FAQ: Alexandrite Laser 755nm

What does the laser procedure involve?

It is important that the correct diagnosis has been made by the clinician prior to treatment, particularly when pigmented lesions are targeted, to avoid mistreatment of skin cancers such as melanoma.

• The patient must wear eye protection consisting of an opaque covering or goggles throughout the treatment session.
• Treatment consists of placing a handpiece against the surface of the skin and activating the laser. Many patients describe each pulse to feel like the snapping of a rubber band against the skin.
• A topical anaesthetic may be applied to the area but is not usually necessary.
• Skin surface cooling is applied during all hair-removal procedures. Some lasers have built-in cooling devices.
• Immediately following treatment, an ice pack may be applied to soothe the treated area.
• Care should be taken in the first few days following treatment to avoid scrubbing the area, and/or use of abrasive skin cleansers.
• A bandage or patch may help to prevent abrasion of the treated area.
• During the course of treatment, patients should protect the area from sun exposure to reduce the risk of postinflammatory pigmentation.

Are there any side effects of alexandrite laser treatment?

Side effects from alexandrite laser treatment are usually minor and may include:

• Pain during treatment (reduced by contact cooling and if necessary, topical anaesthetic)
• Redness, swelling and itching immediately after the procedure that may last a few days after treatment.
• Rarely, skin pigment may absorb too much light energy and blistering can occur. This settles by itself.
• Changes in skin pigmentation. Sometimes the pigment cells (melanocytes) can be damaged leaving darker (hyperpigmentation) or paler (hypopigmentation) patches of skin. Generally, cosmetic lasers will work better on people with lighter than darker skin tones.
• Bruising affects up to 10% of patients. It usually fades on its own.
• Bacterial infection. Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat or to prevent wound infection.
• Vascular lesions may require multiple treatments. The treatment time depends on the form, size and location of the lesions as well as the skin type.
• Small red vessels can usually be removed in only 1 to 3 sessions and are generally invisible directly after the treatment.
• Several sessions may be necessary to remove more prominent veins and spider veins.
• Laser hair removal needs multiple sessions (3 to 6 sessions or more). The number of sessions depends on the area of the body being treated, skin colour, coarseness of hair, underlying conditions such as polycystic ovaries, and sex.
• Clinicians generally recommend waiting from 3 to 8 weeks between laser sessions for hair removal.
• Depending on the area, the skin will remain completely clean and smooth for around 6 to 8 weeks after treatment; it is time for the next session when fine hairs start to grow again.
• The colour of the tattoo and the depth of the pigment influence the duration and the outcome of the laser treatment for tattoo removal.
• Multiple sessions (5 to 20 sessions) spaced at least 7 weeks apart may be required to attain favourable results.

How many laser treatments can I expect?

Vascular lesions

Hair removal

Tattoo removal