you with your lip enhancement decision-making. Have you tried lip fillers? How did it go?
If you are considering lip enhancement, I highly recommend Concept Medical. The clinic is run by a very competent team of physicians who focus on aesthetic medicine and medical skin procedures. Concept Medical is located at 11 Holland Avenue, Suite 400. Feel free to book a consultation with one of their very knowledgeable physicians by calling (613) 829-1266 or by emailing them using the contact form on their website.
*In collaboration with Concept Medical. Please note that I have had several different treatments at this clinic (for which I have paid for myself) ranging from laser hair removal to fillers, and have been thrilled with each result.
Facial expressions are an important part of life. No one wants to be frozen! However, strong repeated movements of underlying facial muscles create wrinkles and lines that become more visible as we age.
At first, these lines only occur when we make facial expressions. However, over time, deeper lines and wrinkles start to be present at rest, and can really show our age.
Botox is one option to address these lines and wrinkles.
Botox Cosmetic has been used since 2002 as an evidence-based treatment to help prevent and improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Botox restores a more refreshed, youthful, and rested appearance. Who doesn’t want to look the best at their age?
What is Botox?
Botox is a cosmetic treatment that targets wrinkles and lines on your face caused by certain, repetitive facial muscle contractions.
Every facial expression is a result of certain underlying muscle movements, which are typically involuntary. Over time, areas of the face where muscles are predominately active, such as between the eyes and forehead develop frown lines, forehead creases, and wrinkles.
Botox is used to carefully relax these muscles and prevent specific involuntary muscle contractions from forming lines and wrinkles.
Is Botox right for me?
If you are looking for a treatment to improve existing lines or prevent new ones from forming, Botox may be the solution you’re looking for.
Patients typically opt for this procedure in order to treat crow’s feet (wrinkles on the side of the eyes), forehead creases, and treat frown lines between the eyes.
However, Botox can also be used on other regions such as the neck, lips, chin, and lower face region.
Will I look frozen like those celebrities?
Unfortunately, our reference point for minor cosmetic treatments are celebrities and people we see in the media.
Botox should never leave you feeling or looking fake or frozen! This is where the art really comes into play. When done correctly, Botox treatments will make you look and feel more refreshed and rested, never frozen or artificial.
Often our patients get comments like, “wow, your skin looks great,” and “did you just get back from vacation?” People may notice you look great, but no one should know why.
Fake and frozen is never the goal!
How much does Botox cost in Ottawa?
This really depends on the area being treated, the experience of the physician, and the amount of Botox that is required to treat your particular area.
Botox injections are usually measured in units. A particular area requires X number of units, and the cost is therefore partially based on the number of units required by that particular area.
Typically, an area such as the forehead requires between 8 to 10 units, while frown lines between the eyes usually require 20-30 units.
The experience of the person injecting your Botox also plays into the overall pricing. An experienced and reputable physician generally charges more per unit than someone who is less experienced.
At Concept Medical, only our qualified physicians treat patients with Botox Cosmetic. Concept Medical is a Double Diamond Allergan Practice, meaning that Concept Medical physicians inject more Botox than most clinics in Canada.
At Concept Medical, a forehead line treatment typically costs $150, while treating between the eyes (frown lines) or crow’s feet is typically $375.
Does it hurt?
Botox treatments are very quick and the physicians use an ultra-thin needle. Most patients feel a very small and temporary ‘prick’ sensation, but it is typically much more comfortable than patients expect.
The doctor may apply some numbing cream or ice to numb to the respective area prior to treatment. This is something that you can discuss with the doctor before the procedure, although most patients do not require this step.
What to expect the day I get Botox?
Not to worry, this shouldn’t be any different than a regular day! At Concept Medical we always start with a detailed medical consultation prior to any treatment to ensure the treatment is right for you.
Here is a quick summary of what to expect on the day of your treatment:
Given you have already had a consultation with your team, we already have a detailed understanding of your desired results, and we have discussed the treatment in detail.
The area may be cleaned to wipe of make-up.
Our physician will ask you to smile, frown, raise your eyebrows or ask you for a few other facial expressions to precisely identify the underlying muscles. This step is VERY important, as injecting Botox into the wrong muscles can lead to a less than ideal outcome or relaxation of the wrong muscles.
