GENTLELASE
< back to patient services

Laser treatment for:
Hair removal
Pigmented lesions (freckles, age spots, and melasma)
Leg veins
Hemangiomas
Blue facial veins
Wrinkles

HOW DOES THE LASER TREATMENT WORK?
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING TREATMENT?
DOES IT HURT?
HOW MANY TREATMENT SESSIONS WILL I NEED?
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR TREATMENT?
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER TREATMENT?
ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?
WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE AFTER TREATMENT?
ARE THESE TREATMENTS COVERED BY INSURANCE?

HOW DOES THE LASER TREATMENT WORK?
The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates deep into skin tissue where it delivers a controlled amount of therapeutic heat. Candela's patented Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD™) technology protects the upper layers of your skin with a cooling burst of cryogen. Together, the long-pulse laser and DCD cooling offer optimal treatment with minimal side effects. [back to top]

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING TREATMENT?
Treatment will take place in your practitioner's office. You will wear safety eyewear to protect your eyes from the laser light. Your practitioner will guide the laser to the treatment areas with a small handheld probe. Each laser pulse may be preceded and followed by a short pulse of cooling spray. A treatment could take as little as a few minutes to as long as an hour, depending on the area and condition being treated.
[back to top]

DOES IT HURT?
Some patients may feel a slight discomfort with the laser pulse, sometimes described as the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. This discomfort is minimized by Candela's DCD cooling. For some patients, a topical anesthetic may be used prior to treatment. Be sure to discuss this with your practitioner. [back to top]

HOW MANY TREATMENT SESSIONS WILL I NEED?
The number of sessions depends on the treatment you require and the condition of your skin. For hair removal, most people require at lease 2 to 3 treatments, as the process is only effective when the hair follicle is in its active growth phase. Other conditions may clear in as few as one treatment, but many factors impact the efficacy of individual laser treatments including the severity of the condition being treated. [back to top]

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR TREATMENT?
Patients scheduled for hair removal should avoid electrolysis or hair waxing for six weeks prior to treatment. If you have had a history of perioral herpes and are scheduled for facial hair treatment, prophylactic antiviral therapy may be prescribed. Also, any hair should be shaved, and your skin should be thoroughly cleaned and dried, removing any makeup, cream, or oils on its surface before laser treatment. [back to top]

WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER TREATMENT?
Patients should avoid sun exposure before and after treatment, and should apply sun block (SPF 30 or above) when going outdoors. [back to top]

ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?
Your risks are minimal. Side effects may include purpura (a laser bruise), redness, blister, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and swelling in the treated area - these usually do not last more than a few days. Permanent side effects, such as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation or scarring, are rare. [back to top]

WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD I TAKE AFTER TREATMENT?
After laser treatment, avoid sun exposure. In the first few days after treatment, don't scrub or rinse the treated areas with abrasive skin cleansers. Your practitioner may advise additional precautions. [back to top]

ARE THESE TREATMENTS COVERED BY INSURANCE?
Most insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic procedures. Some carriers will, however, cover the treatment of disfiguring birthmarks such as hemangiomas. Consult your insurance carrier for conclusive information. [back to top]