Laser hair removal is an efficient, safe, and effective treatment to eliminate unwanted body hair. The procedure starts by applying numbing gel to the skin before pressing a handheld device against it and activating a laser, with each pulse feeling similar to pinpricks of warmth or rubber bands snapping against it.
The Number of Treatments
Laser hair removal uses a focused beam of light to safely and gently eliminate unwanted body hair from both face and body areas. During treatment, light produced by the laser absorbs pigment found in hair shafts to generate heat that destroys their follicles preventing future hair production. Multiple sessions may be necessary depending on factors like hair color and coarseness as well as your gender, age and skin color – darker hair usually requires additional sessions than lighter strands.
Laser hair removal can be an effective means of eliminating unwanted hair. The method works by targeting pigment in hair to enable laser targeting and damage of its follicle; at the same time, surrounding tissue remains undamaged since laser only targets its intended target: the follicle.
Laser hair removal involves pressing a handheld device against your skin and activating a laser, similar to snapping an elastic band across its surface. After treatment, redness and swelling may appear, though most side effects will subside within hours or even minutes. Furthermore, any area treated by the laser could become sensitive to sunlight afterward so sunscreen should always be worn when going outdoors.
Before your treatment begins, shave the area that will be lasered to help your laser target follicles more accurately; this also allows it to see contrasts between skin tone and hair color more clearly. Furthermore, avoid waxing or shaving products prior to your appointment, as these could hinder its effectiveness.
Be sure to wear protective goggles while under laser’s beam, and the practitioner will then apply a cooling gel or air spray on the surface of your skin to minimize discomfort during laser hair removal sessions. With time, unwanted hair should slowly shed from its root follicle and shed from your body naturally.
The Time Between Treatments
Laser hair removal treatments should typically be administered every four weeks; however, depending on your circumstances and hair growth cycle. Patients looking for permanent reduction of their hair growth rates should visit a dermatologist such as internationally-recognized NYC laser hair removal expert Dr. Michele Green for customized sessions tailored specifically to them.
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective treatment option for both men and women seeking smoother skin. Women often opt to remove unwanted facial hair for aesthetic and personal preference reasons, while some men opt to get rid of chest or back hair for more masculine looks. Laser hair removal involves minimally invasive laser procedures to destroy unwanted follicles to stop new growth from sprouting on any part of the body including legs, arms, stomach, underarms etc.
For optimal results, foregoing hair removal methods such as tweezing, plucking, waxing and threading in areas where laser treatments will take place can yield positive outcomes. Such techniques remove hair follicles from their locations on the skin surface which could compromise laser treatment effectiveness since laser treatment relies on pigment in hair follicles to target unwanted hair follicles. Furthermore, sun exposure after laser treatments could alter skin color resulting in hyperpigmentation.
Once each laser hair removal session is completed, unwanted hair will begin to shed gradually over the following days or weeks. When new growth emerges, it often has different growth characteristics than before – appearing lighter or thinner. Most patients don’t experience further hair growth until months or even years have passed after finishing their treatment regimen.
Dr. Michele Green will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your medical history and any hormonal imbalances that might impact the results of laser hair removal treatment, and offer you a tailored schedule so you can get a smooth and beautiful complexion faster.
The Area Being Treated
Laser hair removal works best on those with dark hair and light skin. The contrast allows the laser to target only areas containing melanin pigmentation without harming surrounding tissues; unfortunately, grey hair lacks melanin pigmentation thus rendering current laser technology incapable of targeting it effectively.
Hair growth cycles vary; therefore, treatment frequency can also depend on its rate of development. If your hair grows quickly, sessions might need to take place every four weeks while slower-growing areas could benefit from being treated every 12-16 weeks. We will work closely with you to develop a treatment schedule that suits both your lifestyle and achieves the best possible results.
Hormonal changes during puberty or menopause may alter how quickly hair grows in certain areas, making additional laser hair removal treatments necessary to achieve desired results. We will keep an eye out for changes to hormone levels and help plan treatments accordingly.
Most individuals require at least six laser hair removal sessions for permanent hair reduction. Furthermore, it is vital that treatments take place at a licensed medical spa or under the guidance of a board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Michele Green to ensure proper administration and avoid unwanted side effects like burns or hyperpigmentation.
Women experiencing heavy or excessive facial hair growth typically have a hormonal imbalance known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). When this is the case, hormonal replacement therapy combined with birth control pills or Spironolactone may help eliminate excess hair.
Men and women often choose laser hair removal for aesthetic or comfort reasons, especially on areas like their back, shoulders and chest. Laser treatment can be utilized on almost all parts of their bodies except their eyelids.
Laser hair removal treatments should be spaced out every 8-10 weeks for maximum effect, since each session targets active-growth phase follicles to destroy. Thus, multiple sessions are often necessary in order to keep areas free from hair.
The Type of Laser
A laser’s type and use is a crucial element in your treatment’s success. Lasers use light impulses that penetrate hair follicles to destroy pigment cells, rendering the follicle incapable of growing new hairs and rendering your treatment ineffective.
Your skin and hair colors also play a factor in how well this treatment works; for instance, blonde hair and fair skin tend to respond less favorably than darker follicles and darker skin to laser treatment, due to hormonal influences which drive new growth.
Doctors performing laser hair removal use handheld devices that have been modified to protect the surface of your skin, along with cooling devices and gels designed to minimize discomfort and side effects. After shaving the area that requires treatment, anesthetic may be prescribed if necessary in order to alleviate discomfort levels further.
Once the site of hair follicles is prepared, your dermatologist will apply a laser instrument directly onto your skin and press down with it a bit. A mild discomfort, like warm pinpricking sensation, should occur; so be sure to follow all instructions from both before and after treatment by following all dermatologist instructions exactly.
The wavelength, fluence, pulse duration and spot size of a laser will all have an impactful on its effectiveness for treating hair removal. A laser with high peak power that produces short wavelength is best suited for thin, finer hairs with lighter skin tones; longer wavelength lasers with greater fluence work better with thicker darker hairs or deeper skin tones.
Your doctor will use all these factors to develop a customized treatment plan to achieve the results you’re after. After several sessions, unwanted hair should have significantly diminished; however, hair follicles remain active so periodic re-treatments may be needed in order to keep up with results of treatments. Overall, laser hair removal offers safe and effective solution to eliminate your unwanted hair permanently.
