When she decided to get laser hair treatments to permanently remove it, she learned from a nurse that she might have polycistic ovarian syndrome.

Turns out, she did have the syndrome, which can affect fertility and cause other health problems and symptoms, including hirsutism.

"I didn't like people to touch my face," Hintze said. "It wasn't soft. It affects intimacy. But I'm just thrilled now with the results."

While not everyone who wants to get rid of hair has a medical condition, laser hair removal is becoming more common. It is the fastest-growing minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. Of nearly 8.5 million such procedures performed in 2005, laser hair removal was the fourth most common.

And more Utah men and women are getting it done now as bathing suit season nears.

Laser hair removal is regulated differently all over the country. In Utah, technicians must do the procedures under the supervision of a doctor.

"We believe a doctor needs to be on site, but we have heard of situations in which there was no supervision," said Daniel Jones, bureau manager of the Cosmetology Licensing Board with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing. "We've had a couple reports of burns."

How it's done: Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser to get rid of hair. The laser energy passes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle, which is killed by the heat generated by the laser. Laser treatments can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the size of the area being treated.

The most common areas are the face, neck, chest, breast region, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line and legs. Depending on your skin type, companies use different settings and lasers. The best candidates have light skin and dark hair. The lasers don't work well on blonde, red or grey hair.

The laser pulses over the desired area and customers might feel a slight sting. The lasers at Ideal Image in West Jordan, where Hintze was treated, have cryogen spray cooling to protect the epidermis from heat damage. Clinic director Lynn McMillan and others then typically apply cool aloe vera to minimize discomfort.

The procedures are fairly quick - about 10 minutes for the upper lip and chin. But they're also expensive - $770 for facial hair removal. Ideal Image workers tell customers they will need between five and eight sessions and the removal is guaranteed for a year.

People who want to get their hair removed should not tan or be exposed to the sun. Tanning alters skin pigment and can affect how the skin absorbs the laser energy, leaving visible marks where the laser pulsed. And patients should avoid direct sun exposure after the treatment and use a sunscreen with a protection factor of 40 since the treated skin will be sensitive to the sun.

Batman wings? McMillan, who told Hintze she might have polycistic ovarian syndrome, said she has told five women that they might want to be tested since Ideal Image opened in February. McMillan has seen women with chests so hairy they could be mistaken for men, aside from their breasts.

Laser hair removal is popular because shaving is a royal pain, she said. At Ideal Image, the most common procedure is removal of women's facial hair. But people have all kinds of requests.

One of the most unique requests came from a man in his sixties who wanted his pubic area completely depleted of hair. They call it a male "Brazilian," named after the country where the genital hair removal procedure originated.

For women who want their bikini area smooth, the business has templates for remaining hair, such as diamonds or triangles. Others are more creative, asking for boyfriend or husband's names or initials - or even Batman wings.

Contact Carey Hamilton at chamilton@sltrib.com or 801-257-8605. Send comments to livingeditor@sltrib.com.