GentleMax Pro® Laser Treatment in Danville, CA
GentleMax Pro Laser Treatment in Danville, CA
The GentleMax Pro is one of the most advanced and trusted laser systems available today, and it is one of the reasons this practice can treat so many different concerns with light. It combines two lasers in a single platform: a 755 nm Alexandrite and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG. Those two wavelengths behave differently in the skin, so having both in one system means the wavelength can be matched to the target and to your skin tone rather than the other way round. At the Dermatology and Laser Centre every GentleMax Pro treatment is performed by Dr. Gergana Gallacher personally, a board certified, fellowship trained dermatologist. The laser is chosen for your diagnosis, the settings are chosen for your skin, and the handpiece is held by the physician who made both of those decisions.
The GentleMax Pro is one of the best and most trusted laser systems available. It is really two lasers in one machine: a 755 nm Alexandrite and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG. The two kinds of light behave differently in the skin. Having both means the light can be matched to what is being treated and to your skin tone, instead of forcing one setting to suit everyone. At the Dermatology and Laser Centre, Dr. Gergana Gallacher does every GentleMax Pro treatment herself. She is a board certified skin doctor with fellowship training. She picks the laser, she picks the settings, and she is the one holding the handpiece.
GentleMax Pro: the essentials
The short version
Dual-wavelength platform combining 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm Nd:YAG lasers
One machine with two lasers in it: a shorter wavelength and a longer, deeper reaching one.
Laser hair reduction plus selected vascular, benign pigmented and skin-rejuvenation indications depending on wavelength and settings
Mainly laser hair reduction. Also certain blood vessels, harmless brown spots, and some skin freshening, depending on the light and the settings.
The dual wavelengths allow treatment planning across Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI; wavelength, fluence and pulse duration must be individualized
Having two wavelengths means treatment can be planned for every skin tone. Which light, how strong, and how long each flash lasts still have to be chosen for you.
Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD) delivers cryogen cooling to protect the epidermis and improve comfort
A burst of cold spray goes onto your skin around each pulse, to protect the surface and make it more comfortable.
Laser hair treatment is described as permanent hair reduction, not guaranteed permanent removal; multiple sessions are usually needed because hair grows in cycles
The proper phrase is permanent hair reduction, not a promise that every hair is gone for ever. You need several sessions, because hair grows in cycles.
Often minimal for hair reduction; vascular/pigment treatment recovery varies by target and settings
Usually very little for hair reduction. For blood vessels and brown spots it varies with what is being treated and the settings.
What is GentleMax Pro?
What is GentleMax Pro?
GentleMax Pro is a medical laser platform that combines a 755 nm Alexandrite laser and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in one system, allowing the physician to select the wavelength that best fits the target and skin type.
It is a medical laser system that holds two lasers in one machine, so the doctor can choose whichever light best fits what is being treated and your skin type.
GentleMax Pro combines Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser wavelengths, allowing a dermatologist to select settings for concerns such as unwanted hair and selected vascular or pigmented lesions.
Having both lets a skin doctor pick the settings for unwanted hair, and for certain blood vessels and brown spots.
What GentleMax Pro is cleared to treat
What it is cleared to treat
GentleMax Pro is used for far more than hair removal. Depending on the wavelength, the handpiece and the configuration of the device, this laser platform carries FDA clearance for the following:
GentleMax Pro does much more than hair removal. Depending on which of the two lasers is used, and which handpiece, this system is FDA cleared for:
- Permanent hair reduction, in all skin types
- Benign pigmented lesions
- Spider veins and leg veins
- Wrinkles
- Vascular lesions
- Angiomas and haemangiomas
- Venous lake
- Port wine stains
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae, the shaving bumps that follow ingrown hairs
- Permanent hair reduction, in every skin tone
- Harmless brown spots
- Spider veins and leg veins
- Wrinkles
- Blood vessel marks
- Angiomas and haemangiomas
- Venous lake, the dark blue spot that can appear on a lip
- Port wine stains
- Shaving bumps from ingrown hairs
Being cleared for something means the machine is allowed to be used for it. It does not mean it is the best answer for you. Some of these are treated best with this laser. Some are treated better here with a different laser. Some need a proper diagnosis first. Dr. Gallacher decides that with you at your consultation.
