Frequently Asked Questions

Electrolysis is the only FDA approved permanent hair removal solution. Our expert technicians use a very fine probe to apply a small amount of electrical current to individual hair follicles, causing destruction to the hair.  Multiple treatment sessions are necessary to treat each hair growth cycle. Appointments are booked by time. We offer an electrolysis consultation for those who aren’t sure if it’s the right treatment! 

Everyone is a candidate; It is good for all skin types and all hair types/ colors. Generally, electrolysis is used on smaller areas on the face and neck, but can also be utilized on some areas for those who are not a candidate for Laser Hair Removal (those with lighter pigmented hair, red hair, gray hair, Laser did not work, those with Hidradenitis suppurativa, etc). During your consultation, your provider will help create a plan that best suits your needs. 

Many clients report very little to no discomfort during electrolysis, while others experience a small pinch or warming sensation. Sensation to pain is highly dependent on area of treatment and the density of the hairs. Each experience is different, but overall electrolysis should be tolerable. We offer numbing injections and numbing cream for purchase. 

The number of sessions required for removal of hair varies from client to client. Different body areas, hair types, hair density, hormones and skin tones make it nearly impossible to pinpoint a number for all clients. More than one treatment is almost always necessary to address multiple hair growth cycles.

Prior to your first electrolysis treatment, you must stop tweezing, threading or waxing for 2 weeks. Shaving or clipping the hairs is okay, however you must provide 2-3 days of hair growth before treatment. Your electrologist must be able to see the hairs in order to perform treatment. 

There are very minimal side effects to electrolysis hair removal. Immediately following the session, clients may experience temporary redness, swelling and sensitivity. Icing the area after treatment may help reduce redness and swelling.

Because Electrolysis uses a micro-current to kill the hair follicle, it is important that you do not have a sunburn in the treatment area, avoid topical retinol for 5 days prior to treatment, and are off any and all antibiotics for at least 2 weeks. Please come to your appointment with clean and makeup free skin to reduce risk of infection. Let your technician know if you have a pace maker or are using/ taking hair growth medications like Minoxidil or Nutrifol.   

Both men and women can get ingrown hairs on all body parts, but it is most common in areas where there are curly hairs. These hairs grow sideways into the skin and can cause bumps, skin discoloration and scarring. Men routinely get them on the face, as a result of shaving and women from shaving, tweezing and threading hair.

An ingrown is a hair that will not go away on its own, as it becomes trapped below the surface of the skin. With electrolysis, the hair needs to be dislodged from underneath the skin and treated with an electrical current. If the hair is red, blonde or gray, this is the only choice for permanently removing the ingrown. If the hair has dark pigment, a laser can treat the ingrown hair over the surface of the skin, disintegrating it where it lies. This is an excellent choice for African Americans with pseudofolliculitus barbae (shaving bumps).

Both laser and electrolysis can be an effective way to treat ingrown hair and restore the integrity of your skin and both treatments will require more than one treatment. 

Most insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic procedures. Consult your insurance carrier for conclusive information. Alternative Health Associates does not partner with any insurance companies.  

Your child must be at least 16 years or older to receive any hair removal treatment. Parental consent is mandatory and a parent must be present during consultation and treatment.

There are a couple of issues to consider when dealing with a child under the age of 18. First, there is the pain factor involved with both electrolysis and laser hair removal. Secondly, does the teen consider this a problem and if so, are they willing to withstand the discomfort of the treatment to get permanent results? The last thing to consider is changing hormones, which can extend the number of treatment sessions in general. 

The teen is rarely ready if the treatment is being driven by a parent. Electrolysis and laser are administered over time, so the teen has to be committed to a series of treatments. Your child needs to attend a thorough consultation and understand how and why each procedure is done. This will set them up for the best possible results.

The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates deep into skin tissue, where it delivers a controlled amount of targeted therapeutic heat. This heat damages the hair follicle, which hinders growth.

Candela’s patented cooling technology protects the upper layers of your skin with a cool burst of cryogen. Together, the long-pulse laser and cooling offer optimal treatment with minimal side effects.

This treatment does provide a long term solution to getting rid of unwanted hair. Hair growth is often reduced by up to 80%, and there is minimal maintenance required. We also offer Electrolysis, another form of hair removal, that can remove remaining excess hairs in some areas after you have completed your laser sessions.

You will be given safety glasses to protect your eyes from the laser light. The practitioner will guide the laser along the treatment areas with a small hand piece. Each laser pulse may be preceded by a short pulse of cooling spray. A treatment could take as little as a few minutes to as long as an hour, depending on the area and condition being treated. For multiple large areas, more time may be required.

