Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution to get rid of unwanted hair. The laser’s heat destroys hair follicles to stop further hair growth in future.
Treatment can be helpful to those suffering from hirsutism, hypertrichosis or other conditions that cause excess body hair; however, it comes with its own set of complications and risks.
1. Cost
Laser hair removal costs can depend on several factors, including size of area being treated and provider experience. More seasoned plastic surgeons, dermatologists or technicians typically charge higher fees; inflation increases prices so it’s wise to schedule a consultation session so you can obtain an exact quote for cosmetic procedures.
Laser hair removal often costs less than waxing or shaving in the long run, eliminating depilation altogether and helping reduce other associated body hair problems like folliculitis, discoloration and ingrown hairs.
Before your treatment begins, it is essential that the skin on the areas being addressed be lightened. Also avoid products which darken your skin such as sunless skin creams as this could interfere with its success and thus thwart its results.
After your treatment is complete, follow-up sessions may be necessary in order to maintain its results and preserve your smooth, hairless appearance. Sessions usually occur four to eight weeks apart depending on your location and hair growth rate.
Note that laser hair removal is considered cosmetic rather than medically necessary, meaning you won’t qualify for Medicare or your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), nor take out a loan to cover it. For more information on your payment options for laser hair removal treatments, consult with a financial adviser – they can help determine whether laser hair removal fits within your budget and lifestyle while offering up information on its advantages and disadvantages so you can make an informed decision.
2. Time
Laser hair removal sessions may last several hours depending on the size and location of the area being treated, making scheduling inconvenient when trying to fit it into an already hectic schedule. Multiple appointments will likely need to be scheduled in order to receive all the treatments that will be necessary for successful removal of hair from legs.
As hair growth cycles can differ according to body part, it can be difficult to predict exactly how many sessions will be necessary for hair removal. A dermatologist is best equipped to determine this number for you and can create a customized laser hair removal plan tailored specifically to you.
As part of your laser hair removal regimen, it is also necessary to allow sufficient time between sessions. This is because hairs must be in anagen phase for laser energy to effectively target their follicles and damage them; catagen or telogen phases do not respond.
Laser hair removal requires six to eight sessions about five weeks apart for maximum effect, in order to see any noticeable reduction of unwanted hair. Some individuals even return for periodic maintenance treatments once their course of laser hair removal has concluded due to hair follicles gradually growing back after laser therapy but smaller and lighter than before – but it still less work than waxing or shaving! Also remember that sun exposure could compromise any laser-based hair removal treatments, putting you at greater risk.
3. Irritation
After laser hair removal, it’s normal for your skin to feel irritated and itchy for the first few days after treatment. This is due to how lasers target pigment in hair follicles and may cause surface burns on tanned skin if exposed too early. You can help avoid this by wearing broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen daily as well as avoiding hot showers, steam rooms or saunas and applying gentle fragrance-free moisturizer on treated areas before commencing treatments.
Some clients may experience an adverse reaction to the numbing cream used prior to laser therapy treatment. If this occurs, please seek medical assistance immediately and inform your physician of what has transpired. If any signs of allergic reaction such as hives or swelling surface during or following your laser session, discontinue and seek medical advice immediately.
Laser hair removal provides an effective, permanent solution for unwanted hair by targeting and destroying its pigment, providing an alternative to methods like waxing, shaving, plucking or using hair removal creams which require weekly or even daily upkeep.
However, for optimal results you must undergo multiple laser hair removal sessions; this may prove challenging if you live an active life and work long hours.
Today’s laser technology is more intelligent than in the past and can protect your skin by cooling its surface prior to and during laser treatments, which reduces discomfort while assuring safety for you and your skin. Furthermore, cooling helps minimize ingrown hair risk, which occurs when hair grows back into the skin causing red and painful bumps to form.
4. Ingrown Hairs
Laser hair removal treatments are more effective than waxing at preventing ingrown hairs than waxing can be. Ingrown hairs, an annoying skin condition caused by curling of curly or coarse hair inward instead of outward, are common but uncomfortable bumps under the skin that trap hair follicles beneath. Laser hair removal uses light pulses to destroy these follicles thereby eliminating their chance of regrowth thereby eliminating potential ingrown hairs altogether.
Although laser hair removal may not be entirely pain-free, most patients find the experience tolerable. Many dermatologists offer analgesic ointments to minimize pain during treatments and ensure a more enjoyable experience for all involved. Keep in mind that multiple sessions will likely be required before seeing results and that regular maintenance appointments should also be scheduled to meet individual needs and preferences.
Before your first laser hair removal session, shave the area you plan to treat. Shaving will eliminate any hair that would interfere with the procedure and allow the laser to penetrate deeper into your skin’s layers to access and disable hair follicles more efficiently.
Prior to your laser appointment, it’s best to avoid tanning or sun exposure as this could lead to reddening and burning during laser treatment, making it hard to conceal.
Laser hair removal only works on hair in its anagen, or growth phase. Hair goes through multiple cycles during its lifespan; typically 10-15% of hair in any given area will be in this stage at any given time. So if there is an abundance of anagen hair in one area, additional treatment sessions may be necessary before significant reductions take place.
5. Discomfort
Laser hair removal can sometimes be unpleasant; however, it’s generally less painful than waxing and shaving on an ongoing basis. Furthermore, treatments tend to be less uncomfortable on thicker areas of skin such as arms or legs.
Most individuals with higher pain tolerance levels find the treatment quite tolerable; many patients report that it hurts less than waxing, particularly sensitive areas like bikini lines. Furthermore, discomfort typically lasts only fraction of the time that waxing or shaving does; thus reducing overall procedure duration.
Note that everyone’s pain threshold and sensitivity levels vary; however, certain steps can help make treatment more bearable; for instance, applying numbing cream to lips and underarm areas prior to any procedure will help ease discomfort.
Other ways to make treatment more comfortable include drinking plenty of water and limiting caffeine intake, since caffeine increases pain sensitivity. Also, shaving the area prior to treatment can be very helpful as shaving allows the laser more accurately target hair follicle roots more quickly.
Keep in mind that multiple laser sessions may be required in order to obtain optimal results, which may be inconvenient at first but ultimately worth the trouble; you won’t have to deal with ingrown hairs, snagging and other problems associated with waxing or shaving on an ongoing basis! Plus, laser treatments tend to cost much less than waxing or shaving.
