Laser hair removal is a treatment that permanently reduces hair in areas of excessive growth. It is particularly beneficial for women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). PCOS can be a disheartening condition that not only affects women’s hormonal balance but also may affect their appearance. Alongside weight gain and acne, in some cases, it can also cause male-patterned facial hair growth and excessive body hair. This type of hair can be much thicker and denser than what is typically seen in women without PCOS, so comprehensive, consistent treatment is essential. One of the most effective hair removal devices for women dealing with this condition is Candela’s GentleMax Pro Plus laser, one of the most customizable laser hair removal technologies available today. With its dual light wavelengths, it can accommodate the full range of skin and hair tones. An added bonus is that the Candela’s cryo-cooling technology means that the GentleMax Pro Plus is the most comfortable laser for hair removal.

If you are a woman with PCOS looking for a long-lasting solution, laser hair removal with the GentleMax device can restore confidence in your body and femininity. At Beleza Plastic Surgery, we offer this innovative approach that preserves skin health while causing maximum damage to the targeted hair follicles. With every treatment session, you can expect to see results that will help you get closer to your hair removal goals.

To get started with a consultation, we invite you to call our Sewickley, PA office at (724) 759-7777 or our Pittsburgh location at (412) 877-9388. For your convenience, you can also inquire online, and a staff member at Beleza will get back to you as soon as possible. You can begin your journey toward eliminating this source of self-consciousness.

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The Effects of PCOS

PCOS is characterized by enlarged ovaries and ovarian cysts that cause an overproduction of androgen hormones like testosterone. Usually, women only have a small amount of these hormones, so any excess may significantly affect health, fertility, and/or appearance.

PCOS causes a range of symptoms aside from hair growth, including:

Many women with PCOS struggle to keep up their aesthetics with traditional methods of hair removal. Facial hair may require daily shaving, resulting in irritated, inflamed skin and frequent ingrown hairs. Other means of hair removal, like depilatory creams, can be unsafe for use on the face, and waxing and plucking can be especially painful and inconvenient. Bleaching can work for women with lighter skin and minimal facial hair, but in certain cases, it is simply not enough. Body hair is another matter entirely; women with PCOS can feel highly self-conscious while wearing certain revealing clothing. Shorts, dresses, and short sleeves may all be too uncomfortable to wear due to the excessive hair that grows back rapidly. Not only is it inconvenient, but it can be costly to buy shaving/ hair removal supplies frequently.

With CandleMax Pro Plus, women with these challenges will no longer have to worry about these burdensome issues. With a series of comfortable treatment sessions, this FDA-approved laser can destroy the root structures of each hair follicle, disabling them from creating more hair. If any hair returns, it may come back much finer than before.

GentleMax Pro Plus Technology

The GentleMax Pro Plus laser is one of the most efficient lasers for permanent hair reduction and is capable of handling all hair and skin types. It is equipped with two distinct laser wavelengths, offering customization for laser technicians to perform the safest hair removal procedures possible. One wavelength is 755 nm, an infrared wavelength that targets lighter hair on lighter skin tones, making it much more sensitive than traditional lasers that only remove darker hair. Still, the 1064 nm wavelength of this device targets thicker, darker strands and is more suitable for those with darker skin. ⁽²⁾

Convenient and Effective for Large Areas

The GentleMax Pro Plus has spot sizes ranging from 1.5 to 26 mm, allowing technicians to treat small areas with more precision and larger areas in shorter treatment times. It can accurately damage follicles present in more difficult, delicate areas such as the underarms, face, and bikini area. With large spot sizes, the laser can treat the back, legs, chest, and torso in a more timely manner. Your technician can also apply the dynamic cooling device (DCD) to the laser, a cryogen spray that promotes a more comfortable treatment while allowing for 38% more laser fluence than Candela’s previous laser model. With increased fluence and cooling spray, Beleza laser technicians can deliver more energy per area without the discomfort of other lasers. With this unique feature, they do not have to administer as many pulses to the treatment area within one session.

Treats Vascular Lesions

These specific wavelengths are especially capable of breaking down tiny blood vessels that contribute to the look of red lesions such as rosacea, spider veins, port wine stains, and various types of angiomas and hemangiomas. So, it not only causes permanent hair reduction, but the GentleMax Pro Plus rejuvenates and clears the skin of discolorations.

Candela’s Most Advanced System

The GentleMax Pro Plus is an updated version of the GentleMax Pro, equipped with every capability of the previous model and more. It administers shorter pulses (2 milliseconds), increasing its ability to target less noticeable, finer hairs and improving efficacy overall.⁽³⁾ It also emits more light pulses within a certain amount of time, an aspect known as “repetition rate.”