The physician will then proceed with micro-drops of Botox. A typical visit takes about 15 minutes from start to finish, with the actual treatment typically lasting about 1 minute.
What is the recovery like?
There is no downtime or recovery required after your appointment. Your doctor will most likely tell you to go on about your normal day. Most patients go right back to work! Directly following the injections, slight redness may occur, but typically disappears within 15 minutes.
You should avoid touching or rubbing the area until the next day and make sure to wait 48 hours to get a facial or face massage. The reason for this is that massaging the treated areas can spread the Botox to unintended areas of the face. Other than that there are no specific precautions following your Botox treatment.
What kind of results can I expect after the procedure?
Botox should results in the gentle reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, resulting in a more youthful, refreshed, and relaxed appearance.
Typically results begin to show in 3 days following the procedure, with full results becoming apparent at about 10-14 days afterward. If you have a big event coming up, make sure to plan accordingly. Of course, results vary depending on the patient, dosage, and the treated area.
How long does Botox last?
On average, results last four months before the body metabolizes the Botox. At this point, the treatment needs to be repeated in order to maintain the desired results.
What are the possible side effects?
Directly following the procedure, some redness may be apparent but should disappear within about 15 minutes. Bruising is very uncommon, but can happen anytime a small needle is placed into the skin.
Serious Botox side effects are extremely rare, however, all the complications should be discussed with you at your consultation. It is important you do your research and get your Botox treatment done at a reputable clinic by an experienced clinician.
Additional FAQ’s
Botox while pregnant or breastfeeding
It is not recommended that women who are pregnant or are breastfeeding receive Botox treatments. There is no evidence that it is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding. For this reason it is best to wait until after pregnancy and breastfeeding for Botox treatments.
Is Botox toxic?
Any drug or medication that is overused or taken at high dosage levels can be toxic to your body. However, the amount of Botox used for cosmetic purposes is far below the toxic level of the drug.
Is Botox only for women?
Certainly not. Men can receive Botox cosmetic treatments just as women do. In fact, cosmetic Botox treatments are increasing in popularity amongst the male population. Men are often looking for minimally invasive treatments to help them look and feel less aged, and more refreshed. At Concept Medical we see many male patients every day.
What is the minimum age to begin receiving Botox treatments?
There is no minimum age at which you can start to receive Botox. However, most patients who start to receive Botox are usually over the age of 20, with most patients over the age of 30. Most physicians will not treat patients with Botox Cosmetic who are under the age of 18.
Still curious about Botox Cosmetic? For more information, please contact us.
By now I’m sure you have heard a lot about CoolSculpting. However, many people have several questions about this new body-sculpting treatment. How much does CoolSculpting cost in Ottawa? What exactly is it? Does it hurt? Is it right for me?
If these things have crossed your mind, keep reading! Since we receive a ton of questions about CoolSculpting every day, we have created this detailed guide to help you learn more about the #1 most popular, non-surgical, fat-freezing technology.
CoolSculpting is based on the concept of cryolipolysis. ‘Cyro’ means to freeze, while ‘lipolysis’ means fat cell destruction, so CoolSculpting uses cold to kill fat.
It is a non-invasive, fat-eliminating procedure offered worldwide to people looking for a more sculpted body. Many people have just that little bit of extra fat that they would rather be gone. CoolSculpting can often be a great option for these patients to help them look and feel better by removing those unsightly bulges.
But does it actually work?
CoolSculpting has been shown in numerous studies to be an effective body contouring treatment option, decreasing fat by up to 20-25%. However, it’s important to remember, that like any procedure, results do vary between patients, and CoolSculpting is never a replacement for a healthy lifestyle.
Unlike other non-invasive, fat-reducing treatments, CoolSculpting can be used almost anywhere on the body. Whether it’s your love handles, chin fat, or inner thighs, CoolSculpting can target it. Since 2010, CoolSculpting has been used to eliminate fat in over 6,000,000 patients.
Harnessing the power of fat-freezing technology, CoolSculpting is the only Health Canada and FDA-approved treatment, which uses gentle and controlled cooling to kill fat cells.
