InjectCo MedSpa The Woodlands offers laser hair removal at 250 Ed English Dr #3D in Shenandoah, using the Candela GentleMax Pro. Before any setting is chosen, we look at how your skin looks that day, your hair color and thickness, the treatment area and any recent sun exposure. Every new laser patient starts with an assessment and a test patch, with no treatment at that first visit.
Laser is intended for long-term or permanent hair reduction. It is not a guarantee that every hair is removed, and some regrowth or maintenance is normal.
Why we do not choose a laser setting from skin type alone.
When we assess someone for laser hair removal, the Fitzpatrick skin type is only one part of the picture.
We also look at what the skin looks like that day. Recent sun exposure, self-tanner, new pigment, a medication change or a previous skin reaction can all change whether it makes sense to treat.
Then we look at the hair: its color, thickness and density, and where it is growing. A setting that makes sense for coarse underarm hair is not automatically the same plan we would use for finer facial hair.
That is why we would rather postpone a treatment or start conservatively than force a session just because it is on the calendar.
The goal is not to use the strongest possible setting. The goal is to use a setting that makes sense for the skin and hair we are treating that day.
Clinical content contributed by InjectCo’s Woodlands laser team. Assessment protocol medically reviewed by Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director, InjectCo MedSpa.
At InjectCo MedSpa The Woodlands, laser hair removal is performed by Misty, MSN, RN and Lindsey, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC. Misty spent 18 years in neonatal intensive care, including time as Neonatal ICU Nurse Manager at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Lindsey is an advanced practice registered nurse with more than 16 years of direct patient care. Her CPNP-AC is a pediatric acute care nurse practitioner credential, not a laser certification.
A nursing license on its own does not authorize laser treatment in Texas. As the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation notes, the Texas Board of Nursing’s position is that delivering laser energy is not an independent nursing function; a nurse may do it only under a physician’s delegation. Misty and Lindsey treat under the written delegation and protocols of Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., our Medical Director.
The Texas laser hair removal registration program, run by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, does not apply to a facility owned or operated by a physician for the practice of medicine. InjectCo MedSpa The Woodlands operates under that physician-practice exemption, which is why it does not appear in TDLR’s laser facility registry.
The laser at our Shenandoah clinic is a Candela GentleMax Pro, part of the GentleMAX family of laser systems that the FDA cleared through 510(k) K140122. FDA clearance means the agency found the device substantially equivalent to devices already on the market. It is a clearance, not an approval.
The system combines two lasers in one handpiece: a 755 nm Alexandrite and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG. Its labeling includes hair-reduction use across Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI, including tanned skin. That does not make treatment risk-free for any skin type. Burns and pigment changes remain possible, which is why every plan is individual and why we may still postpone.
The Fitzpatrick scale classifies how skin responds to ultraviolet light, from Type I, which always burns and never tans, to Type VI, which is deeply pigmented and rarely burns. It is a useful way to describe your baseline pigment response.
It is not a laser setting. Two people with the same Fitzpatrick type can have a different tan this month, different hair, different medications and a different history with past treatments. So we note your skin type, then weigh it against your skin today, your hair, the area, your medications and how your test patch responds.
Hair follicles do not all grow on the same schedule. Each one cycles through anagen, the active growth phase; catagen, a short transition; and telogen, a resting phase before the hair sheds. Laser works best when a hair has enough pigment and is in a growth phase that responds to treatment, so at any one visit some follicles respond better than others. Repeat sessions catch more hairs as they cycle back into growth.
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that most patients need several sessions, commonly 2 to 6, and that many can have another treatment about 4 to 6 weeks later. Your own interval and total depend on the area, how your hair grows, your skin and hair, and how you respond. We estimate after your assessment, and the estimate can change as treatment goes on.
Hair that is influenced by hormones, especially facial hair on the chin and upper lip, may need more sessions or ongoing maintenance.
Laser hair removal depends on pigment in the hair. The light is absorbed by melanin in the hair and follicle, so dark hair usually responds most predictably. Hair with little melanin, such as gray, white, very light blonde and some red hair, may respond poorly or unpredictably.
Skin color range and hair color response are separate questions. A device labeled for all Fitzpatrick skin types can still do little for hair that has almost no pigment. If your hair is light or gray, we will tell you at the assessment and talk about alternatives such as electrolysis.
You may be a good fit if the hair in the area is pigmented, you can keep the area out of the sun between visits, and you are not pregnant. Your nurse confirms candidacy at your assessment.
The GentleMAX labeling includes tanned skin within its indicated skin-type range. Even so, recent sun exposure adds pigment to the skin, and that changes how the skin handles laser energy. The American Academy of Dermatology advises patients not to tan or use sunless tanner before laser treatment, and to tell their clinician about a recent tan.
Our clinic policy is to postpone treatment when the skin has recently tanned or when sunless tanner is still on the skin. If you run, cycle or spend weekends outdoors around The Woodlands, tell us about recent sun at every visit, and protect treated areas with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher between sessions.
