Laser hair removal uses light energy to permanently damage follicles of unwanted hair and prevent future growth. The procedure is quick, painless and safe for all skin types.
Before seeking laser hair removal treatments, check that the practitioner is qualified by verifying their credentials against an approved practitioner register. In addition, research may help provide more insight into what to expect during treatment.
1. Face
Laser hair removal ranked among the top five nonsurgical procedures performed in 2016 in the US, making it a powerful option for eliminating facial hair. Unlike waxing or shaving which can result in ingrown hairs, laser technology kills dark pigmentation at its source for smooth skin with reduced ingrown hairs resulting in quick, convenient, and more effective treatment than alternatives such as shaving or waxing.
Before your laser hair removal session, it is essential that you follow some pre-treatment steps. It is particularly essential that sun exposure and sunless tanners be avoided prior to your appointment as this ensures natural-colored skin for the best results. Furthermore, any chemical peels should also be avoided in order to prevent additional discoloration or damage and shaving should occur prior to laser hair removal for maximum contrast between skin color and hair color.
Once the process is completed, you can enjoy having a hair-free face which will boost your confidence when going without makeup or wearing swimsuits in the pool. Unfortunately, hormonal fluctuations may stimulate hair regrowth within 12-24 months after treatment; to stay ahead of this issue it may be necessary to schedule regular touch up sessions for optimal results.
Your treatment should feel similar to a series of quick stings, depending on the area and type of laser being used. Following this procedure, redness or swelling of follicles (follicular edema) could occur; to minimize its side effects use cold compresses on treated areas and limit sun exposure if any occur; typically any long-term side effects don’t last more than a few days.
2. Chest
Hair grows all over your body, and sometimes the chest can be an area that has unwanted growth. While shaving and waxing may irritate skin long-term, laser hair removal provides an effective and long-term solution that won’t leave itchy rashes behind. In addition, laser treatment eliminates unwanted hair growth permanently – no worries about regrowth!
Maintaining an abundance of chest hair can be challenging for some individuals, especially when it interferes with exercise or working out. Chest hair also produces unpleasant body odors which can become an added burden.
Laser hair removal offers an easy solution for removing unwanted chest hair with just a few treatments that will leave the area looking silky smooth. Unlike alternative hair removal methods which may cause ingrown hairs, laser treatments destroy hair follicles completely to stop new growth from taking hold – meaning you don’t have to worry about ingrowns returning after each session!
Before coming in for laser hair removal treatment, it is recommended that you shave any grown-out hair from the area you will be treating and avoid tanning the chest region before treatment, since natural or artificial tans may make laser less effective or even dangerous. Once at your appointment, a medical specialist will clean out the area before applying numbing cream before using an industrial grade laser that emits high energy light to permanently damage hair follicles and cut your treatment short.
Procedure time depends on the area of focus; typically only several minutes may be required depending on its size and complexity. Larger areas like chest or back may take longer. To ensure comfort during treatment, laser settings can be altered accordingly so as to minimise pain levels.
3. Back
Laser hair removal can also help eliminate unwanted back hair. Laser treatment is effective against unwanted facial and back hair as well, offering significant reduction and sometimes complete elimination, especially after several sessions at monthly intervals.
The procedure itself is relatively painless; however, you may feel something similar to being snapped by a rubber band or getting sunburn depending on the location and your pain tolerance. A technician will use a skin-safe white pencil to mark quadrants on your back before treating each area methodically. This ensures all hair follicles are targeted without missing any and the machine also features a cooling shot to ease any discomfort that arises during treatment.
Before undergoing laser hair removal, it is recommended to forgo shaving or waxing the treated area and remain out of direct sunlight for several weeks before and after your appointment as direct sunlight can damage skin cells and increase the risk of complications like burning and hyperpigmentation. If you have dark skin, consult your physician regarding skin-lightening cream options.
As pregnancy or breastfeeding mothers should take note, laser treatment should not be undertaken. While there’s no scientific evidence that laser penetrates deep enough to cause harm to a fetus, it’s always wise to play it safe. Keloid scarring, Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2), cold sores or any history of previous laser treatments must also be avoided while on certain medications like acne treatments or birth control pills may make the situation even more dangerous.
4. Arms
Women and men afflicted by thick arm hair can often find themselves frustrated by the constant need to shave, wax or pluck it. Razors on sensitive areas may lead to razor bumps and cuts; waxing can be expensive and time consuming; plucking may cause ingrown hairs – all these activities result in unnecessary effort! Luckily, laser hair removal offers an effective solution to unwanted arm hair growth.
Laser treatments for underarm laser resurfacing can be safely utilized by both men and women. As this treatment may be uncomfortable, your specialist may administer anesthetic cream or an ice pack to ease any discomfort during this procedure. Before any procedure takes place, deodorant or antiperspirant should be avoided 24 hours beforehand to allow your skin to adjust; also avoid exposure to sunlight as laser therapy increases sensitivity to sunlight exposure.
For optimal results, it is advisable to avoid waxing and shaving for six weeks prior to laser treatment, as these activities strip the skin’s melanin layers that help the laser pinpoint and destroy hair follicles. Shaving can still be done if necessary but should be done so carefully to prevent ingrown hairs. In addition, tanninners or tanning creams should also be avoided as these darken the skin further and hinder laser therapy results.
Once your arm hair has been permanently removed, you will enjoy the freedom that comes from having soft arms free from hair growth. Keep in mind, though, that hormonal fluctuations may stimulate new hair growth within two or three years post-treatment; to avoid this happening and ensure permanent results it is important to schedule follow-up sessions every six weeks or so until reaching desired hair removal level – this way follow up sessions will prevent it from coming back and make the results permanent.
5. Legs
Laser hair removal is also effective on legs. From small patches of unwanted hair to blankets of unwanted stubble, our advanced technology can help. Light energy from laser beams penetrates into each hair shaft’s pigment to shut down its hair follicle and inhibit or delay future growth – the procedure typically being relatively painless though the area being treated may affect this. Our caring team strives to make your treatment as comfortable as possible; in some instances they may offer topical anesthetic for added relief.
Laser hair removal offers you a long-term solution to unwanted leg hair. After several treatments, unwanted hair will stop growing altogether and any that returns will be finer and lighter compared to shaving or waxing which only temporarily eliminate it.
Laser hair removal will effectively and permanently reduce unwanted leg hair so you can feel confident wearing shorts and other summer attire. For optimal results, we suggest scheduling treatments within a short timeframe; our clients typically require six sessions for lower legs/knees/legs or up to twelve sessions for entire legs.
Contact us now to set up your complimentary consultation and discover how laser hair removal could benefit you! We look forward to welcoming you soon; it is our pleasure helping our patients achieve their body image goals!