A clearance describes what a device may be used for. It does not decide whether it is the right choice for you. Some of the concerns on that list are treated best with this laser, some are treated best with a different one in this practice, and some need a diagnosis before any laser is switched on. That decision is made at consultation by the physician.
Why does GentleMax Pro use two wavelengths?
Why two lasers?
Alexandrite 755 nm and Nd:YAG 1064 nm interact differently with melanin and depth, which lets the physician tailor treatment to hair/lesion characteristics and skin tone.
Because the two kinds of light behave differently. One is soaked up strongly by the colour in hair and skin. The other is soaked up less, and travels deeper. That difference is what lets the doctor match the treatment to your hair, to what is being treated, and to your skin tone.
| Wavelength | General strengths | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| 755 nm Alexandrite | Strong melanin absorption; commonly used for efficient hair reduction and selected pigment targets in lighter skin types | Higher epidermal melanin absorption means extra caution or another wavelength is often preferred as skin pigment increases |
| 1064 nm Nd:YAG | Deeper penetration and lower melanin absorption; commonly selected for hair reduction and vascular targets in darker skin types | Settings still require careful adjustment; “safer for darker skin” does not mean risk-free |
The shorter wavelength Soaked up strongly by pigment. Efficient for hair reduction and for certain brown spots in lighter skin. Because the pigment in the skin also soaks it up, extra care, or the other light, is usually preferred as skin gets darker.
The longer wavelength Goes deeper and is soaked up much less by the pigment in skin. Commonly chosen for hair reduction and for blood vessels in darker skin. The settings still have to be right: safer for darker skin does not mean risk free.
Diagram comparing GentleMax Pro 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelengths for different targets and skin tones
A diagram comparing the two GentleMax Pro wavelengths, for different targets and skin tones.
How does GentleMax Pro laser hair reduction work?
How does the hair treatment work?
Laser energy is absorbed by pigment in the hair shaft and follicle, heating the follicle to reduce future growth while the cooling system protects the skin surface.
The light is soaked up by the colour in the hair and in the root under the skin. That heats the root and reduces future growth, while the cooling spray protects the surface of your skin.
Hair follicles are active at different times, so multiple sessions are generally required. Treatment works best when there is enough pigment in the hair; white, gray, very light blond and some red hair may respond poorly because there is little melanin for the laser to target.
Your hairs are at different stages of growth at any moment, so you need several sessions. It works best when there is enough colour in the hair. White, grey, very light blonde and some red hair may barely respond, because there is too little pigment for the laser to find.
GentleMax Pro is cleared for permanent hair reduction in every skin tone. The shorter wavelength is soaked up strongly by the colour in hair, so it works well on fine and light brown hair as well as on thick dark hair. The longer wavelength is soaked up less and goes deeper, which is usually safer as skin gets darker. Between the two, most hair and most skin tones can be treated. What matters is whether the hair has colour in it, not how thick it is. A fine hair with colour can be treated. White, grey, very pale blonde and some red hair has too little colour for any laser to see. Hair also grows in cycles, so only the hairs actively growing that day respond properly. That is why you need a course of sessions.
GentleMax Pro is cleared for permanent hair reduction in all skin types. The 755 nm Alexandrite is absorbed strongly by melanin, which makes it efficient on hair that is fine or light brown as well as on coarse dark hair. The 1064 nm Nd:YAG is absorbed less by melanin and reaches deeper, which is usually the safer choice as skin pigment increases. Between the two, most hair colours and most skin tones can be planned for. The limiting factor is pigment inside the hair itself, not the thickness of it: a fine hair that still holds colour can be targeted, while white, grey, very light blond and some red hair have too little melanin for any laser to find reliably. Hair also grows in cycles, so only the follicles that are actively growing on the day respond fully, and a series of sessions is normal.
