The treatment requires no topical anesthetic cream. The laser has a patented cooling system to offer you comfort during the procedure using the smaller ET hand piece. When using the larger HS hand piece on large body areas the vacuum-assisted technology allows for more comfort as well. You may experience a warm or tingling sensation during the treatment or what feels like the flick of a rubber-band on your skin.

Dark, coarse hair responds best to treatment. It is important to treat the area during the hair growth cycle. Treatments are recommended every 4-8 weeks. Lumenis has revolutionized the Gold Standard LightSheer with vacuum-assist technology and by dramatically increasing the spot size to 22 x 35 mm.

The LightSheer enables us to treat backs and legs comfortably in only 15 to 20 minutes with no topical anesthetic. Treatment times are decreased by 75% compared to other laser systems.

Coachlight Clinic & Spa at Des Moines Plastic Surgery™ is the only plastic surgery practice in Des Moines that owns the Lumenis Light Sheer Duet Hair removal laser which is considered the “gold standard” of laser hair removal systems. We have the LightSheer ET handpiece with ChillTip™ continuous contact cooling for treatment of facial hair, bikini area, and underarms.

The Laser Center also has the NEW LightSheer HS handpiece, which is the largest spot size (treatment head) with an integrated vacuum-assisted technology for nearly painless, rapid treatment of large areas such as the legs and back. There is no better or faster technology on the market today. Coachlight Clinic & Spa offers you the best and most advanced treatment options on the market today for laser hair removal.

The system emits a near-infrared laser light that is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or turned on, for only a fraction of a second. The duration of each pulse is just long enough to damage the follicle, while the system’s unique, patented contact-cooling hand piece, the ChillTip, helps protect the skin by conductive cooling during the laser energy delivery.

Averaged throughout the treatments, a 15-20% reduction is received during each session. Post treatment reactions vary depending on the coarseness, density, and color of the hair and area being treated.

Hair grows in three distinct stages in the follicle. The active growth stage is the Anagen stage. The next stage of growth is the dormant stage which is called the Catagen stage. The last stage of growth is called the Telogen stage which is when the hair follicle is shedding or falling out. The laser works on the hair follicle when it is in the growth or Anagen stage. That is why several treatments are needed in order to see hair reduction.

The LightSheer Diode Laser System was designed from the ground up for laser hair removal, making it the standard in the industry. This is why we purchased this laser. Lumenis has been in the business of making medical and cosmetic lasers for more than 30 years.

The LightSheer Duet was specifically designed for hair reduction. It is used only for hair removal which is different from other laser hair reduction machines which claim to do several other “laser” type treatments. (i.e. skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, broken capillaries, etc.)

The LightSheer Duet Laser System’s design provides for enhanced comfort during treatment, increased speed and accuracy and improved safety. Since the system uses a unique cooling hand piece, it minimizes skin irritation that other methods may create. Since it is non-invasive (no needles to penetrate the skin), the risk of introducing bacteria into the skin is reduced.

Due to the system being fast, it allows for larger areas to be treated, considerably increasing the efficiency of the hair removal process. Finally, the LightSheer Duet Laser is a precise instrument that can be adjusted to damage only the hair follicle while minimally affecting the surrounding skin.

The LightSheer Duet laser system safely and effectively treats all skin types. For darker skin types, appropriate laser settings are adjusted to prevent damage to the skin. It does take longer per treatment time to treat darker skin types. Using the appropriate treatment parameters, however, people with all skin types can benefit from laser hair removal with the LightSheer Duet.

It is extremely important for the treated area to not be in the sun or tanned during your treatments. To get the most effective treatment possible and avoid complications we ask that you avoid sun exposure, real or artificial including self tanners. We will ask that you use a 30-45 SPF and to cover the area being treated.

There is not ONE laser that works on white, red, or gray hair. The laser is more effective if the hair is dark and coarse because the laser is attracted to the melanin/pigmentation of the hair.

To determine what skin type you are, the Fitzpatrick Classification Scale is often used. See below. The LightSheer Duet works on all skin types. Please be aware that if you are a Skin Type IV, V, or VI, there is a point when the hairs become too light and fine and there is no longer a difference between the hair and the skin color to see continued results.

Fitzpatrick Classification Scale

For more information assessing your Fitzpatrick Skin Type please see the Skin Cancer Foundation website.

Results are typically long lasting, and the treatment can even achieve permanent hair removal in some cases.

The LightSheer laser has been cleared by the FDA for hair removal and hair reduction on all skin types. To achieve a satisfactory level of clearance, 6 to 8 treatments are typically required 6 to 8 weeks apart. The LightSheer Duet was the first to be cleared by the FDA for eliminating hair. That is defined by the FDA as 85% or greater hair reduction.

After 6 to 8 treatments, there may be fine and lighter colored hairs that do not respond to laser treatments. Also, months or years after your last treatment, you may see new hair growth. This may be caused by stress, pregnancy, allergies, medications, menopause, etc. More treatments will be needed in order to treat that new hair growth.

Before coming in for a treatment, all hair must be shaved to the skin. A $25 shave charge will be assessed each time the laser technician has to shave the area. The hairs must be shaved because the heat of the laser is directed to the hair in the follicle which then effectively disables the root.

You must refrain from tweezing, threading, sugaring, and waxing a minimum of 2 weeks before a laser hair reduction treatment on the face. If you are doing any other parts of the body, a minimum of 4 weeks is required. If it is your first treatment on a large area of the body we may ask you to leave a 1 in by 1 in patch of the most dense area of the hair so we can assess coarseness and color of the hair.

During the laser hair reduction treatments, you cannot tweeze or wax the treatment area. You may shave the area as often as needed though. For the best results and for your safety we ask that you keep your skin as light as possible which means refrain from sun exposure (includes self tanners, artificial tanning, and sun tanning) to the treatment area and use 30-45 SPF lotion or greater.

Laser hair reduction treatment can be done on virtually any area of the body that has hair. Below is a list of areas of the body where laser hair reduction treatments are done at Coachlight Clinic & Spa.

Small Areas:
Upper lip, chin, ears, unibrow, hands, feet, sideburns, navel/trail, breast/areola only, female chest, cheeks.

Medium Areas:
Front of neck, back of neck, shoulders, upper lip & chin, standard bikini, forearms, lower back, upper back, underarms.

Large Areas:
Full back, full male chest, full arm, brazilian bikini, buttocks, lower leg, full leg, upper thighs, abdomen, full face.