Skip to main content

Facial Laser Hair Removal

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Aesthetic Medicine
  • 4212 Accesses

Abstract

In the last couple of decades, a number of laser and light-based technologies have been developed for hair removal that specifically target hair follicles and allow for the potential treatment of large areas with long-lasting results. Laser hair removal works by sending a beam of laser light to a group of hair follicles. The light energy causes thermal injury to the follicles. This occurs because laser light is converted into heat as it passes through the skin and is absorbed in the target pigment melanin found in the hair follicle. This process is called selective photothermolysis. The procedure is described and possible complications discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Anderson RR, Parrish JA (1983) Selective photothermolysis: precise microsurgery by selective absorption of pulsed radiation. Science 220(4596):524–527

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Goldberg DJ, Silapunt S (2001) Histologic evaluation of a millisecond Nd: YAG laser for hair removal. Lasers Surg Med 28(2):159–161

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sadick NS (2004) Laser hair removal. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 12(2):191–200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fitzpatrick TB (1988) The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI. Arch Dermatol 124(6):869–871

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dierickx C, Alora MB, Dover JS (1999) A clinical overview of hair removal using lasers and light sources. Dermatol Clin 17(2):357–366

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wanner M (2005) Laser hair removal. Dermatol Ther 18(3):209–216

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dierickx CC (2002) Hair removal by lasers and intense pulsed light sources. Dermatol Clin 20(1):135–146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Nanni CA, Alster TS (1999) Laser-assisted hair removal: side effects of Q-switched Nd: YAG, long-pulsed ruby, and alexandrite lasers. J Am Acad Dermatol 41(2 Pt 1):165–171

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Benjamin A. Bassichis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bassichis, B.A. (2012). Facial Laser Hair Removal. In: Prendergast, P., Shiffman, M. (eds) Aesthetic Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20113-4_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-20113-4_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-20112-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-20113-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics