Health risks surface as laser hair removal skyrockets in popularity
Laser Hair Removal
MAITLAND -- Eight years ago, laser hair removal wasn't popular enough to even rank a mention in national plastic surgery statistics. But today, it's the second most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in America -- and its popularity is skyrocketing.
Consider: Last year, 1.4 million laser hair removal procedures were done, a 1,173 percent increase when compared with only 110,000 such procedures in 1998, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Inc. in New York City.
"Laser offers comfort, speed and accuracy with getting rid of hair," says Kimberly Masser, managing director and minority partner in the Central Florida franchise of Tampa-based Ideal Image Inc., which offers laser hair removal. "I love it. I had my legs done, and it has shaved 20 minutes off the time it takes me to get ready in the morning. There's no stubble. It's remarkable."
The procedure is proving attractive to both men and women, who apparently have a great desire to shed excess facial and body hair. In fact, the industry is projected to rake in $3 billion-$5 billion a year by 2007, says Masser: "It's little hairs becoming a very big business."
Not completely risk-free
Those numbers continue to climb, despite the fact that two young women died recently -- one in Tucson, Ariz., and another in Raleigh, N.C. -- as a result of using too much numbing cream before getting hair removal done at laser clinics.
According to published reports, the two women completely coated their legs in the cream while at home and then suffered a toxic reaction on their way to the laser clinics, which led to coma and then death. Detractors blame the fact that compounding pharmacies, where the creams were made, are largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Latricia Stone, a local nurse who works in the medical device industry, says she was aware of the two deaths before she decided to have laser hair removal done at Ideal Image on her eyebrows, underarms, legs and bikini area, but didn't let that change her mind. In fact, she's even used some numbing cream herself.
"You get a full sheet of instructions on the numbing cream -- how to use it and when to apply it," she says. "They are very thorough in giving proper patient education. You're not supposed to coat yourself down."
Courtney Gleaton, a cosmetic surgery consultant at The Bougainvillea Clinique in Winter Park, agrees. "Laser hair removal is very safe," she says, adding that the procedure has such minimal discomfort that a numbing cream really isn't even needed.
However, other risks, say Gleaton, include possibly burning the skin or discoloring dark skin with the laser. That's why it's important, she says, to make sure the facility has the latest technology, is overseen by a doctor and uses only licensed medical professionals such as a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant to do the procedure.
Health risks surface as laser hair removal skyrockets in popularity
Laser Hair Removal
MAITLAND -- Eight years ago, laser hair removal wasn't popular enough to even rank a mention in national plastic surgery statistics. But today, it's the second most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in America -- and its popularity is skyrocketing.
Consider: Last year, 1.4 million laser hair removal procedures were done, a 1,173 percent increase when compared with only 110,000 such procedures in 1998, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Inc. in New York City.
"Laser offers comfort, speed and accuracy with getting rid of hair," says Kimberly Masser, managing director and minority partner in the Central Florida franchise of Tampa-based Ideal Image Inc., which offers laser hair removal. "I love it. I had my legs done, and it has shaved 20 minutes off the time it takes me to get ready in the morning. There's no stubble. It's remarkable."
The procedure is proving attractive to both men and women, who apparently have a great desire to shed excess facial and body hair. In fact, the industry is projected to rake in $3 billion-$5 billion a year by 2007, says Masser: "It's little hairs becoming a very big business."
Not completely risk-free
Those numbers continue to climb, despite the fact that two young women died recently -- one in Tucson, Ariz., and another in Raleigh, N.C. -- as a result of using too much numbing cream before getting hair removal done at laser clinics.
According to published reports, the two women completely coated their legs in the cream while at home and then suffered a toxic reaction on their way to the laser clinics, which led to coma and then death. Detractors blame the fact that compounding pharmacies, where the creams were made, are largely unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Latricia Stone, a local nurse who works in the medical device industry, says she was aware of the two deaths before she decided to have laser hair removal done at Ideal Image on her eyebrows, underarms, legs and bikini area, but didn't let that change her mind. In fact, she's even used some numbing cream herself.
"You get a full sheet of instructions on the numbing cream -- how to use it and when to apply it," she says. "They are very thorough in giving proper patient education. You're not supposed to coat yourself down."
Courtney Gleaton, a cosmetic surgery consultant at The Bougainvillea Clinique in Winter Park, agrees. "Laser hair removal is very safe," she says, adding that the procedure has such minimal discomfort that a numbing cream really isn't even needed.
However, other risks, say Gleaton, include possibly burning the skin or discoloring dark skin with the laser. That's why it's important, she says, to make sure the facility has the latest technology, is overseen by a doctor and uses only licensed medical professionals such as a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant to do the procedure.
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