INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
VERSION 1.1
Cutera CoolGlide® and ProWave 770™ Laser Reduction of Hair on
the Face, Legs and Other Parts of the Body
This Information Package
has been designed by Dr.
Searles to answer your
questions on this service.
Gordon E. Searles,
OD, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FACP,
FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
How do Cutera CoolGlide®
laser and ProWave™ 770 hair
reduction work?
The Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
the ProWave™ 770 are noninvasive light therapy systems which
have been custom designed to
eliminate undesired hair from all
parts of the body. The Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and the ProWave™ 770 generate pulses of
intense, concentrated light which
a re d i re c t e d t h ro u g h s m a l l ,
cooled hand pieces which are
gently applied to the treatment
site.
This energy passes through the skin
to the hair follicle, where the energy is absorbed by pigment in
the hair and hair follicle, causing
selective damage to the hair root
while protecting delicate pores
and structures of the skin. The energy is pulsed, or "turned on", for
only a fraction of a second. The
duration of the pulses is carefully
determined so that energy will be
absorbed by the hair follicle without transferring excessive heat to
the surrounding skin.
Some of the hair which was in the
treated follicles is wiped off immediately after treatment, and
the rest is shed over the next 2-3
weeks. The hair roots which have
been destroyed are reabsorbed
by the body. If you have ingrown
hairs, they will be reabsorbed by
the body and the appearance of
the skin will improve greatly over
the next few months.
The surface of the skin is protected
by built-in cooling systems which
help to protect and soothe the
skin during treatment of your unwanted hair.
Unlike "hair-by-hair" treatments
such as electrolysis, the
CoolGlide® and in particular the
ProWave™ 770 use wide beams
which treats many hairs at once.
Because the Cutera CoolGlide®
laser and the ProWave™ 770 can
treat dozens of hairs with each
pulse, it is possible to treat larger
areas -- for example the back,
shoulders, arms, legs and face.
The Cutera CoolGlide® laser can
be used just about anywhere on
the body, and usually requires no
anesthesia. Even sensitive areas
such as the nipples, upper lip and
bikini line can be treated easily
and with minimal discomfort.
The ProWave™ 770 is customized
for the treatment of large untanned areas like the back and
legs.
The unique design of these systems allows us to customize treatment, according to your hair and
skin colour, hair texture, and location on the body.
Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
ProWave™ 770 treatments are a
safe, fast, gentle and effective
method for hair reduction. In just a
few treatment sessions using the
gentle power of one of these systems, you can greatly improve the
appearance of skin where there is
unwanted hair.
What areas of the body can be
treated?
ALL parts of the body CAN be
treated (and ARE treated) with
the Cutera CoolGlide® hair reduction laser. In women, the most
common areas for treatment are
upper lip, chin, bikini line, arms
and legs, and underarms. In men,
the most common areas for
treatment are shoulders and
back, and the beard area. While it
is technically possible to treat
even the eyelashes and eye-
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 1
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
brows, we do not treat those areas at the present time. The top of
the eyebrows can be treated
when the forehead is treated. The
ProWave™ 770 is customized for
the treatment of large untanned
areas like the legs and back.
What are the benefits of
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™ 770 hair reduction
compared to alternative
treatments?
The primary benefits of
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770 hair reduction include:
o
o
o
Larger areas may be treated
with less discomfort than with
electrolysis, waxing or tweezing.
The CoolGlide® and ProWa v e ™ c o m b i n e s p e e d ,
comfort and long lasting results.
The CoolGlide® works on any
area of the body where a
hair-free appearance is desired. The ProWave™ is mainly
used on large areas like the
back and legs.
be kept nice and smooth between treatments by shaving -you will never again have to grow
your hair out long enough to be
waxed or sugared. Occasional
waxing can be useful to temporarily get rid of white hairs and fine
peach fuzz hairs after you have
completed a course of Cutera
CoolGlide® laser or ProWave™
770 treatment.
Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
ProWave™ 770 hair removal offer
long lasting results, and even if hair
does eventually grow back it is
usually finer in texture and lighter
in color than the original hair, and
much less of a cosmetic problem.
What are the advantages over
electrolysis?
With electrolysis, the operator inserts a needle into the hair follicle
and tries to have the needle tip
reach the hair root. The operator
then triggers a small electrical
charge to disable the hair root.
The hair from that follicle is then
removed with tweezers.
Electrolysis can be an excellent
technique for the removal of:
The CoolGlide® and ProWave™ are safe for use on
pregnant women -- who respond well because their hair
is often thicker and darker
during pregnancy.
o
small numbers of hairs
o
hairs from areas where it is
difficult to use the laser (under
the eyebrows, near the eyes,
and in the ears and nose.)
Shaving, waxing and depilatory
creams remove the hair but leave
the hair follicles intact, so the hair
re-grows within one to four weeks
in most cases. CoolGlide® laser
and ProWave™ 770 hair reduction
offers you a long-term reduction in
both the amount of hair, and also
in many cases a reduction in
thickness and color of hair shafts
which do grow back.
o
white, red and blonde hair
(which do not absorb laser
light efficiently).
o
Hair removal methods like plucking, waxing or sugaring which
cause irritation may actually stimulate hair growth. This happens because one way the body defends
itself against having hair pulled
out is to produce thicker, stronger
hairs which are harder to pull out
next time. Another advantage of
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770 treatment is that your skin can
Some people who have a mixture
of dark and white hairs will have
CoolGlide® laser or ProWave™
770 treatment to remove as many
of the dark hairs as possible, then
have electrolysis to remove any
leftover white hairs.
Hair reduction is much faster with
the CoolGlide® laser or ProWave™ 770 because each "pulse"
of laser light disables a large numbers of hair follicles, and pulses
can be delivered as often as
twice every second. Electrolysis
operators can only treat those
hairs that they can see and which
t h e y c a n re a c h t h e f o l l i c l e
through the hair shaft. The Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
VERSION 1.1
770 treat all "active" follicles, even
if the hair has not yet reached the
surface of the skin, is "ingrown", or
if the hair shaft is not straight.
Many people want Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™ 770 hair reduction, but
everyone wonders: "How much
does it cost?"
You will find that the fees listed
below for laser hair removal using
the efficient, effective, fourthgeneration Cutera CoolGlide®
laser and ProWave™ 770 are surprisingly affordable.
Fees are per treatment session,
plus GST, and can be paid at the
time of treatment with Interac,
Visa, MasterCard, or cash. No
cheques please.
Professional services provided by
appointment only.
Prices subject to change without
notice.
There is no fee for pre-laser consultation.
Consultations about Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770 hair reduction can usually be
arranged within a week or two
simply by calling our receptionist
at 780/424-4464 where our staff
who have had Cutera CoolGlide®
laser hair removal themselves can
take the time to discuss your
wishes and options, and answer
your questions. No referral is required.
Treatment may be scheduled for
the same day as the consultation
if there is a time slot is available, or
may be scheduled for a later
date.
The most commonly treated
body areas include (per
treatment session):
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 2
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
Face
Upper Lip
$80
Chin & anterior neck
$125
Upper Lip & Chin & ante- $175
rior neck
Cheeks/Sideburns
$150
Lower Half Face (upper lip,$250
chin & cheeks, anterior
neck): Women
Men
Forehead & temples
$175
(down to the top of the
eyebrows)
Outer surface of nose (this $125
may also eliminate some
hair in the nose)
Full Face (all of the above, $400
when done in one session)
Head
Entire neck and nape of $250
neck
Back of neck and nape of $200
neck
Removal of hair transplant plugs: depends on
amount of work required.