Not all fat is created equal. Some fat on your body may be very resistant and difficult to lose with exercise and diet alone. This is where CoolSculpting really shines. CoolSculpting is an effective option designed to help you decrease resistant and unwanted fat “pockets” on several areas of your body.
CoolSculpting is presently the #1 non-surgical fat decreasing cosmetic treatment around the world. While results differ from person to person, CoolSculpting is backed by research in over 100 studies.
Is CoolSculpting for me?
CoolSculpting is ideal for people who have noticeable and undesired areas of fat that they would like reduced. Many patients desire a non-surgical fat-reduction treatment, and for this exact reasoning CoolSculpting’s popularity has increased dramatically since 2010.
CoolSculpting is not a weight-loss treatment and is not considered an overall weight reduction technique for people who are overweight or obese. Furthermore, CoolSculpting won’t treat cellulite or stretch marks.
As the name suggests, it ‘sculpts’, by helping your body remove underlying fat by up to 25%.
Finally, there are a few medical conditions that would preclude you from getting CoolSculpting. Therefore, it’s always best to have a detailed consultation with a physician or qualified practitioner to ensure that CoolSculpting is safe for you.
How does Coolsculpting® work?
How does CoolSculpting actually freeze fat, while leaving the skin unharmed? Your fat cells are much more sensitive to temperature changes than the other cells in your body and have a much higher ‘freezing’ temperature. This means that your fat freezes before normal healthy skin will.
CoolSculpting works by gradually cooling and destroying fat while leaving the outer surface of skin essentially unaffected. With mild but deliberate cooling, fat cells are permanently destroyed without harming the skin or other surrounding tissue in the process. Although frostbite and other side effects have been reported, they are rare.
The very unique concept behind CoolSculpting was created by scientists at Harvard University, and tailored for physicians to deliver evidence-based and effective results to patients desiring a more sculpted and contoured body. Who doesn’t want to say good-bye to their ‘muffin top’ or ‘love handles’?
How much does CoolSculpting cost in Ottawa?
CoolSculpting treatments are tailored and customized to each patient. Therefore the cost of CoolSculpting in Ottawa is partially dependent on the personalized plan and number of CoolSculpting treatments required to achieve the desired outcome.
CoolSculpting treatments in Ottawa generally cost as little as $600. However, individual CoolSculpting sessions may cost up to $1500 or more depending on the clinic and provider. Concept Medical offers one of the lowest cost CoolSculpting packages in Ottawa.
What should I expect during a CoolSculpting treatment?
After an in-depth consultation to ensure that you’re an appropriate candidate for Coolsculpting, a gel pad is first placed over the specific zones you wish to be treated.
A designated and qualified physician or technician trained in CoolSculpting will then place a customized applicator to the area where fat reduction is desired. This specific applicator delivers a consistent cooling temperature to your fat cells along with mild suction.
CoolSculpting is very quick, typically lasting only 35-45 minutes per area. After treatment, the area is then massaged for about 5 minutes to help the crystallized fat start to break apart. This also increases circulation to the treated area, which may improve your long-term results.
How long is each Coolsculpting treatment?
The duration of you CoolSculpting treatment session will vary depending on the number of areas being treated per visit. With recent advances in the latest CoolSculpting technology, sessions can be completed within as little as 35 minutes. Some patients even opt to have their treatments done over the lunch hour or prior to work in the morning. If multiple areas are being treated during the same session, your visit will be longer than 35 minutes.
Is CoolSculpting an effective weight loss tool?
CoolSculpting does not replace a healthy diet and regular exercise. While CoolSculpting is designed to destroy and reduce fat in different areas of the body where bulges of fat are undesired, it’s not a weight loss procedure.
Although you will likely look and feel better after CoolSculpting, most people remain the same weight before and after treatment.
CoolSculpting treatment will only target fat in the area being treated and will not decrease fat in surrounding areas, or other parts of your body.
How is losing weight and fat-reduction with CoolSculpting different?
When your body creates a fat cell, this cell will exist throughout your entire life. When you gain or lose weight through diet, exercise, or lifestyle choices, your fat cells will enlarge or shrink in size, but never disappear.
In other words, the total number of fat cells you have in your body will never decrease, but only increase in size should you gain weight. As you gain weight, more fat cells are created.