Laser hair removal is one of the best permanent hair removal options for men. In just a few sessions, hair growth is significantly reduced with minimal discomfort.

The number of sessions required will depend on your treatment plan and the condition of your skin. For the best hair removal, multiple treatments are needed, as the process is most effective when the hair follicle is in its active growth phase.

Many factors impact the effectiveness of individual laser treatments, including the size of the area being treated and the amount of hair. In our experience, with most patients it takes six to eight treatments to reduce unwanted body hair by about 80%!

Patients scheduled for laser hair removal should avoid plucking, threading, electrolysis, or waxing for six weeks prior to treatment.

On the day of treatment, any hair should be completely removed by shaving, and your skin should be thoroughly cleaned and dry. You should remove any makeup, creams, oils, topical anesthetics or skin tanning products before laser treatment. The intended treatment area should not be exposed to sunlight or tanning booth light for 14 days prior to treatment – You can not receive treatment if you have a tan. You must be off any antibiotics for 2 weeks, avoid the use of topical retinol for 7 days prior to treatment, and be off Accutane for 6 months or longer.  

Some patients may feel a slight discomfort with each laser pulse, often described as the snapping of a rubber band on the skin. This discomfort resolves in several seconds and is minimized by Candela’s cooling technology. For some patients, a topical anesthetic may be used prior to treatment. We offer numbing cream for purchase.

A cool compress or gel pack may be applied for comfort following your treatment. You might experience slight redness or swelling in the treated areas. This should resolve within a few hours.

After your laser treatment, avoid sun exposure and apply sunblock with an SPF of 30 if you are going to be in the sun. Avoid excessive sweating/ intense exercise for 24 hours post treatment. In the first few days after treatment, don’t scrub or rinse the treated areas with abrasive skin cleansers.

Our staff might advise additional precautions based on your treatment plan and skin type.

Your risks are minimal. Side effects may include redness, swelling, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, blistering, and purpura (a laser bruise) in the treated area. These usually do not last more than a few days. Permanent side effects are rare. Be sure to discuss potential side effects with our staff.

Most insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic procedures. Consult your insurance carrier for conclusive information. Alternative Health Associates does not partner with any insurance companies.  

Your child must be at least 16 years or older to receive any hair removal treatment. Parental consent is mandatory and a parent must be present during consultation and treatment.

There are a couple of issues to consider when dealing with a child under the age of 18. First, there is the pain factor involved with both electrolysis and laser hair removal. Secondly, does the teen consider this a problem and if so, are they willing to withstand the discomfort of the treatment to get permanent results? The last thing to consider is changing hormones, which can extend the number of treatment sessions in general. 

The teen is rarely ready if the treatment is being driven by a parent. Electrolysis and laser are administered over time, so the teen has to be committed to a series of treatments. Your child needs to attend a thorough consultation and understand how and why each procedure is done. This will set them up for the best possible results. 

Injectable treatments represent a wide range of various treatment modalities that are done to the skin and tissue of the face/ body to improve overall appearance. 

We offer different brands of wrinkle relaxers or neurotoxins like Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, and Xeomin. These products target specific muscle movement to smooth wrinkles and help lift the face. 

Collagen Stimulation or Biostimulators are an injectable treatment that will stimulate your own collagen to provide improved skin texture, bright skin, global volumization, and reduced fine lines and wrinkles. We offer 2 brands of Collagen Stimulators, Sculptra and Radiesse. 

We also offer different brands of Dermal Fillers like Juvaderm, Restylane, RHA, and Evolysse. 

Dermal Fillers are a hyaluronic gel-like substance that is injected under the skin to create volume, contour and hydration. 

Other treatments that fall under this category include PRP/PRF, PRF BioFiller, and Kybella. For a comprehensive facial balancing, multiple of these treatment modalities may be necessary. 

Come in for a consultation with our Nurse Practitioner to help create a customized treatment plan!  

All new patients require a face consultation with our Nurse Practitioner. During the consultation, you will be guided on starting an optimal skin care regimen with medical grade products, the benefit of in-office skin treatments like chemical peels, nanoneedling/ microneedling, and facials, and the best injectable treatment options to address your top aesthetic concerns. We will curate a treatment plan to achieve your aesthetic goals. Keep in mind, most treatment plans involve multiple treatment modalities over the time span of a year or more, so you can account for your time, any big events, and budget.

