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Laser Hair Removal Specialists

East Bay Women's Health

OB-GYNs located in Oakland, CA

If you're not happy with shaving, tweezing, or waxing to remove unwanted hair, laser hair removal may be an option worth considering. East Bay Women’s Health offers laser hair removal for patients in Oakland and Alameda, California and the surrounding areas.

Laser Hair Removal Q & A

What are the benefits of laser hair removal?

Lasers have been used as cosmetic treatments to effectively remove unwanted hair from areas such as the face, leg, arm, underarm, bikini line, and other areas. Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that requires training in order to perform it safely and properly. It should only be performed by a qualified professional.

The benefits of laser hair removal are vast and can include:

  • Precision – The lasers are able to selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.
  • Speed - Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second, and in that time it can treat many different hairs all at once. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas, such as the upper lip, can be treated in less than a minute, and large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour.
  • Permanence - Most patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to seven sessions.

How does someone prepare for laser hair removal?

Before undergoing laser hair removal, the person should not pluck, wax, or use electrolysis on the area to be treated for about six weeks prior to the procedure. It is also recommended to avoid excess sun exposure for six weeks before and after treatment. Sun exposure can make laser hair removal less effective and makes complications after treatment more likely. Immediately before the procedure, the hair meant to undergo treatment will be trimmed to just a few millimeters above the skin surface. The laser equipment will be adjusted according to the color, thickness, and location of the hair being treated, as well as the skin color.

What is recovery from laser hair removal like?

When the procedure is completed, the patient may be given ice packs, anti-inflammatory creams or lotions, or cold water to ease any discomfort. Potential swelling and redness will fade within a few hours. The patient may schedule their next treatment four to six weeks later. Over the next month, the treated hair will fall out. Wear sunscreen for the following month to help prevent temporary changes in the color of the treated skin.

Insurance Providers

Our offices accept many commercial insurance plans. Please contact us for questions about insurance.

Aetna / US Healthcare - non HMO
Blue Cross
Blue Shield of California
Cigna
Hill Physicians Medical Group
Humana
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
United Healthcare
United Healthcare Student Resources