Are you tired of shaving, waxing and plucking unwanted hairs? Laser hair removal treatments offer permanent hair reduction for silky-smooth skin.
Laser hair removal involves applying pulses of light directly onto areas where you would like to get rid of hair. The laser’s light is absorbed by pigment in the hair follicle and destroys it, thus producing long-term effects on hair removal.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution to unwanted body hair removal. Lasers use heat energy to destroy hair follicles so they cannot regrow, providing an alternative to waxing, shaving and plucking. FDA-approved and generally considered safe procedures when performed by qualified medical aestheticians, this procedure should only be used as a last resort option.
At the start of a laser hair removal treatment, your skin will be sterilized and numbed before being exposed to pulses of light from a laser directed at the area you wish to treat, pulsed at your hair follicles where pigment absorbs heat to destroy them and leave your follicles in an apoptotic state. The procedure could last from minutes for smaller areas up to hours when treating larger ones.
At times during treatment you may experience some discomfort; however, cool blowing air helps alleviate it. It may feel similar to stings from bees or the snapping sensation of rubber bands against your skin, however. After each session your skin may appear red and swollen afterwards but this should dissipate within hours or using creams and cold compresses can also help.
Laser hair removal requires multiple sessions to achieve your desired results, depending on factors like hair color and thickness, area of treatment and skin tone. Laser treatment works best on people with dark hair and light skin as the contrast allows the laser to effectively target melanin for destruction of follicles.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal is a safe, effective solution for removing unwanted body hair. The treatment utilizes heat from a laser beam to destroy dermal papillae responsible for hair production; over time, this results in thinner, less frequent growth of new follicles.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, it’s best to stop waxing or tweezing for two weeks as this pulls the roots from their sockets, rendering laser hair removal ineffective. Furthermore, avoid sun exposure prior to treatment since its wavelength attracts melanin molecules found both on your hair and skin which could result in burns during your session.
On your appointment day, you’ll come into our clinic and lay down in one of our private treatment rooms. First we will clean the area to be treated to remove any dirt or oils that might inhibit its effectiveness; next we will stretch and apply cool gel or blowing air to reduce discomfort; finally our practitioner will use laser technology on your skin to eliminate unwanted hair growth.
Laser hair removal is an efficient and painless procedure that typically takes only an hour depending on the size of the area being treated. After treatment, cream will need to be applied on your skin in order for it to recover; you may feel as if your skin has suffered mild sunburn afterward but this should fade quickly over time.
How Long Will a Laser Hair Removal Treatment Last?
Laser hair removal offers an effective and permanent way of eliminating unwanted body hair. As opposed to shaving or waxing, which only temporarily eliminates unwanted hair, laser removal permanently eradicates all traces from the body – meaning you never need to shave, wax or pluck it again! However, regular maintenance treatments may still be required in order to keep skin smooth and hair-free.
Permanent hair reduction treatment depends on your individual hair’s growth cycle; since laser treatments work by targeting active growth phases of hair follicles, multiple sessions will likely be required in order to target all your locks effectively.
To achieve permanent results, treatments should be scheduled every 4-6 weeks to ensure all hair follicles are in active growth mode. Furthermore, it’s crucial that sun exposure be limited before and after each session; applying broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 protection or higher is advised for maximum protection.
Laser hair removal pain can vary considerably from person to person; some find the process extremely uncomfortable while others find it tolerable. You can reduce discomfort during your laser hair removal procedure by applying topical anesthetic on the treatment area prior to beginning; this will reduce any sense of laser beam contact against skin surface.
Are Laser Hair Removal Treatments Safe?
Laser hair removal is typically safe. Some patients may experience temporary side effects, including redness or swelling; these side effects typically dissipate within an hour or two.
Find a certified practitioner to perform your treatments. Unqualified providers could use unsuitable techniques, leading to serious side effects including burns or blisters.
To reduce discomfort, most clinics and technicians employ cooling devices to numb the skin before laser treatments begin. This helps prevent laser from damaging it directly. Shaving is also recommended as it allows the laser to target only pigment from hair follicles; otherwise it would miss them due to lack of contrast with skin.
Hair growth cycles vary significantly among individuals, as not all follicles become active at once. Therefore, multiple sessions may be needed in order to reach desired results; after completing several treatments most patients do not notice any regrowth for months or years; when hair does grow back it often grows finer and lighter in color than previously.
For optimal results, it is best to avoid waxing or plucking hair between treatments. Shaving may be done, but be sure to shave as closely to the surface as possible for maximum efficiency.