Benign pigmented lesions: brown spots
Brown spots
Sun induced brown spots, freckling and other benign pigmented lesions can be treated with the 755 nm wavelength, which is absorbed well by the pigment in the lesion. Treated spots commonly darken and crust for several days before flaking away, which is expected and is a sign the pigment has absorbed the energy. There is an important step before any of this. A brown mark should be examined by a dermatologist before it is treated with a laser, because an early melanoma can look like an ordinary age spot, and removing the visible pigment from a lesion that was never benign delays a diagnosis that matters. Every pigmented lesion is assessed here before it is treated, and anything that does not look clearly benign is biopsied rather than lasered.
Brown spots from the sun, freckling and other harmless brown marks can be treated with the shorter wavelength, because the brown pigment soaks it up well. Treated spots usually go darker and form a crust for a few days, then flake off. That is normal and it means the treatment worked. There is one important step first. A brown mark should be looked at by a skin doctor before any laser touches it. An early skin cancer can look like an ordinary age spot. If you laser off the colour of something that was not harmless, you delay finding it. Here, every brown mark is examined first. If it does not look clearly harmless, it gets a biopsy, not a laser.
Spider veins and leg veins
Spider veins and leg veins
Fine red and blue vessels on the legs, including spider veins and the small reticular veins that feed them, are a routine use of the 1064 nm Nd:YAG. The longer wavelength reaches vessels that sit deeper than a superficial redness laser can treat, and it is absorbed by the blood in the vessel rather than by the pigment in the skin above it. Vessels typically darken, then fade over the following weeks, and more than one session is often needed. Two points matter before treatment. Larger bulging veins, and legs where there is underlying venous reflux, are not a laser problem and are assessed for that first. And sclerotherapy remains an excellent option for some leg vessels, so the two approaches are compared for your legs rather than assumed.
Fine red and blue veins on the legs, including spider veins and the small feeder veins behind them, are a normal use of the longer wavelength. It reaches veins that sit deeper than a surface redness laser can get to, and it is soaked up by the blood inside the vein rather than by the colour of the skin over it. Treated veins usually go darker, then fade over the next few weeks. You often need more than one session. Two things get checked first. Big bulging veins, and legs with a circulation problem in the deeper veins, are not a laser job and are assessed for that. And injections, called sclerotherapy, are still a very good answer for some leg veins. The two are compared for your legs rather than guessed at.
Facial vessels, angiomas and venous lake
Face vessels, red spots and venous lake
The 1064 nm Nd:YAG is used for vascular targets that sit too deep or run too thick for a surface vascular laser to clear. That includes the heavier telangiectasia around the nose and nasal rim, cherry angiomas, and venous lake, the soft dark blue purple spot that develops on the lip. Because this wavelength penetrates further and is absorbed less by surface pigment, it can reach the body of a vessel rather than only its top. That depth is also why settings are conservative and why the vessel, not the skin, is the target. Superficial diffuse facial redness is usually better served by the pulsed dye VBeam laser in this practice, and where a face needs both, both are used.
The longer wavelength is used for blood vessels that sit too deep, or are too thick, for a surface vessel laser to clear. That includes the heavier broken veins around the nose, cherry angiomas, and venous lake, the soft dark blue spot that can form on a lip. This light goes further into the skin and is soaked up less by the surface, so it can reach the whole vessel and not just the top of it. That depth is also why the settings are kept careful. General surface redness across the face is usually better treated here with the VBeam laser. If a face needs both, both are used.
Port wine stains and haemangiomas
Port wine stains and haemangiomas
Port wine stains and haemangiomas are on this platform's cleared list, and the 1064 nm Nd:YAG has a real place in treating them. It is not the first laser reached for. The pulsed dye laser is the established first line for most port wine stains, particularly flat ones and those in children, and this practice uses the VBeam for exactly that. The Nd:YAG is considered for the parts of a lesion the pulsed dye laser cannot finish: thickened, nodular or long standing components, and deeper vessels within a stain that has stopped responding. It is a more powerful tool with a narrower safety margin in this application, so it is used deliberately, at conservative settings, and only where the physician judges it appropriate. Vascular birthmarks in infants and children are assessed individually, and treatment timing is discussed rather than assumed.