This is why CoolSculpting is such an interesting treatment. CoolSculpting completely destroys fat cells, preventing them from storing fat in the future. CoolSculpting has the potential of eliminating up to 25% of treated fat within a single treatment. This means that if you can pinch 4 inches of fat between your fingers, after treatment you may only be able to pinch 3 inches. There is a reason why CoolSculpting is the world’s #1 non-surgical fat-reducing technology.
What areas of my body can be treated with CoolSculpting?
Approved by Health Canada for fat reduction and elimination, CoolSculpting can be used almost anywhere on the body. For example, CoolSculpting can be applied to reduce unwanted fat on your abdomen, ‘muffin top’, ‘love handles’, back, thighs, arms, and even under the chin.
Due to CoolSculpting’s customizable applicators, treatment can be fully tailored to each patient’s specific problem areas. If you can pinch it, you can freeze it.
Is CoolSculpting similar to liposuction?
No. CoolSculpting and liposuction are very different procedures, although they both can eliminate fat.
Liposuction is a surgical treatment where fat cells are sucked out of the treatment zone. Liposuction is the gold standard for fat elimination and provides the most dramatic results. However, liposuction is surgical, and associated with more downtime than CoolSculpting, as well as surgical risks.
There are risks associated with CoolSculpting as well, and these should be discussed with you in detail during your consultation.
Will I lose weight with CoolSculpting?
CoolSculpting is not designed as a weight loss option but rather used to treat stubborn and resistant pockets of fat that poorly respond to exercise and diet alone.
While you won’t see pounds dropping when you step on the bathroom scale, you should see a more contoured and toned appearance in the areas that have been treated with CoolSculpting.
Where does the fat go after CoolSculpting?
After your CoolSculpting treatment, the fat cells that have been targeted die and are then removed from your body, through your own circulation process. This natural elimination of fat cells will take a couple of weeks to a few months after your CoolSculpting treatment, which is why it takes time to see results.
One question often asked is if CoolSculpting changes the level of fat in the blood. It is important to note that fat and cholesterol levels in the blood stream do not appear to increase after your treatment.
What will I feel during my CoolSculpting® Treatment?
Not surprisingly, CoolSculpting is pretty chilly! You should feel considerably cold on the area being treated. This sensation will last about 5 minutes as the area being targeted becomes numb. At Concept Medical, our first patient actually fell asleep during her treatment!
CoolSculpting also uses a unique suction technology that allows the coolness to deeply penetrate into your fat cells. Most patients feel a slight pulling sensation on the skin during treatment.
Many patients enjoy reading or spend the treatment time on their phone or iPad. Others choose to shut their eyes and nap or rest during their treatments.
Following treatment, there may be some mild discomfort and numbness, although this is typically minimal, and usually resolves.
Is CoolSculpting safe for me?
While a detailed consultation is necessary prior to treatment to ensure that CoolSculpting is right and safe for you, CoolSculpting is both Health Canada and FDA-cleared for the treatment of visible fat bulges throughout the body.
CoolSculpting carries an excellent safety profile and has been studied in over 100 scientific studies. However, like any cosmetic treatment, there are possible adverse effects.
CoolSculpting systems are created with sensitive safety sensors that can detect if the skin is getting too cold. In this infrequent case, the system will shut off to ensure your safety and help prevent skin damage.
However, although CoolSculpting is considered safe, side effects infrequently do occur.
Will my CoolSculpting result be permanent?
Yes! CoolSculpting is considered a permanent fat reduction technology. Fat cells that are treated and destroyed are not expected to regrow. However, there is one catch. The results are only permanent if you control your weight with a healthy diet and exercise. CoolSculpting should not be a replacement for a healthy lifestyle that includes adequate exercise and healthy foods. Long lasting improvements to your physique (and overall health) depend on your lifestyle choices!
I can’t miss work. Can I return to my normal activities after CoolSculpting?
Absolutely! One of the nice things about CoolSculpting is that you can return to your normal activities after treatment, as there isn’t any specific recovery time necessary. There are no activity limitations following CoolSculpting.
CoolSculpting is completely non-surgical. Therefore, patients can return to their normal daily activities immediately following treatments. Patients undergoing CoolSculpting at Concept Medical usually return to work on the same day as treatment.