Torso: Upper
Areola (nipple area)
$80
Sternum (between
breasts)
Chest
$150
Abdomen
$300
Chest & Abdomen
$500
$350
Shoulders (from clavicle
$250
on front & back)
Back upper (from level of $350
umbilicus)
Back lower (from umbilicus $350
to start of gluteal cleft)
Sacrum (from top of glu- $175
teal cleft, up 4 inches)
Back: Full
$500
Complete torso (all of the $800
above, when done in one
session)
Torso: Lower
VERSION 1.1
Bikini line and inner thighs $200
(around pubic area, not
including pubic or buttock
hair)
Linea (the line from the
$125
start of pubic hair to bottom of the chest, up to 3
inches wide)
Bikini line & Linea
$250
Bikini line & some or all
$300
pubic hair & linea
Bikini area "Brazilian Style" $450
(bikini, pubic & perianal
areas, gluteal cleft & buttocks)
Bikini area & linea
$500
Limbs
Axillae (underarms)
$175
Both arms including hands $375
and fingers
Forearms, hands and fin- $250
gers
Upper Arms
$250
Hands and fingers
$175
Upper Legs & bikini line (+ $400
$50 pubic hair & linea or +
$225 Brazilian Style)
Lower Legs (including feet $350
and toes to 2 inches
above knees)
Lower legs and bikini line $400
(+ $50 pubic hair & linea or
+ $225 Brazilian Style)
Full Legs (including feet
$500
and toes)
Full Legs (including feet
$625
and toes, and bikini line)
(+ $50 pubic hair & linea or
+ $225 Brazilian Style)
Feet and toes
$175
Extras
Test Spots
$50
Additional "touch up
$50treatments" on small, per- 250
sistent areas
Is Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
ProWave™ 770 hair reduction
covered by insurance or Alberta Health?
Alberta Health will not pay for hair
reduction.
Most private insurance companies
do not offer reimbursement for
"cosmetic" procedures like hair
reduction; however, consult your
insurance carrier for more information.
The reduction of unwanted terminal hair for the management of
hirsutism, congenital or drugrelated hypertrichosis, pseudofolliculitis, trans-sexual states, and skin
grafts may be covered by some
private insurance plans.
Is the cost of Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™ 770 hair reduction a
tax deductible medical expense?
Recent changes introduced in the
2010 Federal Budget no longer
allows a tax deduction for procedures performed to enhance appearance.
What are the risks of hair reduction?
Short-term side effects may include a slight reddening of the
skin or local swelling which typically lasts less than an hour, although it may infrequently last a
few days. Long wavelength
Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
ProWave™ 770 are less likely than
older devices to cause prolonged
irritation, pigment changes or blistering. Rarely (perhaps 2-4 cases
out of a hundred) there can be
increased or decreased pigment
in the treated area. This is seldom
a major cosmetic problem, and
generally resolves after several
months. Even a single blister
(rather like a tiny sunburn) is very
rare (less than one in a hundred).
The light from the Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770 is safe, simple infra-red light
and does not cause skin cancer.
Unlike plucking, waxing and sugaring, laser hair removal does not
run the risk of making hair grow
back thicker, darker or quicker.
After Cutera CoolGlide® laser or
ProWave™ 770 treatment hair
growth will be delayed, AND
when hair does grow back, it is
often lighter, finer and less dense.
Is laser hair reduction "perma-
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 3
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
nent"?
"Permanent hair removal" means:
"ALL the hair is gone, FOREVER!"
There is NO hair reduction method
(including laser) which can guarantee "ALL the hair will be gone,
FOREVER!"
The most realistic description of
the results after laser treatment is:
"long-term hair REDUCTION". This
means: "After four to eight treatments most people will see that
the total amount of hair is greatly
reduced -- generally by 70% to
90% -- and hair which does grow is
often much finer and lighter in
color."
It is important for you to realize
that after having between four
and eight treatment sessions it is
VERY LIKELY that there WILL BE a
very substantial reduction in both
the amount of hair and also a reduction in the thickness and color
of the hair in the treated areas.
You should expect that this reduction in hair may last for many
years.
This long-term hair reduction is
exactly what most people want,
but could be an issue, for example, if you removed hair from an
area and later decided that you
wanted to have hair in that area.