Port wine stains and haemangiomas are on the cleared list for this machine, and the longer wavelength genuinely has a role with them. It is not the first choice. For most port wine stains, especially flat ones and those in children, the pulsed dye laser is the standard, and that is what the VBeam here is for. The longer wavelength is considered for the parts the pulsed dye laser cannot finish: thicker or lumpy areas, older marks, and deeper vessels in a stain that has stopped improving. It is a stronger tool with less room for error in this job, so it is used carefully, on gentle settings, and only when the doctor thinks it is right. Birthmarks in babies and children are looked at one by one, and the timing is discussed with you.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae: shaving bumps
Shaving bumps
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is the inflammation caused by coarse curly hair curving back and re entering the skin after shaving. It leaves tender papules, pustules and, over time, darkened marks or raised scarring along the beard line and neck. It affects people with tightly curled hair most, which often means the skin tones where laser has historically been used most cautiously. That is precisely the case the 1064 nm Nd:YAG exists for. Reducing the number and coarseness of the hairs removes the cause rather than managing the aftermath, and the longer wavelength allows that to be done in darker skin with a wavelength that surface pigment absorbs less strongly. Settings are conservative, sessions are spaced, and treatment is planned alongside a shaving routine rather than instead of one.
Shaving bumps happen when thick curly hair curls back and grows into the skin after shaving. You get sore spots, pustules and, over time, dark marks or raised scars along the beard line and neck. It affects people with tightly curled hair most, which often means darker skin tones. That is exactly what the longer wavelength is for. Reducing how many hairs there are, and how coarse they are, treats the cause instead of the aftermath. And the longer wavelength lets that be done safely in darker skin, because the skin soaks up less of it. Settings are kept gentle, sessions are spaced out, and the treatment is planned around how you shave rather than replacing it.
Wrinkles and non-ablative rejuvenation
Wrinkles
The 1064 nm Nd:YAG is cleared for the treatment of wrinkles. It works by heating the dermis without breaking the surface of the skin, which prompts a gradual collagen response over a course of sessions. It should be described honestly: the effect is subtle and cumulative, it suits fine lines and general skin quality rather than deep folds, and it appeals most to people who cannot take downtime. Where a patient wants a substantial change in wrinkles or texture, this is not the technology that will deliver it, and saying so is part of the consultation. For that work this practice uses fractional resurfacing or CO2 resurfacing, chosen for the indication. The GentleMax Pro is offered for rejuvenation where it genuinely fits, not as a substitute for the right device.
The longer wavelength is cleared for treating wrinkles. It heats the deeper layer of skin without breaking the surface, and that slowly builds collagen over a course of sessions. To be honest about it: the change is gentle and it adds up over time. It suits fine lines and general skin quality, not deep folds. It appeals most to people who cannot take time off. If you want a big change in wrinkles or texture, this is not the machine that will do it, and you will be told that. For that, this practice uses fractional resurfacing or CO2 resurfacing instead. GentleMax Pro is offered for skin freshening where it genuinely fits, and not as a stand in for the right device.
What happens during treatment?
What happens during treatment?
The treatment area is assessed, eye protection is placed, and pulses are delivered with a handpiece while the Dynamic Cooling Device sprays cryogen immediately around each pulse to help protect the epidermis.
The area is assessed, you are given eye protection, and the handpiece delivers pulses. A burst of cold spray goes on around each pulse, protecting the surface of your skin.
For hair reduction, shaving is usually preferred before treatment while plucking/waxing that removes the follicular target is generally avoided.
For hair reduction, shave beforehand. Do not pluck or wax, because that removes the very thing the laser needs to aim at.
The GentleMax Pro has cooling built in, called the Dynamic Cooling Device. A quick burst of cold spray hits the skin right around each laser pulse. It cools the surface at the exact moment the energy arrives, while the target underneath still gets heated. That does two things. It protects the top layer of skin, which is what makes stronger, more effective settings safe to use. And it makes the treatment much easier to sit through, so most people do not need numbing cream. The cooling is part of the machine rather than an extra step, and the laser can treat a wide patch at a time. So large areas like legs, back or chest can be done in one sitting without it taking forever. Sessions are quicker, and after hair reduction there is usually little or no time off needed.