Most people tolerate injectable treatments with minimal pain. Neurotoxin treatments, like Botox, are very quick and almost never require any numbing or comfort measures. More invasive treatments like Collagen Stimulation and Dermal Filler treatments have injectable numbing incorporated into the treatment session to ensure the procedure is tolerable. Outside of lidocaine numbing, we commonly use ice to numb an area and also to reduce post treatment swelling/ bruising. 

It is important to avoid any vaccines or dental cleanings within 30 days of your appointment. Also keep in mind, if you have been sick and required a course of antibiotics, please wait 30 days until you receive any injectables. For more invasive treatments, like dermal filler or collagen stimulators, you must not fly on a plane for 2 weeks post treatment.

Other things to avoid if possible: blood thinning medications within a week of your appointment (ibuprofen, advil, aspirin, motrin, fish oil, and vitamin E&D), caffeine within 24 hours of your appointment, alcohol within 48 hours of your appointment, and heavy exercise within 6 hours of your appointment. This list includes things that will increase your risk of having bruising/ bleeding during your injectable treatment. Please consult with your provider if you are taking any prescribed blood thinners for a medical condition. 

Please come to your appointment with clean, makeup free skin. This is very important to reduce your risk of infection. Please avoid items listed above in the “what to avoid” section to reduce the risk of bruising and bleeding. You can consider starting Arnica tablets (an herbal supplement to reduce chances of bruising) 3 days prior to your treatment day. 

Keeping the skin clean is imperative. Be sure not to heavily massage the treatment area, unless advised to do so. Avoid applying makeup for 24-hours; makeup can be very dirty and introduce bacteria to the skin. Please make sure you are not submerging the treatment area in water including the swimming pool, lake, ocean, and even the bathtub. Avoid sun exposure, saunas or steam rooms for a week, stay hydrated, and try to sleep on your back at night. 

Emergent post treatment signs include sudden pain, non-blanching or super pale skin that is different in color than the rest of the face/ area of treatment, or severe swelling that doesn’t resolve in 48 hours. Very rare, but more severe symptoms, like vision loss or stroke symptoms, require a 911 call and immediate attention at the hospital. If you have any concerns, please reach out immediately so our Nurse Practitioner can assess the area of concern.   

Microdermabrasion is a progressive, non-invasive treatment that propels natural mineral crystals onto the surface of the skin for gentle epidermal abrasion that reveals newer, healthier, younger skin.

Microdermabrasion works in two ways: 1.) Correction – The speed of the crystal flow causes an abrasive action that gently removes the surface layers of the skin, allowing smoother, fresher skin to emerge; and 2.) Stimulation – The vacuum action helps to stimulate microcirculation, increasing the blood supply that provides nutrients needed for skin regeneration. It also stimulates formation of new collagen and elastin to improve skin texture and elasticity.

The treatment is performed with little discomfort. At the most, sensitive patients might experience a slight sensation resembling a light sunburn. After treatment, the skin has a pink glow, and you can resume your normal activities almost immediately. 

This system gradually abrades epidermal cells to treat a vast range of skin problems: 1.) Sun-damaged skin; 2.) Uneven and granular skin; 3.) Fine lines and wrinkles; 4.) Enlarged pores; 5.) Blackheads and acne; 6.) Superficial scars; and 7.) Some stretch marks.

Microdermabrasion peeling offers a gentler alternative to more traumatic resurfacing treatments. It does not involve trauma or bleeding. The treatment is executed slowly and progressively, removing only superficial layers of the epidermis to reveal a youthful complexion and glow. Your therapist has total control and works under the strictest hygiene standards, using sterile, disposable treatment nozzles to ensure your safety.

Each treatment takes 30 to 45 minutes. A staff favorite is microdermabrasion combined with a relaxing facial, which will require 60 to 90 minutes depending on preference. 

Age and skin condition determine the number of treatments required to achieve optimal results. For most skin disorders, a minimum of six treatments is recommended. Results can be seen in both the texture and the appearance of the skin after just one session. An initial series of treatments, combined with maintenance sessions, will result in better skin quality and may postpone the first lifting treatments for some years.

Yes, most areas of the body would benefit from microdermabrasion. When used in the exfoliation mode, it can be performed on the entire face, neck, and neckline, with a second sweep on any areas of hyperpigmentation or with textural irregularities. 

Laser skin treatments are used to lighten pigmentation on the face and neck. During your treatment, you will experience a warming sensation on the skin and minimal discomfort. 