Personal Consultation

During your consultation at Beleza, you can discuss your hair growth concerns with a Board-certified Nurse Practitioner who will determine your personalized treatment plan based on your skin type according to the Fitzpatrick scale as well as which wavelength would be most appropriate for your hair color.. Multiple treatment sessions with the GentleMax Pro Plus are required to achieve the most effective results, so there is some level of commitment required. They will discuss the details of these treatments, including preparation and the recovery steps you will need to follow for the best outcome. You will have a chance to ask questions, so please come prepared for your consultation so you can feel confident with your decision.

If you are ready to take the next step toward attaining the skin you can feel amazing in, request a consultation online, or get in touch by calling one of our numbers below.

Preparation

Your Beleza providers will ask you to refrain from sun exposure and/or protect your skin with sunscreen for the duration of your treatment plan. Beginning at least 6 weeks before your first session, you should avoid waxing, plucking, or using depilatory creams on the treatment area/s. Refraining from these types of hair removal will allow your hair follicles to produce enough melanin for the laser pulses to target. ⁽⁴⁾ A day or two before your session, you should shave the area/s and you should not apply irritant skin products (like glycolic acid or retin-a) on the area to be treated. On the day of treatment, skin lotions, other topical products, and makeup.

Treatment Steps

Your laser technician will begin by cleansing your skin. For patients who request it, they will apply a numbing cream to the area and wait until it fully settles in and desensitizes the area. Because the Candela GentleMax PRO Plus is so comfortable, most patients find that they do not need topical numbing treatment when being treated with this device. For those who are sensitive, or who may be treating sensitive areas (like the upper lip or bikini line) Beleza offers a highly effective topical numbing cream, as well as ProNox nitrous oxide gas. After you are comfortable and ready for treatment, they will put on protective glasses and provide you with a pair before the procedure begins. They will then apply the laser to the skin, distributing one energy pulse before moving to the adjacent area immediately next to it. The cryogen spray will further eliminate the discomfort usually associated with laser hair removal.

You may feel slight pinches or stinging sensations, but it will be highly tolerable. Every pulse will immediately target the colored pigment in each hair follicle destroying the hair matrix structures beneath. If you would prefer, notify your Beleza providers that you would like to use ProNox nitrous gas during treatment to ensure a comfortable and anxiety-free laser hair removal session.

Laser Hair Removal Skincare and Results

After your laser hair removal session, your skin may be sensitive, swollen, and red, but these effects will subside within a few hours. Following your session, you should follow aftercare instructions carefully and avoid applying your usual products to the area. Your skin will then be able to recover without outside irritation. For the duration of your treatment plan, you should continue to avoid UV exposure. If you spend any time outside, you should apply and reapply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or more. After your last scheduled session of laser hair removal, around 70% of your unwanted hair will be permanently gone! Any hair growth in the area will be much finer and easier to manage – a massive advantage for women with PCOS!

To best sustain your results, your technician may schedule maintenance sessions after you complete your initial treatment plan of 6 to 10 sessions spaced 2 to 8 weeks apart. You should consult your primary care physician about other ways of treating your PCOS and its symptoms.

Cost of Laser Hair Removal in Pittsburgh

The cost of your laser hair removal treatment will depend on how many sessions you will require and the areas you would like to treat. Beleza will give you a total cost estimate during your first consultation at our office. If interested, you can inquire about our financing options that will allow you to make affordable payments to cover the costs. No matter your situation, the team at Beleza wants you to get the most out of your experience with the expert care and attentiveness you deserve.

Reach out to one of our Pennsylvania offices below, or fill out our contact form, and we will get back to you promptly about our laser hair removal services. You can also browse our website’s blog to see the other procedures and treatments we offer.

References

1. I L, Mayrin JV. Polycystic Ovarian Disease (Stein-Leventhal Syndrome). Nih.gov. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459251/
2. Ross Edward V, Domankevitz Y. Hair Removal With Blended 755/1064 nm Laser Energy. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2021;53(8):1020-1025. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23381
3. Chui YCC. Evaluating the efficacy of 2-millisecond versus 3-millisecond Pulse Duration in Laser Hair Removal using a 755 nm Alexandrite laser. The PMFA Journal. Published September 11, 2023. Accessed January 15, 2024. https://www.thepmfajournal.com/features/features/post/sponsored-content-evaluating-the-efficacy-of-2-millisecond-versus-3-millisecond-pulse-duration-in-laser-hair-removal-using-a-755-nm-alexandrite-laser
4. Vaidya T, Hohman MH, Kumar D D. Laser Hair Removal. PubMed. Published 2023. Accessed January 15, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507861/#:~:text=Evaluate%20skin%20and%20hair%20types