Lasers have been used for hair
reduction since at least 1995, and
we know that stable, long-term
hair reduction commonly lasts for
many years. In some cases, dormant follicles will start to produce
new hair, or "peach fuzz" follicles
may start to produce black or
brown hair, and this new hair if it
develops will respond well to
treatment.
How much hair will grow back,
and how fast will it grow back?
The Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
ProWave™ 770 work by destroying
hair roots which are active at the
time of treatment, and which are
dark enough to absorb sufficient
laser energy. The hair shafts in the
treated hair follicles will fall out, or
be "shed" 1-3 weeks after treatment.
After the first treatment, hair re-
VERSION 1.1
growth may resume within a few
weeks or it may be anywhere from
2-4 months before any true hair
growth is observed, as previously
dormant hair follicles become
active, and hair follicles which
were stunned but not killed recover and start to produce hair
shafts again. Some people find
that there is not much extra hair
reduction after the second treatment, then they notice a substantial further reduction after the third
or more commonly the fourth
treatment. After four to six treatments there may be little or no
regrowth for many years. In other
cases you may wish to have additional treatment after a period of
time.
cessive hair, but the children must
be old enough (for example, 12
years old) to understand and cooperate with treatment.
Hair that regrows after laser treatment generally is finer and lighter
in colour, and so is much less of a
cosmetic problem. Reductions in
coarseness and color can occur
independently of each other.
o
How much are you bothered
by your facial hair? Hair on
other areas?
o
How much are you bothered
by the time you spend removing, treating, or concealing
your facial hair? Hair on other
areas?
o
How uncomfortable does your
facial or other unwanted hair
make you feel in exchanges
of affection (such as intimate
exchanges with your partner)?
o
How uncomfortable does your
unwanted hair make you feel
when you meet new people?
o
How uncomfortable does your
unwanted hair make you feel
when you go to social gatherings, dine out in a public restaurant, go to a supermarket
or other public place?
o
How uncomfortable does your
unwanted hair make you feel
when you go to work or class?
New dark hair appearing in
hormone-sensitive sites (mainly the
face, axillae and genital area)
after successful treatment with
Cutera CoolGlide® laser or ProWave™ 770 could result from
hormone-stimulated maturation of
previously dormant hair folicles
and "peach fuzz" follicles.
Am I a good candidate for
Cutera CoolGlide® laser and
ProWave™ 770 hair removal?
The unique design of the
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770, and the long wavelengths
they use, allow treatment of people with all skin colors, and treatment of even light brown hair.
Fewer treatments are needed
when the hair is dark and the skin
is light colored -- so to get maximum effect from each session
avoid tanning, but even people
who have black skin can be successfully treated with the Cutera
CoolGlide® laser, and people with
white to moderately dark, untanned skin are treated with the
ProWave™ 770.
Children can be treated, for example if they have a congenital
nevus or other problem with ex-
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770 hair removal are not just for
"cosmetic" problems. Patients with
excess hair because of medications (for example, organ transplant patients who are taking cyclosporine) can benefit from hair
removal; as can patients who
have problems with ingrown hair
and folliculitis under prosthetic
devices.
Questions to ask yourself when
considering
Cutera
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™ 770 hair removal:
How can I get the best value
from each treatment?
To get the best results with the
smallest number of treatment sessions, please pay attention to the
following guidelines as you work
with us:
A) Avoid waxing / sugaring /
plucking / EpiLady and electroly-
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 4
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
sis
Because the energy from the
CoolGlide™ laser and ProWave™
770 seeks out and destroys ACTIVELY GROWING hair roots, it is
important (if you want to get the
best value from your treatment)
NOT to wax / pluck / sugar / use
EpiLady-type pluckers or have
electrolysis for at least EIGHT
WEEKS before treatment.
B) Tanning should be avoided!