The GentleMax Pro has the Dynamic Cooling Device built into it. A short burst of cryogen is delivered onto the skin immediately around each laser pulse, cooling the surface at the moment the energy arrives while leaving the target beneath it heated. This does two things. It protects the epidermis, which is what makes higher, more effective settings usable safely. And it makes treatment far more tolerable, so most people need no numbing cream. Because the cooling is integrated rather than a separate step, and because large spot sizes are available, sizeable areas such as legs, back or chest can be covered in a single session without the treatment dragging on. Sessions are quicker, and there is usually little to no downtime after hair reduction.
How many GentleMax Pro treatments are needed?
How many sessions will I need?
The number of sessions depends on the indication. Hair reduction requires a series because only follicles in an active growth phase respond optimally at a given visit.
It depends what is being treated. Hair reduction needs a course, because only the hairs that happen to be actively growing that day respond properly.
What is recovery like?
What is the recovery like?
For laser hair reduction, redness and perifollicular swelling are common short-term responses and most patients return to routine activity quickly. Pigment and vascular treatments can have different visible recovery.
After hair reduction, redness and a little swelling around each hair follicle are normal, and most people carry straight on with their day. Treating brown spots or blood vessels can look different afterwards.
| Treatment type | Typical visible recovery |
|---|---|
| Hair reduction | Temporary redness, warmth or follicular swelling; sun protection is important |
| Pigmented lesion treatment | Treated pigment may temporarily darken or crust before clearing |
| Vascular treatment | Redness/swelling; vessels can darken or bruise depending on target and settings |
Hair reduction Redness, warmth, and small bumps around the follicles for a while. Keep the sun off it.
Brown spots The treated spots may go darker, and crust, before they clear.
Blood vessels Redness and swelling. The vessels may darken or bruise, depending on what was treated and the settings.
Who is a good candidate, and who may need a different approach?
Who is it for, and who needs something else?
Candidacy depends on the target, skin tone, hair or vessel characteristics, sun exposure and medical history.
It depends on what is being treated, on your skin tone, on your hair or your vessels, on how much sun you have had lately, and on your medical history.
- Recent tanning can increase risk and may require postponement or altered treatment
- Hair reduction requires sufficient hair pigment; white/gray/light hair may not respond
- Active infection, open wounds or relevant photosensitizing medications require review
- Skin of color is not excluded; the 1064 nm wavelength is often selected because of lower melanin absorption, but careful settings remain essential
- A recent tan raises the risk, and may mean waiting, or changing the treatment.
- Hair reduction needs enough colour in the hair. White, grey and very light hair may not respond at all.
- An infection, an open wound, or medicines that make you sensitive to light, all need reviewing first.
- Darker skin is not excluded. The longer wavelength is often chosen because the skin soaks up less of it, but careful settings still matter.
What treating all skin types actually means
What treating all skin types really means
GentleMax Pro is cleared for use in all skin types, and the reason is the second wavelength. A single wavelength device forces a compromise as skin pigment increases, because the same light that finds the target is also being absorbed by the skin above it. Having 1064 nm available means the physician can step to a wavelength that surface pigment absorbs far less, and treat safely where a single wavelength device would either be unsafe or be turned down to the point of being pointless. That is what makes consistent results across skin tones possible. It is not the same as one setting suiting everybody. Wavelength, energy, pulse duration and cooling are still chosen for each patient and each target, and being safer in darker skin is not the same as being risk free. Choosing well is the work, and here it is done by the physician who then performs the treatment.
GentleMax Pro is cleared for every skin tone, and the reason is the second laser. A machine with only one wavelength has to compromise as skin gets darker, because the same light that finds the target is also being soaked up by the skin above it. Having the longer wavelength means the doctor can switch to light that darker skin soaks up far less. That means treating safely where a single laser machine would either be unsafe or be turned down so low it does nothing. That is what makes good results possible across all skin tones. It does not mean one setting suits everyone. The wavelength, the strength, the pulse length and the cooling are still picked for you and for what is being treated. Safer in darker skin is not the same as risk free. Choosing well is the actual work, and here it is done by the doctor who then does your treatment.
GentleMax Pro treatment at Dermatology and Laser Centre: Dr. Gallacher performs every laser treatment herself.
A GentleMax Pro treatment here. Dr. Gallacher does every laser treatment herself.
What are the benefits and risks?