The FDA clearance for the GentleMAX family uses the term permanent hair reduction and defines it as a long-term, stable reduction in the number of hairs regrowing, measured at 6, 9 and 12 months after a treatment regime. That is a reduction in regrowth, not the removal of every hair.
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that most patients stay hair-free for months or even years, that regrowing hair tends to be finer and lighter, and that maintenance treatments may be needed. Hormonal changes can also bring new growth, particularly on the face.
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure, and it is not risk-free. Common, usually temporary effects include redness, swelling and discomfort, which the American Academy of Dermatology says usually last 1 to 3 days.
Less common but important risks include blistering, cold sore flare-ups, infection, scarring, and darkening (hyperpigmentation) or lightening (hypopigmentation) of the skin. Skin color often returns to normal over time, but some pigment changes can be permanent.
Tell your nurse about every prescription and over-the-counter medicine you take, including aspirin, and any skin products. Some medicines can increase sensitivity to light or affect healing, and the clinical team decides whether treatment should wait. If you currently take or recently took isotretinoin, tell us; whether to delay depends on your skin and our current clinical protocol.
Also tell us if you scar easily, have had a keloid, or get cold sores or genital herpes. Our clinic postpones elective laser hair removal during pregnancy.
This page is general education, not medical advice.
Having an appointment on the calendar does not mean the laser will be used that day.
Your nurse may suggest a later date if the area was recently tanned or sunburned, or if the skin is irritated or infected. A medication or something in your health history can also raise concerns about light sensitivity or healing. The laser is never used directly over tattoos.
Bring up pregnancy, hormonal conditions, past pigment problems and your full medication list at the assessment. If the skin is not ready, a short delay is safer than an avoidable reaction.
Some redness or swelling is expected after treatment. Contact us at (281) 326-9985 if pain, blistering, marked swelling, a change in skin color, drainage or any other reaction is getting worse, or does not match the aftercare instructions you were given.
The clinical team can tell you whether the reaction is expected, whether you should come in to be seen, or whether you need urgent medical care. If a reaction is severe or spreading and you cannot reach us, seek urgent medical care.
The size of each area, how dense and coarse the hair is, and how many sessions you are likely to need. Facial hair influenced by hormones may need more sessions or maintenance. Cosmetic laser hair removal is usually elective and is not typically covered by health insurance.
Because laser depends on pigment, it is not the right tool for everyone. For gray, white, very light blonde and many red hairs, electrolysis is often the more realistic option, since it treats each follicle directly rather than relying on pigment. We would rather tell you that at the assessment than book sessions that are unlikely to work.
| Method | How it works | Needs pigmented hair? | Typical repeat need | Best suited for | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser hair removal | Light absorbed by pigment heats the follicle over a series of sessions | Yes | A series of sessions, then maintenance as needed | Pigmented hair on many skin types, after assessment | Works poorly on gray, white or very light hair; burns and pigment change are possible |
| Electrolysis | A fine probe treats one follicle at a time with electrical current | No | Many sessions, follicle by follicle | Light, gray or red hair and small areas | Slow and time-consuming for large areas |
| Waxing, plucking or threading | Pulls hair out by the root | No | Every few weeks | Short-term smooth skin | Regrowth; must stop before laser sessions |
| Shaving or hair removal cream | Removes hair at the skin surface | No | Every few days | Quick, low-cost upkeep | Fast regrowth; razor bumps or irritation |
You can keep shaving between laser sessions.
Our Woodlands clinic holds 5.0 on Google from 170 location-specific reviews. These are patients of Misty and Lindsey, the two nurses who perform laser hair removal here, quoted exactly as they wrote them. The reviews cover all treatments, not laser hair removal specifically. Individual results vary.
Serving The Woodlands
Our clinic, InjectCo MedSpa Woodlands, sits at 250 Ed English Dr, Suite 3D, in Shenandoah. Look for the Portofino Plaza office condominiums on the east side of I-45, next to the Portofino Plaza shops and just north of Sam’s Club.
From Spring or Houston: go north on I-45 and use exit 79A (TX 242, College Park Drive, Needham Road). Keep to the frontage road, then turn right on Ed English Drive.
From Conroe: go south on I-45 and exit at 77 for Research Forest Drive and Tamina Road. U-turn under the freeway, head north on the frontage road and turn right on Ed English Drive.
From the villages west of I-45: follow Research Forest Drive east under the freeway, where the name changes to Tamina Road. Turn left on the frontage road, then right on Ed English Drive.
Patients come to us from across The Woodlands, including the villages of College Park, Alden Bridge and Panther Creek, and from Oak Ridge North, Spring and Conroe. The first visit is the same for everyone: an assessment and a test patch, with no treatment that day.