CoolGlide™ laser and ProWave™
770 are the safest and most effective devices for ALL types of skin,
even black people who cannot
be safely treated with other hair
removing lasers.
BUT: the lighter your skin color at
the time of treatment, the better
the laser beam can get through
the skin to the hair roots, where it is
needed.
SO: tanning is not a BIG deal, but if
you avoid tanning and stop using
artificial "tanning" creams for six
weeks before treatment, you will
get the maximum possible benefit
from each treatment session.
People with very dark skin (and
people who are really into tanning) sometimes need one or two
extra sessions to reach their desired degree of long-term hair reduction.
It is also a good idea to minimize
tanning for a few weeks after laser
treatment, to reduce the chance
that your tan will be somewhat
uneven.
C) Shaving or clipping the hair?
Good idea!
Shaving or clipping the area to be
treated is not a problem. In fact,
we like the areas to be shaved the
day of treatment or the day before. Some people find that the
skin is less sensitive if it is shaved at
least a few hours before treatment. Another advantage of
shaving the area to be treated
BEFORE you come in is that YOU
can shape the area to be treated
exactly the way YOU want it to
be. This is of particular importance
in areas like the sideburns, temples, and bikini line / bikini area.
D) Hair Dye and Bleaching? No
problem!
Because the beam only acts on
the hair ROOTS, it is OK to dye
and/or perm hair in the areas to
be treated. Likewise, it is OK to
bleach hair in the areas to be
treated because bleaching will
not affect the color of the roots.
E) Timing
It takes 8 to 12 weeks for the next
crop of hair roots to become active and develop pigment which is
the target. So, to get the best
value, you should wait 6-12 weeks
between treatments.
F) Medications?
We are not aware of any medications which should not be taken
while you are getting CoolGlide™
laser or ProWave™ 770 treatment.
Women to take injections of Climacteron (testosterone & estradiol) as part of therapy for menopause and to increase libido often
experience unwanted hair
growth, which can be treated
with CoolGlide™ laser or ProWave™ 770 hair removal.
Recent studies have confirmed
our experience that treatment
can safely be done for patients
who are taking Accutane™ or
using Retin-A™ and similar medications.
Medicines which inhibit hair
growth (for example, spironolactone, Diane-35™ birth control pills,
Euflex™, Androcur™ and Vaniqa™ cream) might slightly reduce the pigment in hair roots
and make laser treatment less
efficient, but this seldom interferes
with the effectiveness of treatment. Cutera CoolGlide™ laser
and ProWave™ 770 hair reduction
can certainly be done WHILE you
are on those medicines, if you
wish. These "anti-androgenic"
medicines produce gradual but
temporary effects, and will not
remove unwanted hair from areas
that are independent of androgen regulation.
Pre-treatment with medicines like
Zovirax™, Valtrex™ or Famvir™ is
NOT necessary, unless you tend to
VERSION 1.1
get a lot of cold sores in the area
to be treated.
What is a "test area", and why
is it sometimes performed?
"Test areas" are small areas of skin
that are treated at various energy
levels prior to treatment of large
surface areas on darker skin types.
"Test areas" are done on darker
skin types to determine the level
of energy that is best for that individual, and checked up to one
week later to make sure there was
no burning or pigment change.
Light skin types generally don't
have to have test areas done. This
may be done at the same time as
your consultation, and a $50 fee is
required for this test.
Moles, freckles and tattoos in
the area to be treated?
Small moles and freckles do not
require any special precautions.
Large, dark moles and freckles
which are to be treated may require a reduction in the intensity of
treatment, the same way that the
intensity would be reduced when
treating a dark-skinned or tanned
person. Tattoos will be avoided,
because exposure to CoolGlide™
laser or ProWave™ 770 could
cause fading of the tattoo, discomfort, or even a burn. Be sure
to tell Dr. Searles and his staff if you
have permanent lip liner or permanent eyebrow liner, because
these are tattoos and special precautions may be needed if there
will be laser treatment in those
areas.
What will happen on the
treatment day?