Down time is minimal after this treatment. If you are treating hyperpigmented spots, expect these spots to turn darker first, potentially scab, and flake off. This will happen over the following 7 to 14 days. Treatment sessions are normally spaced 4-6 weeks apart.

Depending on the severity of the pigmentation, you may need 3-6 treatment sessions. Many will see some results after the first or second treatment session! 

It is important to avoid sun exposure before AND after your treatment sessions. Avoid retinol and active skin care treatments for 2 weeks before and after your treatment. Do not pick or peel the skin. Be sure to use sunscreen after your treatment to protect your skin. 

Our Alma Opus Device uses heat energy to convert nitrogen and oxygen in the air into plasma sparks. These plasma sparks cause a mechanical and thermal effect to create controlled micro-perforations and ablation. The mechanical effect of the treatment stimulates Epidermis tissue regeneration and the thermal effect reaches the deep dermis to stimulate fibroblasts and causes collagen regeneration. 

This treatment is great for skin issues like fine lines, wrinkles, textured skin, dull skin, acne, acne scarring, traumatic scars, pigment, and large pores. This device can be used on the face (including upper eyelids and around the mouth), neck, decollete, and body.

This device is not a laser and considered safer than laser skin resurfacing. Because it is not a laser, it can be safe on all skin types and tones. Outcomes are similar to CO2 Laser Resurfacing with much less down time. Average down time is 3-7 days of facial redness and textured skin. A series of 3-7 treatments is necessary for optimal results. 

Plasma Skin Resurfacing works by heating the skin and can be painful. To help minimize discomfort, your treatment includes 30-45 minutes of topical numbing with a medical strength numbing cream. This allows the treatment to be tolerable, but not necessarily painless. Consider taking Tylenol 45 minutes to an hour prior to treatment.

Avoid caffeine for 24 hours prior to treatment.

Avoid alcohol for 72 hours prior to treatment.

Avoid intense sun exposure 2 weeks before and after treatment.

Avoid makeup use for 3-7 days post treatment depending on the depth of treatment. Your provider will advise. 

Avoid heavy exercise or intense sweating 3-7 days post treatment depending on the depth of treatment. Your provider will advise.

Avoid Retinol, Tretinoin, face scrubs, or any topical active ingredients for 1 week before treatment. 

Avoid dirty bedding: Wash your pillowcases and bedding prior to treatment. Maintain clean pillowcase while face is healing over the next 3-10 days.

If you have pets, keep them away from the treatment area — no licks or kisses until your skin has healed!

This treatment targets water in the skin to work optimally. The move hydrated your skin is, the better the treatment will work. Dryer skin generally takes more treatment sessions.

Be sure to drink plenty of water starting 24 hours before your treatment, typically 72 ounces or more per day. 

Optimize your home skin care one month prior to treatment including medical grade skin care regimen provided by your provider. Pretreatment of the skin may be necessary.

Wash your pillowcases and bedding prior to treatment. Maintain clean pillowcase while face is healing over the next 3-10 days.

Depending on the current skin concern, a minimum of 3 treatments in necessary. For sagging skin, an average of 5 treatment sessions may be needed. Your provider will be able to give you a treatment plan at your consultation.

Generally after 3-5 treatments, a quarterly to bi-yearly maintenance treatment is necessary. Depending on your goals, it may be more frequent or less frequent than stated above.

For those looking to treat pigmentation or have a darker natural skin color: Your provider may recommend that you start on Topical Kojic Acid or Topical Tranexamic Acid to prep the skin prior to treatment. 

For those with active cystic acne: You will likely be required to get the active cystic acne under control before doing a plasma treatment (like a series of chemical peels and getting a skin care regimen) to prevent spreading the acne/ infection

For those with an eczema flare/ open skin areas: You will need to get the eczema inflammation under control before doing your plasma treatment. Topical growth factor and PDRN may need to be done before your plasma treatment.

For those with severe rosacea inflammation and redness: You may need to get the inflammation under control before doing your plasma treatment.

For those with Melasma: The heat used in this treatment could flare your melasma and is not the best treatment to address the pigmentation present with Melasma. Pre-treatment will be necessary if you choose to use this treatment for skin tightening/ collagen production, knowing the risk of flaring the melasma is very possible. Commonly, the plasma skin resurfacing can be alternated with the perfect derma peel to help keep melasma pigmentation at bay. 

For Men with facial hair: You will need to be clean shaven in the area of treatment to do a skin treatment. The plasma treatment will not impact hair growth density, destroy hair follicles or inhibit hair growth. During the treatment, the hair may be burned a little, but will grow back as normal.