What are the benefits and risks?
The dual-wavelength platform allows one device to address multiple targets across a broad range of skin tones; the risk profile still depends on the wavelength, diagnosis and settings.
One machine can deal with several different targets, across the full range of skin tones. The risks still depend on which light, what is being treated, and the settings.
| Potential benefits | Possible risks / limitations |
|---|---|
| Versatile treatment planning with 755 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths | Temporary redness, swelling, discomfort, darkening/crusting or bruising depending on treatment |
| Efficient laser hair reduction with large treatment areas possible depending on handpiece/spot size | Burns, blisters, pigment changes, infection or scarring are possible; eye protection is mandatory |
| DCD cooling improves epidermal protection and comfort | Hair reduction is not effective for every hair color and cannot guarantee permanent removal of all hair |
What you can gain
Two wavelengths, so the treatment can be matched to you.
Efficient hair reduction, with large areas covered fairly quickly.
Cooling that protects your skin and makes it more comfortable.
What you are accepting
Redness, swelling, discomfort, darkening, crusting or bruising, depending on what was treated.
Burns, blisters, changes in skin colour, infection or scarring are possible. Eye protection is not optional.
Hair reduction does not work on every hair colour, and cannot promise every hair gone for good.
What are alternatives to GentleMax Pro?
What else could I do instead?
Alternatives depend on the target and may include other laser wavelengths, IPL, electrolysis for hair colors that do not respond to laser, VBeam for selected superficial vascular redness, or non-laser treatment.
It depends what is being treated. Other lasers, IPL, electrolysis for hair colours a laser cannot see, VBeam for certain surface redness, or something that does not involve a laser at all.
Which device for which concern
Which machine for which problem
Choosing between devices is the part of laser dermatology that patients rarely see, and it is where most of the outcome is decided. In this practice, GentleMax Pro is generally the choice for unwanted hair in any skin tone, for shaving bumps, for spider and leg veins, for thicker facial vessels, angiomas and venous lake, and for many benign brown spots. VBeam is generally the choice for diffuse facial redness, rosacea flushing and flat port wine stains. Fraxel and CO2 resurfacing are for texture, scarring and significant sun damage. Thermage is for tightening. The device is picked to fit the diagnosis, and more than one is used on the same patient where that is what the skin needs.
Choosing which machine to use is the part of laser work patients never see, and it decides most of the result. In this practice, GentleMax Pro is usually the answer for unwanted hair in any skin tone, shaving bumps, spider and leg veins, thicker veins on the face, angiomas, venous lake, and many harmless brown spots. VBeam is usually the answer for general facial redness, rosacea flushing and flat port wine stains. Fraxel and CO2 resurfacing are for texture, scarring and heavy sun damage. Thermage is for tightening. The machine is picked to fit the diagnosis, and more than one is used on the same person when that is what the skin needs.
Illustrative result
What a result can look like
The photographs below show GentleMax Pro results for hair reduction, the treatment it is used for most here. They are shown to illustrate what treatment can look like. They are not a prediction. Results vary with the diagnosis, the skin type, the number of sessions completed and how the skin is looked after afterwards, and the only way to know what is realistic for you is an assessment. Drag the divider to compare, or open any picture for the detail.
The photos below show GentleMax Pro results for hair reduction, which is what it is used for most here. They are there to show what treatment can look like. They are not a promise. Results depend on the diagnosis, your skin type, how many sessions you finish and how you look after your skin afterwards. The only way to know what is realistic for you is to be assessed. Drag the line across to compare, or open any picture to see it larger.
How to book a GentleMax Pro consultation
How to get started
The Dermatology and Laser Centre is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care and the most advanced treatments available. GentleMax Pro treatments here are designed to help you reach your skin goals with minimal discomfort and minimal downtime, performed by the physician herself. If you would like to know whether this is the right technology for your concern, request an appointment and tell us the days and times that suit you. Your request comes straight to the office and we will contact you to confirm a time.
The Dermatology and Laser Centre is committed to the highest standard of care and to the best technology available. GentleMax Pro treatments here are meant to get you to your skin goals with as little discomfort and as little time off as possible, and the doctor does them herself. If you want to know whether this is the right technology for your concern, request an appointment and tell us which days and times suit you. Your request goes straight to the office, and we will get in touch to confirm a time.