I have an event coming up. How soon will I see results?
Some patients may notice positive results from CoolSculpting within 1 month following their first treatment, although most will notice more considerable results 3 months after their sessions.
Depending on the areas being treated, people may require two CoolSculpting sessions to achieve the optimal and desired results. Treatment sessions are usually booked 4-6 weeks apart, when required.
After my CoolSculpting treatment, is there anything I should do to increase my results?
While there isn’t a set recommended plan to follow after your CoolSculpting treatment, following a healthy diet and modest exercise routine can help maintain a healthy body weight and thus maintain your results. Most patients also see CoolSculpting as an investment, and want to hold onto their results. Therefore many patients are even more motivated to have a healthy lifestyle following their treatments.
When is the ideal time to have CoolSculpting?
While you can receive CoolSculpting at any time during the year, many patient choose to book CoolSculpting prior to attending a special event, such as a wedding or vacation to look and feel their best.
It is recommended to book your CoolSculpting treatment at least three months in advance to your big event. Results are not visible until approximately 4 weeks afterwards and fat loss peaks around 12 weeks following treatment, so ensure you plan ahead if you have a big event on the horizon.
We hope that this guide has allowed you a detailed look into CoolSculpting, and has answered most of your questions or concerns. For more information about CoolSculpting in Ottawa or to book your consultation, please contact our office.
Laser Hair Removal: The Ultimate Guide to Laser Hair Removal
Do you struggle with hair that grows too fast and thick?
Is your growing hair in unwanted spots?
Are you tired of shaving or waxing?
Dealing with unwanted hair not only costs money but it also wastes one of our most precious commodities, time.
Free yourself from the need to shave or wax unwanted body hair in order to look and feel your best. Shaving only lasts a couple of days for most people, while waxing has to be repeated every few weeks.
Why put yourself through shaving, tweezing, or waxing if you’re only getting short-term results?
If you’re like us and these questions are weekly annoyances then sit back while we educate you about laser hair removal in Ottawa.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a long-lasting, non-invasive method for reducing or removing unwanted body hair. With laser hair removal, just a few simple treatments are all it takes to reduce hair growth leaving behind smoother and silkier looking skin anywhere on the body.
Laser hair removal is done by exposing an area of skin to pulses of laser light with the goal of preventing further growth from the hair follicle. This simple and convenient process is done without harming the surrounding skin, and without downtime.
Laser hair removal was invented in the late 1990s, and has been used worldwide since. This researched and effective treatment has become more mainstream over the past decade with prices becoming very reasonable in most major cities. Concept Medical was actually one of the very first clinics in Ottawa to offer laser hair removal.
Before we get into any more specifics let’s take a look at exactly how laser hair removal works.
How does Laser Hair Removal work?
We have skimmed over the treatment, but now it’s time to dig deeper into the laser hair removal process.
First, it is important to understand the way hair growth works for a person to appreciate the entire laser hair removal process.
Hair growth occurs in growth cycles, but not every hair follicle goes through a cycle at the same time and speed. More importantly, not every hair is in the growth phase at the same time. This concept is important to remember.
The laser technology targets the hair follicles that are about to enter or are in the active phase of hair growth (known as the anagen phase). This is because during the active growth phase, the hair is in contact with the bottom of the follicle, where hair growth begins. By effectively targeting the hair follicles at this time it destroys the follicle itself preventing the hair from growing back.
The devices used for laser hair removal uses a visible or invisible infrared light to help target the dark pigment, melanin, found in hair.
Melanin occurs in high density at the base of a hair follicle, which absorbs the light and converts it into heat. The heat energy is what damages the follicle causing the hair to fall out and preventing regrowth.
Hair removal lasers usually operate between 700 – 1400 nanometers depending on which type of laser is being used. The process matches a wavelength of light and pulse duration determined by the skin and hair type of each individual.
Some wavelengths (and lasers) are better than others for laser hair removal, and it is important to ensure your clinic offers you a laser that is specific for laser hair removal.
The treatment is most effective on lighter skin that grows darker hair, but laser hair removal technology is advanced now to yield excellent results for darker skin as well.
However, the treatments are yet to produce significant results for grey, white, or light red hair. For these patients, electrolysis may be a more effective option.
