Melanin in your hair follicles absorbs laser light energy and converts it to heat, effectively disabling its ability to grow new follicles. This technique works best on individuals with light skin and black hair.
Note, however, that not every hair follicle will be completely destroyed during laser treatments; those that regrow typically produce finer and lighter-colored strands than before.
How many sessions do I need?
Shaving and waxing can be time-consuming tasks for both men and women looking to remove unwanted body hair. Shaving can often result in ingrown hairs or skin irritation when using traditional methods to do this, leading many people to opt for laser hair removal as a permanent solution that reduces or eliminates unwanted body hair without needing shaving, waxing or other hair-removal products.
Laser hair removal uses laser energy to damage the pigmented cells that produce and grow hair in an area. Because not all the follicles will be active at once, multiple sessions may be needed in order to hit every one of them and reduce future hair growth effectively.
Experienced patients can expect to see significant reductions in hair growth after just a few sessions with laser hair removal; however, to achieve optimal results it’s crucial to commit to multiple sessions spread out over four weeks apart. While each person may need six to eight sessions spaced out accordingly.
Fitzpatrick skin types categorize skin according to color, sun sensitivity and likelihood to tan; darker-skinned individuals may require multiple sessions in order for laser energy to absorb properly and target hair pigmentation efficiently. Other potential factors may include medications taken, nutritional supplements taken or hormonal imbalances.
Arriving for your laser hair removal sessions clean and free from skincare products that could create an obstacle between the laser and skin, such as moisturizers, sunscreen and deodorant. Furthermore, sun exposure, tanning beds or self-tanners should also be avoided prior to treatment as these can interfere with its effectiveness.
Dr. Green will work closely with you during the initial consultation to develop a customized treatment plan tailored specifically to your cosmetic goals and skin needs. She’ll consider which areas need treating, your desired hair-removal result, any concerns or goals that arise as well as potential financing or flexible spending account solutions available to pay for the procedure.
How long will each session take?
Unwanted hair growth can be both unsightly and time-consuming for many people, leading to frustration. Shaving, waxing and plucking may not work effectively and may leave skin with bumps or razor burn. Laser hair removal offers a safe and efficient method to safely eradicate unwanted hair in almost any part of the body.
Dermatologists will often shave or apply topical pain-relieving gel before using a handheld laser instrument to destroy hair follicles that produce hair, using either an active laser device with cooling properties on its tip, or cool gel, and protecting skin during treatment sessions with similar sensations to warm pinpricks. After each session, doctors advise treating treated areas as though you had light sunburn and taking steps to keep it safe from extreme temperatures such as high heat or low cold.
Laser hair removal works by emitting a pulse of light that penetrates through the skin and targets pigment in hair follicles, specifically melanin found in dark-haired follicles. Although not every follicle may be destroyed entirely, most are severely damaged; any that survive may produce finer and lighter-colored growths in future treatments.
After each laser hair removal session, you’ll notice a decrease in hair growth. But ongoing touch up treatments are required in order to maintain results; as hair doesn’t grow at an even pace across your entire body; some follicles might still be active while others might still be dormant; therefore multiple sessions must target all these dormant follicles to prevent further growth at later dates.
Laser treatments for hair removal are more efficient than other methods. Shaving with traditional razors takes over an hour, while laser hair removal treatments typically complete in under half that time and provide permanent hair reduction.
How much will each session cost?
Cost of laser hair removal will depend on the size and amount of area being treated as well as hair growth to be removed. The procedure typically entails an office visit, application of topical anesthetic to numb pain, laser treatment itself and potentially soothing agents or sunscreen applications as recommended by Drs. Guanche and Hartman.
Waxing can last significantly longer than shaving; its results typically lasting several weeks to months. Unfortunately, waxing doesn’t act as a permanent hair reduction method either; new growth from damaged follicles will eventually sprout back up again and produce additional hair growth. A person’s individual hair cycle will determine both how many new hairs are destroyed per treatment session and when these follicles regenerate and produce additional locks of growth.
Before and after laser hair removal treatments, individuals should refrain from tanning for at least seven days prior to beginning therapy sessions and during any weeks following. Also, people undergoing these procedures must arrive to their appointments with skin that is clean and free from products like lotions and oils.
When your doctor presses a hand-held laser instrument onto your skin, you may experience what feels like a warm pinprick. Cooling devices and gel may be added to help ease any discomfort and decrease any possible side effects.
As part of this procedure, laser heat destroys cells inside hair follicles to stop them producing new hair, forcing the damaged follicles out from beneath your skin’s surface and pushing any hair that regrows to be lighter in color and texture than previous growth – less noticeable to others. An initial round of laser treatments coupled with occasional maintenance sessions should lead to permanent hair reduction; though some regrowth may still appear from destroyed follicles over time; for optimal results expect multiple initial sessions over several months or years in order to achieve permanent hair reduction results.
Do I need to be numb?
Laser hair removal does not cause as much pain as people fear; however, there may be a slight sensation as laser energy passes through the skin to reach hair follicles. A topical numbing cream may help lessen this sensation if you have a low pain threshold; many medical spas apply them prior to treatments while you can purchase one from any drugstore or online source for use at home – just follow all instructions on the package carefully.
Your technician may also use a dynamic cooling device on the area before and after laser pulses to protect skin from being overexposed to light while also helping numb it – making the permanent laser hair removal less painful than otherwise.
If the pain associated with laser hair removal concerns you, taking painkillers prior to your session may ease its intensity. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen could make the procedure easier to bear; aspirin could thin blood and increase bleeding during treatment.
After your laser hair removal sessions, it is essential that you avoid direct sun exposure and wear sunscreen whenever going outside. Sun exposure can cause pigmentation issues with your skin as well as lighten the color of hair follicles; to maintain results it would be wise to schedule regular maintenance sessions at four- or six-week intervals.
As a permanent hair reduction method, laser therapy outshines traditional methods like shaving, waxing, electrolysis and plucking. Laser is one of the few hair removal options which actually slows hair growth over an extended period of time; attending regular treatment sessions reduces your need for other methods while saving money long-term; the cost of laser treatments far outstrips those associated with razors, depilatory creams or paying multiple salon appointments each month.
