Laser Hair Removal for Pound Ridge, NY

How the light finds the hair

Each pass of the handpiece sends pulses of light into the skin. Pigment in the hair follicle absorbs the energy and heats up, and the damage stops that follicle from producing hair, while the skin around it is left unharmed. Because every pulse reaches several hairs at once, a session moves faster than electrolysis. Bellava uses IPL technology whose settings can be adjusted for each skin tone, turning the energy down and adding a cooling handpiece where the skin is darker.

Sun is the thing to plan around

Sun exposure before treatment raises the risk of skin damage and complications, so the rule is four weeks without sun or tanning beds before a session and no direct sun for 24 to 48 hours afterwards. Those same two days call for a break from exercise heavy enough to make you sweat. With more than 4,000 acres of county parkland at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation on your doorstep, that usually means moving a hike rather than missing one: schedule sessions so the long days on the trails fall later in the week.

The course, step by step

1. A free consultation, at which your hair growth pattern is assessed and a plan is drawn up for you.
2. Six treatments, usually spaced four to six weeks apart. Shave the area a day or two before each one, come with clean skin free of lotion and makeup, and stop waxing and electrolysis a month before the first.
3. Shedding. Treated hairs start to fall out after the first couple of sessions, and the strongest reduction tends to show by the fourth or fifth.
4. Touch-ups every six to twelve months, because dormant follicles keep producing new hair.

A session lasts from about 15 minutes for an upper lip to an hour for full legs or a back.

Who treats you

Your sessions are with licensed medical estheticians Semira Crecco-Donnelly and Natalina McEwan.

Pound Ridge patients ask

How far is it? From the Town House on Westchester Avenue, about nine miles and roughly 19 minutes without traffic, by Route 137 to Route 172, west through Bedford Village, then Route 22 north and Harris Road.

What does it feel like? A warm sensation and a snap often likened to a rubber band, and optional cooling is available.

What are the risks? Redness and swelling that usually clear within hours; rarely, darker or lighter patches, which careful settings guard against; and folliculitis bumps if aftercare is neglected. Keep the eye protection on for any upper-body work.

Can I book online? Yes. Book Now opens the online calendar for a consultation or a session.