Questions patients ask
Can GentleMax Pro treat all skin types?
Can it treat all skin types?
The platform combines 755 nm Alexandrite and 1064 nm Nd:YAG wavelengths, allowing treatment planning across Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI. That does not mean the same wavelength or settings are used for everyone.
The machine has two wavelengths, which means treatment can be planned for every skin tone. It does not mean the same light and the same settings are used on everyone.
Is GentleMax Pro hair removal permanent?
Is the hair removal permanent?
The appropriate regulatory language is permanent hair reduction, meaning a long-term stable reduction in regrowing hairs, not guaranteed removal of every hair forever. Maintenance can sometimes be needed.
The correct phrase is permanent hair reduction: a long term, stable drop in the hair that grows back. It is not a promise that every hair is gone for ever, and occasional top ups are sometimes needed.
How many hair-removal sessions will I need?
How many sessions for hair?
A series is usually needed because hair grows in cycles. The exact number and spacing depend on the body area, hair characteristics, skin type and response.
A course, because hair grows in cycles. How many, and how far apart, depends on the area, your hair, your skin type and how you respond.
Does GentleMax Pro hurt?
Does it hurt?
Patients often feel brief heat or snapping. The Dynamic Cooling Device delivers cryogen cooling to protect the epidermis and improve comfort.
Most people feel a brief hot snap. The cold spray around each pulse protects your skin and makes it much easier to tolerate.
Can GentleMax Pro remove blond, gray or white hair?
Will it work on blonde, grey or white hair?
Laser hair reduction relies on melanin in the hair. White, gray, very light blond and some red hairs may have too little pigment to respond reliably; electrolysis may be an alternative.
Probably not. The laser needs colour in the hair to find it. White, grey, very light blonde and some red hair has too little for it to work reliably. Electrolysis is the alternative.
Does Dr. Gallacher perform the laser treatment herself?
Does the doctor do the treatment herself?
Yes. Dr. Gallacher performs all laser treatments in this practice personally and does not delegate them. The physician who assesses your skin and selects the wavelength and settings is the physician who treats you.
Yes. Dr. Gallacher does all the laser treatments here herself and does not pass them to anyone else. The doctor who examines your skin and picks the laser and the settings is the one who treats you.
Can GentleMax Pro treat fine or thin hair?
Does it work on fine hair?
Often, yes. What a hair removal laser needs is pigment in the hair, not thickness, and the 755 nm Alexandrite is absorbed strongly enough by melanin to target fine and light brown hair as well as coarse dark hair. What it cannot treat is hair with almost no pigment in it: white, grey, very light blond and some red hair. Fine and pigmented is treatable. Colourless is not, whatever its thickness.
Often, yes. A hair laser needs colour in the hair, not thickness. The shorter wavelength picks up colour well enough to treat fine and light brown hair as well as thick dark hair. What it cannot do is treat hair with almost no colour: white, grey, very pale blonde and some red. Fine hair with colour in it can be treated. Colourless hair cannot, however thick or thin it is.
Is laser or sclerotherapy better for my leg veins?
Laser or injections for my leg veins?
It depends on the vessel. The 1064 nm Nd:YAG suits fine spider veins and small reticular vessels, and it treats without needles. Sclerotherapy suits some larger feeder vessels well. Bulging veins, and legs where underlying venous reflux is suspected, need assessing for that before any cosmetic treatment is planned. The two options are compared for your legs at consultation rather than decided in advance.
It depends on the vein. The longer wavelength suits fine spider veins and small feeder veins, and it works without needles. Injections suit some of the larger feeder veins better. Bulging veins, and legs where the deeper circulation may be the real problem, get checked for that first. The two options are compared for your legs at your consultation, not decided beforehand.
Talk it through with a physician first.
Every plan starts with an assessment of your skin, your anatomy and what you actually want to change.
This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a treatment is right for you. Approved uses, risks and results differ from person to person, and product labelling changes. Ask us at Dermatology and Laser Centre about your own situation, or make an appointment, and seek urgent care for any serious symptom.
