Hair Removal/Electrolysis
Natural Hair & Nail Care
Physicians: Plastic
life includes aging, and its most
noticeable effect first begins to
appear on our skin, especially on
our faces. But looking good, or at
least turning back the clock a few
years, has become a lot easier with
well-established use of electrolysis.
lasers are also used to treat other
skin/appearance issues, such as
removing tattoos, birthmarks, spider
veins, and freckles, and reducing or
eliminating skin discoloration (sun
damage), and the more obvious signs
of aging, a.k.a. wrinkles.
removed, and for many years, elec-
trolysis was considered the only tech-
nology to permanently do the job. But
removing unwanted hair with lasers
has proved to also work extremely
well, in most cases.
lip, sideburns, chin, cheeks, neck,
shoulders, breasts, abdomen, arms
and underarms, bikini line, back,
chest, and legs. Kalee Wolthuis, at
Southwest Michigan Dermatology,
has been an electrologist for 18 years.
About four years ago she trained and
began using laser to remove hair. She
says that while most of her work is
removing hair from women's faces,
she's also used the two technologies
on men. "I definitely see more women
than men," she says, "and most of my
work is removing hair on women's
chins and upper lips." But she's also
remove hair from men's backs, arms,
and necks. She's even removed that
unwanted hair from the tops of toes.
"I've done it all," she says.
coarse hair. "Lasers don't work
well on blonde, white or red hair,"
Wolthuis says. "In these cases, it's
best to use electrolysis."
the area, and as part of the aging
process, it's sometimes difficult
to eliminate future hair growth.
According to Wolthuis, some of this
is due to hormonal changes, both in
men and women. "People go through
different phases of life," she says.
"And most women at some point
will get facial hair, usually post
menopause."
years to eliminate her beard with
electrolysis," Wolthuis says, "and I
still see her periodically. If she'd had
laser first, it probably would have
taken six treatments followed by
a few electrolysis treatments. I've
literally seen women's lives change
because of the laser."
appearance. Laser skin resurfacing,
using a CO2 laser, is one option;
again more appropriate for fair skin
and used to treat areas affected by
past transgressions, such as sun
damage and subsequent wrinkles,
and tattoos. "Laser skin resurfacing
removes the outer layers of skin,"
says Raghu G. Elluru, M.D., FACS, at
Great Lakes Plastic & Hand Surgery.
"The new layer of skin then heals
able sun damage, this process doesn't
work as well. "Laser skin resurfacing
is not for advanced aging or darkly
pigmented skin," Dr. Elluru says.
treated. Other laser applications are
targeted to specific problem areas
such as removing tattoos, birthmarks,
scars, freckles, and keloids. The
number of treatments to successfully
improve the skin's appearance varies.
For example, to remove a tattoo or
birthmark may take five treatments;
smoothing out wrinkles can usually
be accomplished with one treatment.
Intense Pulse Light (IPL). This
procedure specifically targets skin
discoloration and unsightly brown
and red spots on the skin's surface. It
can also be used to remove hair and
wrinkles.
new laser application has emerged
called Fractional Skin Resurfacing,
used to treat acne scarring and
uneven or rough skin texture.
"Fractional laser is the new kid
on the block," Dr. Elluru says. "It
produces fractional `dots,' where the
skin in between is untreated. There's
faster healing and it uses less energy."
abdomen, arms and other places to
tighten skin.
very precisely. But the best benefit
of laser treatments is not only the
results most people achieve, but also
its noninvasive properties and little