How to prepare for Laser Hair Removal
If you decide to move forward with the laser hair removal there will be a few things to prepare you for the treatment.
First off, any treatment should begin with a detailed consultation by a medical or qualified health professional to ensure laser hair removal is safe for you. Remember, lasers are very powerful, and side effects do occur if laser hair removal is performed incorrectly.
The person doing the treatment will be your technician. The technician will tell you to shave the night before or morning of your appointment. This is crucial to safe and effective results.
Do not use any skin creams the day of your treatment and do not wax for at least 2-4 weeks prior to your treatment.
The treatment involves a laser looking for pigment within your follicles so ideally you want to shave as close as you can. For the best results try soaking in a tub, exfoliate, and shave everything completely bare.
Your technician may want to shave the area again prior to treatment to ensure there is not stubble above the skin. This will help to ensure your treatment is effective, and as safe as possible.
Remember every laser appointment should be done by a professional technician. The technician will do everything to help you feel comfortable.
Avoiding caffeine prior to the treatment may be helpful to calm any nerves during your first treatment. Try having a calming tea to help settle any nerves you may have if you are a more anxious person. However, after your first treatment, this is usually not necessary.
One last thing to think about before your appointment is the time it takes to complete the whole process. Laser hair removal takes more than one appointment because of how the hair cycle works. This means that the entire process can take a few months (discussed more in the next section).
If you are a summer person, and want to have less hair for the summer your last treatment would be a month or two before the summer season begins. Make sure to plan accordingly!
What to Expect During the Process
The preparation is done and it’s time for your first appointment. Here comes the most popular question of laser hair removal:
Does it hurt?
Before we answer that, let’s backtrack a little. Remember, laser hair removal is a medical procedure that requires a trained technician to perform correctly and ensure all safety precautions are met. The technician will provide you with protective eye shields to prevent injury to your eyes.
To help protect the outer layers of your skin a cold gel is typically used. This gel will also help make the treatment more effective by facilitating the laser light through the skin. It will also make the treatment more comfortable, helping to disperse some of the heat.
Most lasers will use a high-energy laser beam, which will be adjusted to the colour, thickness, and location of hair on your skin. One other key factor will be your skin tone. Some lasers cannot be used on dark skin colours while some lasers may be used on any colour of skin. Make sure you discuss this with your technician prior to treatment.
Next, the technician will give a pulse of light to a treatment test area. This area will be watched for a few minutes to make sure the best settings are used and to check for any untoward reactions. This is called a test pulse, and ensures treatment is safe.
When the settings are approved the laser is then systematically directed spot-by-spot towards the areas to be treated. The laser will instantly disable the active growth of hair follicles.
Now here comes the answer to your question…
The appointment itself will likely last 30-60 minutes, but should not be painful. The sensation is often compared to warm pinpricks against the skin or mini snaps of a rubber band.
After you have made it through your first appointment do not start throwing away your razors quite yet!
How long for Laser Hair Removal results?
The results from laser hair removal are immediate for a certain percentage of the treated area. A certain number of hairs are in a resting phase, rather than a growth phase. The laser will only be effective on the hairs in a growth phase.
On average, it takes 4-10 treatment sessions to achieve maximum results for an area. Some patient will notice results after 1-2 treatments, while a few patients may need more than 10. The treatments need to be spaced out about 1 month apart to allow the resting phase hairs to grow.
Certain parts of the body will respond faster than other parts of the body. For example, the bikini line is usually done quicker than the face.
Is there any recovery from Laser Hair Removal?
When the procedure is completed you may be given ice packs, cold water, or anti-inflammatory creams to soothe the treated areas although this is not usually needed if performed correctly.
Remember multiple sessions are required so do not be throwing out any of those razors yet. However, do not wax in between sessions, as you want to have the base of the hair touching the follicle to ensure your next treatment is effective.
In almost all cases you may return to your daily activities immediately following the treatment, although follow the directions of your supervising physician and technician.
After the procedure, you should receive detailed instructions about your post-treatment care. This will involve information about skin care, normal symptoms you will experience, and potential signs of complications.
Most people notice slight redness or minor skin irritation immediately after the treatment – do not panic this is common and resolves quickly. After a few weeks, you will start to notice some hair growing back, this will be a warning signal to book the next appointment.
