Get Your Ideal Look With Laser Hair Removal

Do you find yourself shaving daily to fight unattractive stubble only to notice your hair growing in what feels like a few hours? Do you wish there was a hair removal technique that was virtually painless, could save you money in the long run, and offered a long-lasting solution to unwanted hair? If so, laser hair removal may be the perfect treatment for you. It's just one of many top-quality treatments available at Refresh Evolution in Pitt Meadows, BC.

What Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is one of the best ways to permanently address unwanted hair on any part of your body. It uses advanced laser technology to target the melanin pigment in your hair follicles. When the laser comes into contact with the follicles, the intense heat is absorbed and the follicles are destroyed, which drastically affects hair production.

This treatment is typically spread out over a personalized treatment plan to effectively remove hair growth during your body's entire natural hair growth cycle. Most patients see their ideal results appear in approximately 6-8 treatments.

Which Body Parts Can Be Treated?

Thanks to its advanced technology, modern laser treatment is safe for almost every part of your body. The only part of your body which is always avoided is your eye area. This is due to the potential damage the laser could cause to your sight if it is used too close to your eyes.

However, other areas on your face--including your forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and chin--are safe to treat. You'll wear glasses during your treatment to protect your eyes when the laser is activated.

This treatment is most commonly used on the face, underarms, and bikini line. These areas respond well to treatment and, in many cases, long-lasting or permanent hair growth reduction is seen at the end of a treatment plan.

However, this treatment is also highly effective on areas like the chest, back, and legs. Your appointment length will depend on the size of the target area. For smaller areas such as the upper lip or underarms, an appointment can last between 10-20 minutes. For larger areas such as the back or legs, most appointments last at least an hour to precisely treat all hair follicles.

Benefits

This treatment offers you the best approach to long-lasting hair reduction over a relatively short period of time. When you think about the time you spend shaving in the shower each week or the money you spend for regular hair removal appointments, you realize that keeping unwanted hair at bay is a costly, time-consuming process.

Reducing the amount of hair your body produces by inhibiting follicle activity is the most effective way to ensure that you won't need to worry about stubble anymore. You'll save both time and money by investing in laser hair treatments. Best of all, you'll see your confidence grow as you enjoy your smooth, hair-free skin.

Never worry about whether you shaved before a workout or dread a painful waxing appointment before a big event again. Once you commit to this treatment, you'll find yourself feeling more at home in your own skin as you spend less time worrying about how to get rid of unwanted hair and more time enjoying the important things in life.

How Does It Work?

This treatment is typically performed over several appointments to achieve best results. Although the treatment process is relatively simple, there are important steps to follow during preparation and recovery which will affect the success of your appointments.

You should plan to consult your doctor before pursuing treatment and carefully follow any additional instructions they provide to ensure the best results possible.

Consultation

The first step in your journey to smooth skin is an initial consultation with your doctor. This gives your doctor a chance to examine your areas of concern, evaluate your hair and skin, and determine your candidacy for treatment. In addition, it offers you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about what you should expect in terms of treatment, recovery, and final results.

If your doctor approves you for treatment, they'll give you instructions on how to prepare for your first appointment. Make sure that you follow these instructions to achieve your ideal results and to avoid any side effects.

Preparation

When it comes to this treatment, there are several important steps you should take to prepare for each appointment in your treatment plan. First, you should drink plenty of water to keep your skin healthy and hydrated, which will help it heal more quickly.

Your doctor will ask you to stop taking medications which may interact negatively with the laser technology, so make sure to do so 2-3 weeks before treatment.

Similarly, you should avoid skincare products with retinols for at least 7 days before treatment. Your doctor may also instruct you to stop using products from your normal skincare routine if the ingredients are not recommended to use before or after laser treatment.

Start With Sun Care

When preparing for any treatment which affects your skin, it's important to begin with basic sun protection. It's estimated that over 90% of all common skin concern--including wrinkles, dark spots, and skin cancer--are caused by harmful sun exposure.

To shield your skin from destructive UV rays, apply sunscreen daily and avoid direct sun exposure. If you plan to be outdoors for an extended period of time, apply sunscreen every 4 hours. Before laser treatment, avoid darkening your skin by tanning outdoors, in a tanning bed, or with at-home tanning products.

Tanning and Lasers

Since the laser targets the melanin in your hair, skin which is darker than your normal shade could cause the heat of the laser to be distributed in the area surrounding the hair follicles.

While there are lasers that can safely target hair in skin of every tone, doctors advise that you try to remain as close to your natural shade as possible before a treatment. In addition, you should try to avoid getting a sunburn, which can be irritated by the laser during your appointment.

Avoid Hair Removal Treatments

The main goal of laser hair removal is to inhibit your hair follicles and stop most hair growth within the treated area. This requires there to be existing hair to target with the laser. Since hair removal techniques like waxing, threading, and plucking pull the hair from the skin by its root, they leave no follicles to treat.

Since laser treatments follow the natural hair growth cycle of your body, this means that you could need to reschedule your appointment and that your treatment plan could be longer than normal as you wait for your hair to grow.

It's best to stop techniques like waxing at least 4 weeks before your appointment to ensure that an adequate amount of hair has grown and that the follicles can be targeted. If you're worried about enduring itchy stubble for a few weeks, you'll be happy to know that shaving is allowed since it doesn't affect the hair follicle.

Shave Before Your Appointment

Most people think that since waxing is prohibited, shaving is also restricted by your doctor before your appointment. In reality, shaving the target area right before your appointment is one of the most important steps of your preparation.

While you need your hair to grow before your appointment, having long hairs above the surface of your skin is not ideal for treatment with lasers as they increase your risk of burns. You want to shave your hair as close to the skin as possible. Don't worry--the laser will be able to target your shaved hair, resulting in smooth, hair-free skin.

Be Kind to Your Skin

Although treatment itself is painless, the process of destroying the hair follicles with high heat can leave your skin tender and swollen for a couple days. This is normal, but you can reduce the amount of irritation you may experience by avoiding any new, untested products or harsh exfoliants for about a week before your laser treatment.

Keep your skin healthy with a gentle, soothing skincare routine and avoid trying new products which may cause your skin to react poorly. In addition, avoid exfoliating your skin for several days before treatment to prevent unnecessary irritation.

Treatment

On the day of your appointment, you should clean the target area. If you are having your face or underarms treated, avoid wearing makeup, face creams, or deodorant since the area must be product-free before treatment. Your doctor will ensure that your target areas are shaved and clean, then apply a numbing gel to your skin to keep you comfortable.

Once your skin is numb, your doctor will use the handheld laser device to direct a concentrated beam through your skin and into your hair follicles. When the laser beam is activated, you may feel a light, warm sensation that many patients compare to a rubber band snapping gently on your skin.

This sensation means that the treatment is effectively targeting your hair follicles and should be completely painless thanks to the numbing gel. Depending on the area being treated, your appointment can last between 15 minutes for the upper lip to over an hour for the legs or chest.

Recovery

Once your treatment is complete, you'll be free to return to your normal schedule with zero downtime. You may notice that your treated area is mildly swollen, which is a sign that the laser was successful in reaching the hair follicles.

Swelling normally reduces within 24 hours of treatment. You can ice the area or apply a Benadryl cream to address any irritation. It's important to protect your skin and prevent hyperpigmentation by avoiding sun exposure for 2 weeks after treatment. You'll wait about 6 weeks before your next treatment to allow your skin to fully heal.

As your target area heals, you may notice some light hair shedding, which is normal. You may also see hair which did not seem to be affected by your treatment. This hair is usually part of the next hair growth cycle, which progresses for several months as some follicles produce hair and some remain dormant.

Your laser treatment will target your follicles over the course of this entire process. You should shave before your next treatment and follow your doctor's recovery directions after every appointment until your treatment plan is complete.

Results

After your treatment plan is complete, you should see your final results within 6 weeks. Your skin should be smooth and hair-free--no more stubble or missed hair after your shaving session!

For the next 6-12 months, forget about unwanted hair in your treated areas and enjoy life to the fullest. If you begin to see sparse hair growth in your target area, you can schedule a maintenance appointment. Most patients find that 1-2 appointments per year are sufficient to maintain their ideal results and keep them looking and feeling their best.

How Long Does It Last?