Other than your regular skin care
routine, there is no standard "prep"
for this procedure. It is important
not to wear any makeup -- or at
least wear simple water-based
makeup that can be easily removed -- because makeup can
sometimes absorb laser energy.
This could interfere with treatment,
or even cause overheating of the
skin surface and burning. Makeup
can be re-applied immediately
after Cutera CoolGlide™ laser
and ProWave™ 770 treatment, if
you wish.
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 5
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
Please shave or clip the areas to
be treated before you come in for
treatment. Freshly shaved skin is
more sensitive, and there is less
discomfort if you wait at least an
hour between shaving and having
laser treatment. Shaving also allows you to shape the exact area
you want treated -- this is sometimes very useful in the bikini area.
Excess hair above the surface of
the skin absorbs and wastes laser
energy, and reduces the amount
of energy that reaches the hair
root, where it is really needed.
Excess hair above the surface of
the skin also increases the chance
of burning or irritating the skin.
The length of the procedure itself
can range from a few minutes for
the upper lip to an hour or more
(for example, a man’s chest and
back). You may save considerable time, as you reduce or eliminate the need for shaving and
other hair removal methods.
If you decide before coming in
that you would like to have additional areas treated, please call
ahead so that we can schedule
enough time to accommodate
your needs.
Does it hurt?
The CoolGlide™ laser and ProWave™ 770 use pure, simple light.
You will feel a momentary "snapping" sensation like a rubber band.
There is no bleeding and no open
wound is created. Some people
find the FIRST treatment more uncomfortable than subsequent
treatments. Maybe this is because
there are more hair roots which
are destroyed during the first
treatment; and perhaps also because some people are more apprehensive during the first treatment, because they are not sure
of what to expect.
Shaving before coming in for
treatment also allows you to
shape the area to be treated exactly the way YOU want it. This is
of particular importance in areas
like the forehead, sideburns and
bikini/pubic hair areas.
While some areas of the body like
the upper lip and pubic hair area
are more sensitive than others,
many patients report little or no
discomfort. If there is unusual discomfort, please let us know so
that we can apply more cooling
or adjust the settings.
People who have had waxing,
sugaring, and/or electrolysis (or
treatment with other lasers) usually
report that CoolGlide™ laser and
ProWave™ 770 cause less discomfort, and sometimes there is little
discomfort.
Another possible explanation for
reduced discomfort with the
Cutera CoolGlide™ laser and
ProWave™ 770 compared with
other forms of treatment is that
the long wavelength of this
equipment delivers more energy
into the deeper part of the skin
where the hair roots are -- and
wastes less energy in the top 2
millimeters of the skin where many
of the nerve endings are.
In addition, both the CoolGlide™
laser and ProWave™ 770 have the
ability to reduce the frequency of
pulses and increase the cooling
time in sensitive areas, to maximize
your comfort.
EMLA™ anesthetic cream is occasionally used in very sensitive areas
or by those who think they have a
very low pain threshold. EMLA™
can be purchased without a prescription, and a very thick layer
should be applied an hour before
the procedure. Most people do
best with cooling gel pads and do
not bother with EMLA anesthetic
cream.
Many people find it helpful to simply take two or three plain Tylenol
and/or Advil a couple of hours
before coming in for treatment.
Some women who find that they
are less sensitive after their menses
prefer to schedule their treatment
sessions to avoid the premenstrual
and menstrual time.
What will happen after treatment?
Redness often has faded greatly
by the time you get home. It
would not be uncommon for the
skin to be slightly drier that evening and to require more of your
VERSION 1.1
favorite moisturizer, for example,
Alyria Hydrating Complex™ Moisturizing Cream.
The hair follicles may appear
slightly more obvious or a bit pink
for the next day or two, but this is
seldom a cosmetic problem, and
generally much less obvious than
after waxing or sugaring.
Why does the hair sometimes
look like it's growing for 1-3
weeks after laser treatment?
