The Nd:Yag laser delivers two different wave lengths of light. The first wavelength is an invisible infrared light used for deeper penetration to reach deeper into the skin and into the hair follicles. The second wavelength, a green light, is used for treating hair follicles closer to the skin’s surface. In both cases, the Q-switching device emits rapid bursts of laser light to the treatment site.

The long pulse Nd:Yag laser is the newest hair removal laser to be made available. Because its 1064nm infrared beam is poorly absorbed by skin and pigment, it can be used safely in all skin types, including patietns with tanned skin or moderate pigmentation. The laser laight can be applied to the skin in a large spot size. This, along with a fast repetition rate of energy application allows large areas of skin to be treated quickly. However, there are some disadvantages of the Nd:Yag laser including more discomfort during treatment and less effective clearance of fine and light hair as compared to the other hair removal lasers.

The Nd: Yag is capable of treating all six skin colors on the Fitzpatrick scale. However, there is not enough evidence that this laser can produce effective long-term hair removal. The ultra-short duration energy pulse (< 1 millisecond) Nd: Yag lasers used in conjunction with tar solutions or particle suspensions to help artificially color the hair follicle produced a short-term hair loss but there was complete hair re-regrowth six months after treatment.

However, newer Nd: Yag laser systems use a longer pulse duration without the use of any tar or other method to color the hair follicles. Detailed studies with these newer Nd:Yag laser have yet to be completed.