What are the benefits of Laser Hair Removal?
The benefits of laser hair removal should be pretty obvious to most but can be broken down into a clearer message. Lasers are useful for removing unwanted hair from the face, legs, arms, underarms, bikini line, and other areas such as the back and chest. Essentially any area can be treated with laser hair removal, if done by a qualified technician.
The lasers have great precision that can selectively target darker, thicker hairs while leaving surrounding skin undamaged (no more razor burn).
Each laser takes a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time making it a speedy process. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas can be treated in less than a minute.
After four to eight sessions most patients will have tremendous hair loss and will not need to worry about buying razors or shaving.
Does Laser Hair Removal have any side effects?
Thankfully significant complications from laser hair removal are very rare. However, with it being a medical procedure it does have potential to cause some side effects.
The technician will discuss all potential side effects during your consultation prior to treatment. Ideally, you should have a consultation with a medical professional prior to treatment to ensure laser hair removal is safe for you.
Some of the risks specific to laser hair removal involve blistering, changes in skin color/texture, increased hair growth, or an eye injury. The technician will minimize your risk by providing you with advice and instructions for the treatment.
Overall, laser hair removal is very safe when provided by a suitably trained and qualified technician in a safe and controlled environment.
Plastic surgery has experienced a boom of over 700% in the
past decade. More and more men and women have accepted plastic surgery as a
quick-fix method to attain physical beauty. In today's hectic, fast-paced
lifestyle, most people simply don't have the time to really work on whatever
part of their body they're not entirely satisfied with. Instead, they turn to
the so-called miracles of science for help.
Many of those who opted to undergo plastic surgery were
driven to take extreme measures because of their obsession with youth.For them, remaining as youthful as possible
was the main goal to be attained, regardless of the cost.Today, cosmetic surgery is also seen as a way
for people with facial deformities to regain or improve their appearance. In
essence, it is a field of medicine dedicated to relieving anxiety disorders and
mental health problems caused by perceived "imperfections" in the
body. So, why exactly do most cosmetic surgery offices have an in-house
psychologist?
The answer is deceptively simple, if one takes the time to
look at the nature of the field. Cosmetic medicine may not appear to touch upon
any aspect of mental health aside from the obvious effects on self-esteem, but
the reality begs to differ. Cosmetic surgery is closely tied to a person's
psychology, particularly during the period before the patient goes under the
knife. The presence of a psychologist in the offices of a cosmetic surgeon is
because when people ask for a cosmetic procedure, there is often a
psychological reason behind it. This does not mean everyone that asks for a
liposuction or breast augmentation has problems with their mental health.
Rather, this means that the psychologist is there to evaluate whether the
surgery will satisfy the person's desire for improvement or if it is merely a
sign of a deeper problem.
Some people might not take the possibility of mental health
being tied to cosmetic surgery seriously, but people who have seen the effects
of body dismorphic disorder beg to argue. For people who have realistic
expectations on what cosmetic surgery can do for them, an improvement here and
there is generally enough. However, some people have become psychologically
conditioned to see themselves as "imperfect" or "ugly"
regardless of their appearance. It is these people that may end up coming back
to a cosmetic surgeon's office again and again. It is these people that a
resident psychologist has to spot before the procedure is agreed upon, to avoid
further damaging the mental health of the patient.
Psychologists are also there to evaluate the reasons behind
a person's decision to undergo surgery, particularly if the procedure is one
that can produce drastic changes. In most countries, a person will only be
allowed to undergo a gender reassignment surgery only after a detailed and
prolonged psychological evaluation. For drastic procedures, it is often best
that the surgeons have an understanding of the various reasons why a person is
asking for something to be done. This is necessary to avoid cases where the
surgery did more harm to a person's self-esteem and mental health than good.
In cases where the surgery is more re-constructive than
cosmetic, the psychologist may be called upon to evaluate the patient's mental
health and readiness to return to a normal life. Some people who have undergone
great physical trauma that requires plastic surgery may not be psychologically
ready to resume a normal life. It is difficult to ascertain whether having
re-constructive surgery done will help a person recover from the trauma they
have suffered, or it it will only make things worse.