CoolGlide® laser and ProWave™
770 destroy hair roots which are
active at the time of treatment,
but do not remove hair shafts instantly. Hair shafts in the treated
hair follicles will fall out, or be
"shed" mostly in the first week after
treatment, with all of the treated
hairs falling out within 2-3 weeks.
It is normal that some hairs in the
treated area may not fall out
within 2-3 weeks. These will treated
in the next session.
These hairs which are being shed
will come out on their own. It is
best not to shave the treated area
or to wash it with anything but
mild soap like Alyria Gentle
Cleanser™ and your bare hand
(no Buf-Pufs, washcloths or Body
Washes) for 3-4 days after treatment, because some people find
that their skin is irritated by these
things.
Are there any restrictions on
my activity after treatment?
Since the CoolGlide™ laser and
ProWave™ 770 do not burn or cut
the skin in any way, no bandages
are necessary. You can return to
work the same day and resume all
your regular activities. To reduce
the chance of uneven tanning in
the treated areas, you should
minimize sun exposure and tanning for a week or two after
treatment.
It is OK to resume shaving or clipping hair in the treated area after
3-4 days. You should NOT have
waxing / sugaring / plucking or
electrolysis, because these things
will temporarily remove pigmented hairs from the hair roots
and reduce the effectiveness of
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 6
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
your next treatment. Sometimes
after plucking, waxing or sugaring
the hair will become thicker and
darker, because one of the ways
that the body defends itself from
chronic irritation is to produce
thicker, darker hairs.
Wave™ 770 treatment, if you
wish.
o
Shaving really is the BEST temporary way to remove unwanted
hair before treatment, and between treatments. Shaving leaves
the hair SHAFT in the hair follicle, so
the hair shaft can be a target for
laser energy, heat up and KILL the
hair follicle.
You can shave as often as you
want. It has been shown in scientific studies that:
๏
Shaving does NOT make hair
grow faster.
๏
Shaving does NOT make hair
grow thicker.
๏
Shaving does NOT make hair
grow darker.
๏
Shaving does NOT make hair
grow more profusely.
o
Pre-treatment instructions:
o
o
o
Please do not do any waxing,
plucking or sugaring for 6
weeks before treatment, because hair follicles which do
not have hair shafts in them to
absorb energy will not be
killed by the treatment.
Please try to minimize tanning
for a week or two before
treatment: a fresh tan can
interfere a bit with the effectiveness of the treatment,
though this is less of a problem
than with older, short wavelength lasers and IPL devices.
Please do not wear makeup
on the areas to be treated, or
at least wear makeup that is
easy to remove. If makeup
absorbs energy, less energy
will reach your hair follicles
and hair shafts, and if the
makeup heats up it could irritate or burn your skin. Makeup
can be re-applied immediately after Cutera
CoolGlide™ laser and Pro-
Please shave or clip the areas
to be treated the day before
treatment or on the morning
of treatment. This way, the skin
will be less sensitive. Shaving
before you come in also allows you to shape the exact
area you want treated -- this is
sometimes very useful in areas
like the hairline and sideburns,
and in the bikini area. Excess
hair above the surface of the
skin absorbs and wastes energy, and reduces the
amount of energy that
reaches the hair root, where it
is really needed. Excess hair
above the surface of the skin
also increases the chance of
burning or irritating the skin.
Many people find it helpful to
simply take two or three plain
Tylenol™ and/or Advil™ 2
hours before coming in for
treatment. Some women who
find that they are less sensitive
after their menses prefer to
schedule their treatment sessions to avoid the premenstrual and menstrual time.
During the treatment, remember
that: We want to be doing this
FOR you, not doing it TO you. Unexpected discomfort is Nature’s
way of telling us something is
wrong, so please tell us and we
will go slower, apply more cooling,
or adjust the settings for you.
Post-treatment instructions:
o
Redness often has faded
greatly by the time you get
home. It would not be uncommon for the skin to be
slightly drier that evening and
to require more of your favorite moisturizer, for example,
Alyria Hydrating Complex™.