(281) 326-9985
Mon to Sun, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
More at InjectCo Woodlands
Our clinic is at 250 Ed English Dr #3D in the City of Shenandoah, a small city on the I-45 corridor on the east side of The Woodlands. The mailing address reads Shenandoah, TX 77380, and most of our patients come from The Woodlands villages, Oak Ridge North, Spring and Conroe. We are open 8 AM to 7 PM every day. Call or text (281) 326-9985.
Yes. Spring is part of the area we serve. From Spring, take I-45 north to exit 79A (TX 242, College Park Drive, Needham Road), stay on the frontage road and turn right onto Ed English Drive. Your first visit is an assessment and a test patch, and we are open 8 AM to 7 PM every day.
Recent sun or sunless tanner adds pigment to the skin, which changes how it handles laser energy. Although the GentleMAX labeling covers tanned skin, our clinic policy is to postpone treatment when the skin has recently tanned. Tell us about any recent sun at every visit.
No. Skin type describes how your skin responds to ultraviolet light and is a useful starting point. The setting also depends on your skin today, your hair color, thickness and density, the area, your medications, any past reactions and your test patch.
Yes. The GentleMax Pro at our Shenandoah clinic includes a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser as well as a 755 nm Alexandrite. The Nd:YAG interacts less with melanin in the skin and is commonly useful for deeper skin tones, but darker skin does not automatically mean Nd:YAG. The choice depends on the whole assessment, including hair color and thickness, and burns and pigment changes remain possible with either wavelength.
Often not well. Laser needs pigment in the hair to absorb the light, and gray, white, very light blonde and many red hairs have little. If your hair is in that range, we will say so and discuss electrolysis as an alternative.
Most people describe each pulse as a warm pinprick or a rubber band snap, which is how the American Academy of Dermatology describes it too. The GentleMax Pro sprays a burst of cryogen just before each pulse to cool the skin. Because every new patient starts with a test patch, you feel a few pulses on a small area before a full session. Coarse hair and sensitive areas such as the bikini line usually feel stronger.
Shave the treatment area before your appointment, and avoid waxing, plucking or threading, since the laser needs the hair root in place. Do not tan or use sunless tanner beforehand, as the American Academy of Dermatology also advises. Tell us about every medication you take, including isotretinoin now or in the past, and whether you scar easily or get cold sores.
It can give long-term or permanent hair reduction, which the FDA defines as a stable reduction in regrowing hair measured months after a treatment series. It does not remove every hair. Some hair can regrow, often finer and lighter, and maintenance sessions may be needed, especially for hormone-influenced facial hair.
We may postpone if the area is recently tanned or has sunless tanner on it, if the skin is irritated, broken or infected, if a medication or health change raises concern about light sensitivity or healing, or if you are pregnant. A short delay is safer than an avoidable reaction.
Our clinic postpones elective laser hair removal during pregnancy. If you become pregnant during a treatment series, let us know and we will pause your sessions until after your pregnancy.
A test patch is a small area treated so your nurse can see how your skin responds before a full area is treated. At our clinic every new laser patient has one at a first visit with no full treatment. A good test patch response is reassuring, but it does not guarantee that a full treatment will cause no reaction.
Redness, swelling and discomfort are common and usually settle in 1 to 3 days. Less common risks include blistering, cold sores, infection, scarring and lighter or darker patches of skin, and some pigment changes can be permanent.
Call or text us at (281) 326-9985 if pain, blistering, swelling, color change, drainage or another reaction is getting worse or does not match your aftercare instructions. The clinical team will tell you whether it is expected, whether to come in, or whether you need urgent care. If it is severe and you cannot reach us, seek urgent medical care.
We can only estimate after your assessment. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that most patients need 2 to 6 sessions and that many can be treated about every 4 to 6 weeks, but your number depends on the area, your hair and skin, hormones and how you respond.
Misty, MSN, RN and Lindsey, MSN, APRN, CPNP-AC perform laser hair removal at our clinic under the written delegation and protocols of Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director. In Texas, a nurse may deliver laser energy only under physician delegation, not as an independent nursing function.
InjectCo MedSpa The Woodlands operates under the physician-practice exemption in Texas law, so it does not hold a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation laser hair removal facility registration. TDLR’s program page describes that exemption. You can ask us about our physician delegation and protocols at any visit.
Cost depends on the areas and the number of sessions in your plan. Ask for the full cost of your plan at your assessment, before you book a treatment session. Cosmetic laser hair removal is usually not covered by health insurance.
Start with a nurse assessment and a test patch. There is no treatment that day, just a clear plan and a written quote. Would you rather talk first? Call or text (281) 326-9985.
The American Academy of Dermatology is an independent source of patient education and does not endorse InjectCo. It advises choosing a board-certified dermatologist for laser treatment; this page explains separately the Texas framework under which our nurses perform laser hair removal.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Josh Allen, D.O., Medical Director, InjectCo MedSpa.
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