Once you have finished your personalized treatment plan, your hair growth should be greatly reduced. For most patients, hair growth is non-existent for at least 6 months up to 1 year, and with every subsequent laser treatment, your hair grows less and less.

Some patients report that the effects of their treatment plan are permanent. When you think of the possibility of a lifetime of time and money saved on traditional hair removal, you'll understand why so many people choose laser hair removal to achieve long-lasting results.

Am I an Ideal Candidate?

Laser hair removal is a treatment suitable for almost every man or woman seeking an effective, long-lasting hair removal option. Thanks to advances in technology over the past decade, there are lasers that can safely treat every skin color and almost every part of the body.

While selecting and finishing a treatment plan is a commitment, it's also one of the best ways to get smoother skin and say goodbye to stubble.

This treatment may not be ideal for those with extremely sensitive skin, fresh sunburn, or a dark tan. It may also not be ideal for those who recently had other cosmetic treatments or procedures in the same target area--it's best to allow your skin time to heal before beginning laser hair treatments.

Finally, this treatment may not be as effective on those with red, blonde, or gray hair. These hair colors lack large amounts of the melanin pigment which attracts the laser to the follicle and, as a result, you may find that this treatment does not meet your needs. You should consult your doctor to determine your candidacy for this treatment.

Are You Done With Dealing With Hair?

If you experience unwanted hair growth on any part of your body, you know how much this common concern can affect your self-esteem. You may spend social events worrying about whether you shaved your underarms or lose valuable vacation time trying to wax away the hair that ruins your swimsuit style.

Hair removal can easily become a repetitive, necessary part of our daily lives, but with laser hair removal, you can reclaim that lost time and boost your confidence over the course of a treatment plan designed for you.

Choosing this treatment can give you the satisfaction of that smooth, freshly shaved feeling all year long. If you're ready to learn more, contact the professionals at Refresh Evolution in Pitt Meadows, BC to schedule your initial consultation today! We look forward to helping you meet your hair removal goals.

by sales@refreshevolutionfranchise.com

Cryotherapy: What Does It Treat?

If you are unhappy with spots on your skin like moles, age spots, skin tags, and more, you might be wondering what your options for ridding yourself of them could be. At Refresh Evolution in Pitt Meadows and Port Moody, BC, we offer one such option in the form of cryotherapy. This technique uses extreme cold to freeze away unwanted imperfections and leave behind only smooth, spotless skin. It can treat a wide variety of skin spots, but how does cryotherapy work, what does it treat, and is it right for you?

What Is Cryotherapy?

When you hear the word "cryotherapy," you might picture science-fiction-like tanks in which people subject themselves to extreme cold. The reality is much simpler. Technically, the word refers to any medical treatment that uses cold temperatures. It can be applied to cold chambers, to treatments like CoolSculpting, and to the treatment we'll look at in this article.

At Refresh Evolution, we use a form of cryotherapy that employs a technique called "cryo-necrosis," meaning it uses rapid freezing to destroy unwanted tissue. Using cryotherapy technology in the form of a unique pen, called the FreezPen, that applies this cold to the desired area of treatment, we can immediately freeze it, killing the unwanted tissue and leaving behind clear skin.

How Does It Work?

Our process employs the FreezPen, which uses cryogenic nitrous oxide or NO2 gas. This gas is compressed at a very high pressure of 725PSI. When that pressure is released, the temperature of the nitrous oxide drops rapidly as it expands thanks to a scientific principle called the Joule-Thomson effect, a thermodynamic process that occurs when a liquid moves from a high-pressure to a low-pressure environment.

The pen is placed over the desired area of treatment and then releases a jet of this gas, which emerges from the pen and expands at a temperature of around -89°C. This immediately freezes the treated area, effectively destroying any lesion there. This happens because when cells freeze, the water inside them crystalizes. When that happens, the water expands, bursting the unwanted cells and killing them. The body then eliminates the cells over the course of a few weeks.

Why Nitrous Oxide?

Some similar treatments use liquid nitrogen, or N2, over NO2. N2 might have a lower temperature than N20, but N20 is actually safer and just as effective as its liquid counterpart. This is because cell destruction in the growths targeted by this treatment occurs at -60°C. While N2O is -195°C, the -89°C of nitrous oxide is more than enough to freeze lesions.

