Laser hair removal uses pulses of light to target and destroy unwanted hair follicles, thus stopping their ability to produce new hair growth. It typically requires multiple sessions during different growth cycles in order to achieve permanent hair reduction.
Procedure is rapid; each pulse of light takes only fractions of a second. However, larger areas may take longer.
How long does it take?
Laser hair removal uses a medical-grade device that uses light energy to convert into heat, damaging or destroying hair follicles and eventually making them incapable of producing new hair strands. Over time, unwanted body hair will gradually fall out as new ones replace existing ones; sometimes this requires multiple sessions depending on the area being treated and your individual reaction to laser therapy.
Laser hair removal may seem painful at first, but the reality is it’s actually relatively pain-free. Individual levels of discomfort vary and your practitioner may use a cooling device before administering laser treatment; if your pain tolerance is low they may also reduce intensity accordingly – the discomfort felt is comparable to waxing or threading treatments.
After receiving laser treatment, your skin might become red and swollen. To alleviate discomfort and assist the healing process, cold compresses should be applied directly to the area. Also be sure to protect it with SPF sunscreen to protect it from further sun damage.
Many people notice an immediate reduction in unwanted hair shortly after starting laser treatment; however, you will likely require several weeks before your body stops producing unwanted hair altogether. Furthermore, any already growing hairs will reemerge after laser therapy has taken place – hence why it is necessary to commit to multiple sessions in order for full results.
Permanent results typically take six to ten sessions for most patients to see permanent hair reduction of 90% or greater. Your practitioner can provide more precise estimates during a free consultation session.
What are the side effects?
Laser hair removal is a simple, painless procedure that can be performed anywhere on the body. Unlike traditional methods like shaving, waxing, and threading – which involve laborious manual work to temporarily remove unwanted hair – laser treatments permanently damage hair follicles so they cannot grow any additional hair; typically six or more sessions are sufficient to reduce unwanted growth by 90% or more.
Process involves having a practitioner press a handheld device against the skin and activate a laser, using its cooling system to avoid burning it. Most people find the process comfortable; however, those with lower pain thresholds may feel discomfort similar to an elastic band snapping against their skin.
Before receiving laser treatment, if desired, topical anesthetic can be applied to the area prior to receiving laser treatments. Depending on your pain threshold and size of area being treated, sessions could last between 20-60 minutes; after completion of treatment an assistant may then shave away any remaining hair in that region.
Some individuals may experience side effects from laser hair removal, including swelling and redness. To minimize these side effects, it’s essential to follow your dermatologist’s instructions prior to and following treatment, in order to help alleviate them. Some changes to skin color may also occur but these typically resolve themselves over time as the area heals.
Laser hair removal works better on darker strands of hair due to how easily laser light can pick up pigment and destroy hair follicles, so it’s wise to avoid sun exposure after having undergone laser treatment.
As it’s best to allow hair follicles that were damaged during previous sessions time to rest and heal themselves before scheduling another laser session, dosing too soon will result in additional treatments being necessary in order to stop hair growth altogether.
How much does it cost?
Cost of laser hair removal varies according to the area of your body where the procedure will take place. Your plastic surgeon can provide an accurate price quote during an initial consultation as different parts of the body grow and shed hair at differing rates. Purchasing multiple treatments upfront or selecting a package could further lower total costs.
Laser hair removal offers an affordable option that delivers long-term results, much cheaper than waxing or tweezing. The procedure itself is quick and virtually pain-free; most patients describe it as feeling like rubber band snapping against their skin. Laser precision allows it to target individual hair follicles for destruction without damaging surrounding tissue, while its light energy also treats all colors of hair including white, blonde, or gray hairs.
In most cases, four to six sessions will be needed in order to see permanent results due to hair growth being cyclical and laser treatments only affecting active growing phases. Therefore, it’s recommended to visit a dermatologist with experience treating with laser and an expansive knowledge of skin issues.
At-home laser hair removal devices exist but tend to be less effective and more expensive than professional treatments. Furthermore, using one may lead to skin damage and scarring as its laser technology is less precise causing permanent changes to its appearance.
Laser hair removal is typically not covered by insurance; however, if it is being used to treat gender dysphoria or another medical condition that requires the procedure. If this is the case for you, your insurer may offer to cover its costs.
Plastic surgery offices typically offer payment plans that make surgery affordable, including credit card companies and flexible spending accounts. An average monthly payment will cover the majority of sessions.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate?
Laser hair removal offers an effective alternative to shaving, waxing, or plucking unwanted body hair. The procedure works by targeting the pigment (melanin) within hair follicles to damage them and ultimately go dormant; eventually these damaged follicles no longer produce hair and don’t grow anymore.
The number of treatments needed will depend on your skin color and hair type; typically six treatments will be necessary to see desired results. This is because laser therapy only targets hair during specific points in its growth cycle – missing one could make achieving your desired outcomes very challenging.
Your initial consultation will help determine whether laser hair removal is suitable for you, including performing a patch test to gauge how your skin reacts.
Additionally, you will be asked about any medications or medical conditions which could increase the likelihood of side effects from laser hair removal. Pregnant women or those trying to become pregnant should delay laser hair removal until these activities have ended before undergoing laser hair removal treatment.
At your consultation, you will also be asked about any previous methods for hair removal that you have attempted such as plucking, waxing or shaving. While these approaches can lead to short-term reduction of hair growth, they often leave behind ingrown hairs, razor bumps, redness swelling and irritation that need treating with professional help and using appropriate tools and following their recommended plan will prevent future issues with ingrown hairs or razor bumps arising in future treatments. By following your specialist’s recommendations you may avoid these occurrences altogether.
Are You Curious about Laser Hair Removal Options in Encino, CA? Reach Out Now! Our professional team would be more than happy to answer any of your inquiries regarding the various laser hair removal procedures we offer in Encino. Call or schedule online and see how we can help you achieve the look that has always been elusive to you! We look forward to serving patients from Encino soon and are excited about meeting with you!