The hair follicles may appear
slightly more obvious or a bit
pink for the next day or two,
but this is seldom a cosmetic
problem, and generally much
less obvious than after waxing
or sugaring.
VERSION 1.1
o
Try to avoid tanning for a
week or two after treatment,
because occasionally the tan
could be somewhat irregular
(lighter and/or darker in the
treated areas.) Ombrelle-60™
and Anthelios-60™ are excellent sunscreens.
o
Hair shafts will be released
from hair follicles in the
treated area for a week or
two after treatment. You do
not need to do anything, but
you may gently exfoliate or
shave the areas if you wish.
o
Shaving, depilatory creams
like Nair™ or Neet™, or
bleaching are OK between
laser treatments. Plucking,
waxing and sugaring should
be avoided because these
things could reduce the effectiveness of your next treatment.
o
Blistering or scaling after
Cutera CoolGlide™ laser and
ProWave™ 770 hair removal is
very uncommon, but usually
resolves over a few days or a
week with a bit of Polysporin™
cream several times a day.
Please call us if this happens,
or if you have any other problems or questions.
Consultations about Cutera
CoolGlide™ laser and ProWave™
770 hair removal can usually be
arranged within a week or two
simply by calling our receptionist
at 780/424-4464. Treatment can
sometimes be done the same day
as the consultation, or within a
couple of weeks after the consultation.
Our staff, many of whom have
had hair removal treatments
themselves, can take the time to
discuss your wishes and options,
and answer your questions. No
referral is required.
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 7
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS ON AESTHETICS TECHNOLOGY
Getting to Know
your Options
through the Consultation Process
Aesthetic dermatology, laser services and healthy skincare are the
most effective ways to enhance
your natural beauty and to prevent further skin damage. Dr. Searles and his team of trained nursing
staff offers consultations for all
cosmetic and laser procedures
and skincare offered at our office.
A consultation includes a complete evaluation of your skin history, depicting your skin care
concerns and goals, and a treatment and skincare regimen based
on those areas evaluated. The
treatment and skincare options
will be described in-depth to you
so that you understand all of the
necessary information for beginning the recommended regimen.
This information includes, but is not
limited to, description of the
treatment, pre- and post- treatment protocols, risks and side effects, costs, and before and after
examples.
If an area of concern is not treatable with the technology and
therapies available at Keystone
Dermatology, we will refer you to
a qualified professional in that
field.
The consultation is designed to
provide you with all of the information necessary for you to feel
most comfortable in receiving the
benefits of these treatments and
skincare programs.
VERSION 1.1
Member of the CDA
About Dr. Searles…
Dr. Searles is dually certified by the
Royal College of Physicians of
Canada in both Internal Medicine
and Dermatology. He has been
honoured to be elected as a Fellow of the prestigious American
College of Physicians.
He is a
member of numerous National
and International medical organizations devoted to the discovery
and application of new ideas and
techniques for treating medical
and esthetic skin conditions.
Dr. Searles is a Clinical Professor in
Medicine at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Gordon Searles’ primary mission is to deliver the best care possible through the use of the latest
advances in medical research
and new technologies.
A Fellow of the ASLMS
A Fellow of the ASDS
This Information
Package is prepared
for you by:
Suite 303,
2377 - 111 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T6J 5E5
Canada
Phone: 780-424-4464
Fax:
780-424-2534
E-Mail:
[email protected]
Hours:
Monday - Thursday
7:30 am - 11:30 am
12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Friday
7:30 am - 11:30 am
We’re on the Web!
See us at:
Peer-Elected to Best Doctors in
Canada, 2008
www.drsearles.ca
A Fellow of the CDA
GORDON SEARLES, OD, MD, MSC, FRCPC, FACP, FAAD, FASDS, FASLMS
DERMATOLOGY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE PHONE: 780/424-4464 FAX: 780/424-2534 WWW.DRSEARLES.CA
PAGE 8