In a laser hair removal procedure at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic, physicians and professional staff use a specially designed apparatus that emits laser energy to destroy hair follicles in the target area. Following the laser hair removal procedure, targeted hair eventually sheds, and new hair growth is softer and sparser (additional treatments may be required to remove all hair from a single area).

Hair grows on almost every part of a person's body. We are actually covered it in at birth. Most of it is fine hair that is not connected to sebaceous glands, called vellus hair or "peach fuzz". Vellus hair typically grows under 2 centimetres. The other hair that grows is terminal hair, which is thicker and longer. As men typically have more terminal than vellus hair, hairiness has become a symbol of masculinity in many parts of the world. As a result, terminal hair growth in specific areas of a woman's body may indicate a lack of femininity. For this reason amongst others, laser hair removal has become an effective solution for women, and sometimes men, who experience unwanted hair growth and yearn to eliminate it.

Hair is produced by the protein, keratin. Hair follicles are responsible for the growth of hair by collecting old cells and bundling them together, hence their sac-like shape. They exist at the base of a strand, near the sebaceous gland which lubricates each hair strand, and is actually a vital part of the skin. On average, there are 5 million hair follicles on every adult human, of which none are on the lips, nipples, navel, some external genital areas, the palms of our hands or soles of our feet. Hair does not grow on scar tissue as well. A vital part of the hair, laser hair removal at Toronto Cosmetic Clinic targets the hair follicles, along with the hair root which is inside the follicle and the hair geminative apparatus. The coarser and darker the hair, the easier to treat. Dark hair is attributed to the presence of eumelanin, which absorbs laser energy and converts it to heat much more easily than pheomelanin, the colouring for blonde and red hair of those who are fair skinned. This heat is what destroys the follicle.

Located at the bottom of every hair follicle is the dermal papilla, several millimetres below the surface of the skin. The dermal papilla is comprised of connective tissue and tiny blood vessels that nourish new hair. It is one of the most important parts of hair, as it contains androgens. This male hormone is responsible for hair growth, and hair growth at puberty is a direct result of its increase.