For those treating any body area: You will need to wear loose fitting clothing and go home to rest after treatment. The area will need to be protected and not be too mobile to reduce skin irritation and adverse effects. 

Anyone is a good candidate! There are various depths of peels, consult with your provider about what is best for your skin. We offer a variety of different peels with different active ingredients. 

During your treatment, you may experience some tingling, burning, itching, and warm sensation. This is temporary and will resolve in 2-5 minutes. Topical products will be applied after your treatment to calm the skin. A glowing/ shiny look can be expected after your treatment. 

With lighter chemical peels, little to no down time is expected. You may expect some skin flaking and dryness, but no intense peeling. This is a good maintenance option. 

For deeper peels, like the VI Peel, there is a 7 day peeling time frame. Most people will peel intensely for a week after the treatment. Some may not peel at all. This does not mean it did not work! 

Whether you are getting a light or deep peel, please avoid retinol for 2 weeks prior to your treatment. Please do not get this treatment if you are currently recovering from sunburn or planning to be in the sun within the next 2 weeks. You should not be taking Accutane for at least 6 months to receive a chemical peel. 

Avoid direct sun exposure, intense sweating, harsh topical products like retinol, tretinoin, and scrubs, and avoid picking or peeling any dead skin. Allow the skin to peel on its own; trimming the hanging dead skin is advised. 

Anyone is good for this treatment. The most important part of your treatment are the topical products applied. Talk with your provider about the different add-on options to achieve the best desired results for your skin/ skin conditions. 

During your microneedling treatment, you may receive topical numbing to provide minimal discomfort during your treatment. During the treatment, you will feel small pokes across the skin and the application of various topical solutions depending on the package you purchase. A post treatment face mask is applied to calm the skin. 

Expect 24-48 hours of skin redness. With deeper treatments, you may experience a little skin peeling. Topical PDGF add-on can dramatically reduce the amount of down time to 12 hours and boost the treatment outcomes. 

Please avoid harsh scrubs and retinol for at least a week. Monitor your skin and continue to delay the use of scrubs and retinol if the skin is still dry, red, or peeling. Protect the skin with SPF and stay out of direct sunlight to allow skin to heal. 

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a treatment that directly impacts the body’s lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a vascular system that filters tissue fluid throughout the body, removing excess fluid (edema), waste material, foreign matter, and pathogens. It then returns the “cleansed” fluid back to the circulatory system.

If this network fails or becomes overloaded, tissue fluid becomes stagnant, which adversely impacts health. MLD helps to stimulate lymph flow and therefore, encourages lymphatic fluid drainage.

MLD technique uses very light circular movements which gently stretch the skin in the direction of lymph flow. The strokes are slow, repetitive, and rhythmical, which calm the nervous system. Note that this is not a typical massage, meaning it does not manipulate muscle. However, it does have an impact on the muscle tissue. MLD is performed directly on the skin with no lubricant.

Treatments can last 30, 60, or 90 minutes. The treatment always starts at the base of the neck, where the main lymphatic ducts are situated. These ducts are always drained first, then, depending on the treatment plan, the therapist will transition outward from this point, working with the direction of the lymph flow. During this time the lymphatic drainage therapy technique used depends on the areas of concern and their associated lymph flow pathways.

MLD focuses on draining the lymphatic system of excess fluid, calms the nervous system, has an analgesic effect, and helps boost immune response. It also helps to relax smooth muscle, increasing blood flow without increasing blood pressure. As a result, it can help with a range of conditions including: 

Inflammation (without infection), Edema, Pre and post-surgery (including cosmetic), Post-injury, Wound healing, Muscle, tendon, or ligament injury, Allergies and congestion, Headaches and migraines, Scarring and keloids, Skin conditions including acne and rosacea, Digestive issues, Pre-menstrual syndrome, Swelling during pregnancy, Varicosity, Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia.

MLD cannot be used:

when an acute infection is present (can treat after a course of antibiotics), within 24 hours of an acute allergic reaction, after recent thrombosis (or blood clot), when untreated malignant diseases are present, and on individuals with congestive heart failure

Normal responses to MLD: Feeling of lightness, Increased sense of well-being, Sense of fluid movement, especially in the extremities, Return of normal skin color, and Reduction in swelling

However, some individuals temporarily experience lymphatic drainage side effects, including:

Fatigue, Nausea, Headache, Dizziness/lightheadedness, and Heightened sensitivity to touch

Our practitioner, Alicia, is trained in the Dr. Vodder technique of manual lymphatic drainage through Dr. Vodder School.