In fact, the extra cold provided by liquid nitrogen is more likely to damage the tissue surrounding the area of treatment. It also increases the risk of pigmentation damage and other undesirable effects. The FreezPen uses nitrous oxide in part because it can treat lesions without damaging the skin around them. In addition, the FreezPen itself can hyper-target small lesions and treat them without impacting the surrounding tissue.

What Is the Treatment Like?

The first step in this and any aesthetic treatment is a consultation that will help you create a treatment plan that suits your desires and your skin's needs. Once you arrive for your treatment, you might be surprised at how quick, easy, and painless the treatment is. Our practitioner will just hold the pen to the area of treatment and apply the extreme cold therapy.

It takes just a few minutes to complete, and because this treatment is 100% non-invasive, you can return to your normal day immediately.

If you are concerned about pain, you'll be pleased to know that almost all people who undergo this treatment report minimal discomfort. The intense cold used for cryotherapy instantly numbs the treated area, heading off any potential pain.

What Can I Expect After Treatment?

As mentioned above, because this is a non-invasive procedure, you'll be able to stroll out of our office just a few minutes after it's complete. The treated lesion, it cells already killed, will slowly fall off over the course of the two weeks to a month as new skin forms beneath it. Some lesions will take a bit longer to disappear, but most will fall off over time after just a single treatment. Larger ones may require two treatments to achieve optimal results, though.

There are a few things to keep in mind about caring for the treated area as the treatment works its magic. In the days and weeks after treatment, take care to:

• Wash the treated area with unscented soap and water daily
• Leave the area uncovered (if there is bleeding, a simple bandage is okay)
• Apply Vaseline or another petroleum jelly
• Refrain from using scented skincare products, including soap and lotion, on the area until it has healed

Follow those simple rules, and your treatment will result in smooth skin with no evidence that you ever had a treatment!

What Can Cryotherapy Treat?

Our FreezPen can treat just about any non-malignant skin lesions. Below, we'll lay out some of the more common lesions treated by this form of cold therapy.

Dark Spots

Dark spots on the skin are a result of a condition called hyperpigmentation. This occurs when an area of the skin produces more melanin, which gives skin its color, than the rest of your skin. It's nothing to worry about medically speaking and can result from such diverse things as a tattoo, a sun tan, or medication side effects. Whatever the cause of dark spots, the FreezPen can clear them away.

Liver Spots

Liver spots, also called age spots, occur with the most regularity in people with fair skin as they age. These small, dark areas vary in size and usually occur in areas that have been most exposed to the sun over the years. They are extremely common in adults over 50 years of age and, while nothing to worry about, can be erased with our cold treatment.

Warts

Warts are small growths that take on the appearance of a solid blister or a tiny head of cauliflower on the skin. They're caused by viruses in the human papillomavirus, or HPV, family, and can appear just about anywhere on the body. Depending on the location and the thickness of the skin, they can vary in shape, size, and texture.

Warts can be difficult to get rid of because while they appear to sit atop the skin, they actually have a root that goes beneath the skin. If the root isn't killed, the virus will often generate a new wart.

With our freeze pen, we can freeze both the wart itself and its root system, so it doesn't come back. Keep in mind though, that HPV is carried in the blood. Our treatment can rid your skin of the wart and ensure it won't regenerate in that spot, but it is not a cure for the HPV virus.

Skin Tags

Skin tags are harmless growths that are connected to the skin by a thin stalk called a peduncle. They are equally common in men and women but are most common in people over the age of 50. While they can appear anywhere on the body, they most often pop up in areas where your skin folds, such as the armpits, thighs, eyelids, and neck.

They're made up largely of collagen and blood vessels, but scientists are still unsure what exactly causes them. While they are harmless and small skin tags may fall off on their own, larger ones can be painful if they're in a spot that is constantly pinched or squeezed. Luckily, freezing them away is an effective and permanent treatment.

Moles

Non-cancerous moles appear as raised, often dark spots on the skin. They occur when skin cells start to grow in a cluster rather than being spread evenly across the surface of the skin.

Most are oval or round in shape, brown, and less than a quarter-inch in diameter, although they can be larger. They can be frozen off, though larger moles may require more than one treatment. Just be sure to have any new or abnormally-shaped moles checked by your doctor first.

