Mountain Radiance

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Mountain Radiance
Haywood Professional Park
24 Falcon Crest Lane
Clyde, NC 28721

Phone: 828.627.2711
Fax: 828.627.9946

At Mountain Radiance, we are dedicated to providing all levels of care in the aesthetic health care continuum. The focus is to be a premier aesthetic medical practice offering the latest advances in cosmetic dermatology with unsurpassed service. Achieving a fresh, healthy look without surgery requires detailed knowledge of anatomy and a keen sense of aesthetics. Our board certified medical professionals and licensed esthetics staff are here to provide the highest level of care and expertise.

State-of-the-art tools & techniques
The latest advances in cosmetic dermatology -- from customized skin care products to laser procedures and resurfacing and medical spa -- offer more opportunities than ever before to enhance your appearance and defy the aging process. At Mountain Radiance, we're proud to offer the most state-of-the-art services technology has to offer.

Unsurpassed service
While leading-edge technology is essential, we think providing a high level of care is equally important. Beginning with your first phone call to Mountain Radiance and extending through to treatment and follow-up, our goal is to provide an outstanding, unsurpassed overall experience. Each of us is devoted to creating a successful outcome for you, and we offer our services in a safe, caring environment.

Laser Hair Reduction

"Hello Laser. Goodbye Razor"

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For anyone who is tired of shaving, plucking, waxing, chemical depilatories and electrolysis, the answer is simple - laser hair removal.

These technoplogies can be used to remove hair from all body parts including the chin, upper lip, cheeks, legs, arms, underarms, trunk and bikini area.

Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure. It is a non-invasive, convenient method to reduce hair growth.

Mountain Radiance proudly offers the Lumenis LightSheer laser. Among laser and light-based devices, Lumenis LightSheer Diode Laser Systems are clinically proven and highly regarded for providing safety, superior results and patient satisfaction.

Laser Hair Removal Technique
Depending on the area being treated, the process may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours to complete. The most commonly used lasers utilize a low energy laser beam. This beam passes through the patient’s skin and is attracted to the pigment of the hair. The energy passes down the hair shaft and is absorbed by hair follicles that are in the active growth phase, thereby disabling the hair follicle in the deeper layer of the skin. The hair follicles that are in dormant phase are not affected by the treatment. In most cases, minimal pain should be experienced and no anesthesia is required.

Laser Hair Removal Benefits
*A non-invasive, gentle technique that reduces undesirable hair from most parts of the body
*Treats larger areas effectively because it disables more than one hair at a time
May make skin color and complexion more uniform
*Minimal discomfort
*Replaces waxing, electrolysis, shaving and bleaching
*No downtime

Laser Hair Removal Considerations
*Laser hair removal is an ongoing process that requires multiple sessions because it only affects actively growing hair, and not all hair follicles are active at the same time. In addition, high energy levels are avoided so as to minimize the risk of injury to the adjacent skin
*Occasionally patients may experience slight redness of the skin or mild swelling around the hairs
*Sunscreen is recommended for any area treated that may be exposed to the sun
*Patients with darker skin may not respond well due to inadequate discrepancy between skin and hair colors
*Blonde or gray/white hair is less responsive due to lack of ample pigment in the hair

Preoperative Consultation
Patients interested in laser hair removal should consult a physician who will make an assessment of:

* Skin type (i.e., ability to tan or to burn)
* Hair color
* Thickness and location of hair
* Presence of tan
* Previous hair removal methods
* Medical history including ovarian or thyroid disease, medications, history of abnormal scarring, history of cold sore (herpes simplex) outbreaks in the treatment area, or past isotretinoin use
* Presence of tattoos or moles in the treatment area

After the preoperative evaluation, the appropriate laser and treatment settings can be determined. Realistic patient expectations should be discussed including the need for multiple treatment sessions, the potential need for maintenance treatments, and the possibility of variable responses to treatment.

Pretreatment Instructions

Before treatment, patients are advised to avoid tanning and sunless tanners. Broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher should be used. No plucking, waxing, or electrolysis should be done, although shaving or depilatory creams can be used. The site to be treated may be shaved one to two days prior to laser treatment. A prophylactic (protective) oral antiviral medication may be started the day prior to treatment to suppress the possibility of developing a herpes simplex infection in the treatment area. An oral antibiotic may be prescribed if the nasal or perianal skin is to be treated.

Laser Treatment

On the day of treatment, the area should be clean and free of cosmetics. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied prior to treatment. Most lasers have a cooling device in the form of a cool gel, refrigerant spray, or water-cooled contact piece that lessens the patient's discomfort. The device should protect the skin from excessive heating as well as the potential of skin darkening or lightening. Everyone in the room must wear protective eyewear during the laser procedure.

In general, three or more treatments are required at each site to achieve permanent hair growth reduction. Darker hair responds best to the laser, while lighter hair (white, gray, or red) is less responsive. Topical medications can be used in an effort to increase the receptiveness of lighter hair to the laser treatment.

The laser pulses feel like the snapping of a rubber band or warm pinpricks against the skin. Ideally, the immediate response is vaporization of the hair shaft. Slight swelling and redness around the hair follicles appear within a few minutes. Ice packs may be applied to the skin following treatment, and over-the-counter pain relief medicine may be taken as needed before and after treatment. If localized blistering occurs, a topical antibiotic ointment is applied once or twice daily until healed. A mild topical steroid cream may be applied to reduce swelling and redness. Patients are instructed to avoid sun-exposure and to use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with SPF 30 after the laser treatments. Cosmetics may be applied to the treated skin.

Side Effects

Side effects of laser hair removal treatments may include pain, perifollicular edema (swelling around the hair follicle due to excessive fluid), and erythema (redness and inflammation) lasting one to three days. Blistering, herpes simplex outbreaks, and bacterial infections also can occur. Temporary skin lightening or darkening, especially in darker skin types, or in patients with a recent tan, may be seen. Permanent skin pigment change or scarring is very rare. Loss of freckles or lightening of moles in the treatment area may occur, as well as darkening or lightening of tattoos.

Laser Hair Efficacy

The percentage of hairs removed per session varies in different body locations, with areas of thin skin (for example, bikini and armpits) generally showing a better response than areas of thick skin (for example, the back and chin). Approximately 10-25 percent reduction in hair growth can be expected with each treatment. Treatments are repeated every four to eight weeks. The hair that re-grows tends to be lighter and finer in texture.

Laser Hair Treatments

Laser hair reduction should be performed under the direct supervision of a physician who is trained to help manage hair and skin problems.

® 2008 Mountain Radiance