Keratosis

Karatosis is another common non-cancerous skin growth that, like skin tags, tend to show up more as people get older. They are usually black, brown, or light brown in color, but unlike moles, they take on a waxy or scaly appearance. They most often appear on the torso, neck, and head and often come in clusters, although single keratosis growths are also possible.

They're also more uncomfortable than many other benign skin conditions. They may itch and some can bleed if irritated by clothing. Doctors are still unsure what causes keratosis growths, but some suspect genetics play a strong role. Whatever their cause, a quick freezing treatment will take care of them.

Angiomas

Angiomas are small, mole-like growths that result from an overgrowth of capillaries in the skin. The most common type are cherry angiomas, so named due to their bright red color.

Like many of the other skin issues listed above, they tend to show up as people age and are most common in adults over age 30. Doctors don't know exactly what causes these small red spots, but age and genetics both seem to factor in. They can be easily removed with a single cold treatment.

Fibromas

A fibroma is another benign skin growth, this one made up of fibrous or connective tissue. Like moles and skin cells or angiomas and capillaries, fibromas occur when these connective tissues group in an abnormal cluster. They often appear in the wake of an injury as the body creates new tissue to heal.

They can look a bit like skin tags when on some parts of the body, but their appearance can change depending upon where they are. Fibromas may be itchy or sensitive to the touch and can bleed if irritated. If you have fibromas that are bothering you or you just want to be rid of them for aesthetic reasons, the FreezPen is an effective treatment.

Milium Cysts

Milium cysts, or milia, are tiny white bumps that most often appear on the nose and cheeks. Often appearing in groups, they happen when keratin, a strong protein found in hair, skin, and nail cells, becomes trapped under the skin in deposits. They can occur in people of all ages but are actually most common in babies.

When they appear in adults, they are often associated with injury or skin irritation of another kind, like poison ivy, burns, or sun damage. While not itchy or painful, milia can become irritated by cloth or shaving. These tiny cysts, which are typically only one or two millimeters in size, can be easily frozen off with a single dose of the FreezPen.

Molluscum Contagiosum

Like HPV and warts, molluscum contagiosum is the result of a viral skin infection. It manifests as small, round, painless bumps on the skin that can be as small as a pinhead and as large as a pencil eraser. Molluscum contagiosum is particularly troublesome though, because if these bumps are scratched or otherwise injured, the infection can spread to the surrounding skin and result in more bumps.

It's most common in children but can also occur in adults, particularly those with weakened immune systems. Freezing these bumps can also kill the virus in them so it doesn't spread to the skin around it.

What Can't Be Treated With Cryotherapy?

Please keep in mind that any suspicious skin spots, pre-cancerous spots, or malignant skin growths can only be treated by your dermatologist. If you discover something that looks like a new mole on your body, you should visit your dermatologist. If you have any suspicious spots that you cannot identify, a visit to the dermatologist is also in order.

Likewise, any existing lesions or spots that seem to be changing shape or growing should be looked at by a doctor prior to consulting with us. After it's cleared by a doctor as nothing to worry about, give us a call to discuss your treatment options.

Because this is a non-invasive treatment, it is safe for nearly everyone. It is important to note that there are a few exceptions, though. For example, it's not a treatment that small children should undergo, but older children and adults will have no issues. Smaller children are more sensitive to pain, and while adult patients report almost zero discomfort, it may be uncomfortable for smaller children.

Also, if the spot you want to be treated is in an area with hair, you should be aware that cold therapy like this can sometimes damage hair follicles and cause hair to stop growing in the treated area.

Conclusion

Our FreezGun can take care of most superficial skin lesions with ease, and you'll leave looking and feeling great. It's also such a quick process that you can easily undergo a treatment over your lunch break and head right back to work when you're done. It's nearly painless, almost never leaves a scar, and can rid you of painful and annoying skin tags, fibromas, moles, warts, and plenty more. If this sounds great to you, give us a call at Refresh Evolution in Pitt Meadows and Port Moody, BC and set up a consultation. You'll be looking and feeling like your best self in no time!

by sales@refreshevolutionfranchise.com