Unwanted hair growth associated with PCOS can be distressing. Luckily, there are options available to treat it effectively.
Laser hair removal is one of the safest and most effective ways to eliminate unwanted hair permanently, providing a more permanent solution than shaving or waxing.
Before undertaking laser hair removal, it is crucial to discuss your medical history with your physician.
What is PCOS?
Women suffering from PCOS often have their hormones out of sync, leading them to form cysts on their ovaries that produce cysts with symptoms like irregular periods, hair growth on face and body (hirsutism), oily skin, acne breakouts and difficulty losing weight – leading many times to infertility or sleeping problems as a result of PCOS.
PCOS remains poorly understood; however, its cause is believed to be higher levels of male hormones known as androgens that prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs during menstruation cycles, creating menstrual cycle irregularities and making menstruation problematic. Furthermore, women diagnosed with PCOS often exhibit elevated insulin and blood sugar levels which increase their risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endometrial cancer.
No cure exists for PCOS; however, treatment may help manage it and lower long-term health risks for women living with the condition. Your physician will first ask about your symptoms and health history. They’ll conduct a pelvic exam and perform blood tests to measure hormones, glucose and cholesterol. They may also conduct ultrasound scans of your ovaries to check for cysts as well as measure your uterus lining thickness.
If your doctor suspects PCOS, they’ll provide treatments to alleviate your symptoms. Birth control may reduce endometrial cancer risks while regularizing periods; diet and exercise plans might help shed unwanted weight; medications to curb excessive hair growth such as Clomid and Vaniqa may also be available; in-vitro fertilization surgery and IVF might even help you conceive in the event that other remedies don’t.
Though there’s no cure for PCOS, many women find their symptoms improve as they approach menopause. If you have PCOS yourself, managing diet and exercising regularly may help to alleviate its symptoms while laser hair removal provides permanent results without pain compared to shaving, waxing or electrolysis; thus it offers one of the most effective means of treating PCOS-related hirsutism.
What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal uses laser beams to effectively and painlessly eliminate unwanted body hair. Patients wear protective eyewear during this procedure; laser light emits from its source absorbs pigment in hair follicles to halt its production, leaving skin smooth and silky in its wake. Although the procedure is fast and painless, multiple sessions may be necessary in order to achieve permanent results; it should be considered safe but could result in burns or scars if applied incorrectly by an inexperienced practitioner.
Laser treatment works best on hair with lots of melanin, making it less suitable for blonde, gray or white locks. Furthermore, thick hairs do not respond as effectively because the light doesn’t penetrate deep enough into their follicles to have any significant impact. Overall it is usually faster and simpler than waxing or shaving!
Before seeking laser hair removal, it is advisable to visit your physician and undergo a physical exam and review of medical history in order to ascertain your eligibility and discuss risks and benefits of the procedure with them.
Insurance does not typically cover cosmetic procedures like laser hair removal unless they are medically necessary; however, if you suffer from excessive and undesirable hair growth (hirsutism or folliculitis), insurance providers may cover laser treatments to treat those conditions.
Notably, insurance will only cover laser hair removal treatments in clinical settings like dermatology clinics or spas, not at home. Also note that Medicare doesn’t cover laser hair removal expenses and you won’t be able to use HSA/FSA funds towards payments; should this be your plan it’s important that you discuss this with both physician and insurance provider beforehand.
What is the cost of laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal costs can depend on several factors: location, number of sessions needed and skin type. You should ask your practitioner or do research online about average costs, so make sure you are up-to-date. Be mindful that prices could rise due to inflation; keep yourself updated!
If you want laser treatment covered by insurance, you will need documentation showing it is medically necessary. Typically this means having a physician diagnose PCOS as the cause of excessive hair growth and prescribe the removal treatment plan for it.
Unwanted hair may cause significant emotional or physical distress and interfere with daily activities; you should consult your insurance policy for more details regarding which forms of evidence will be required to obtain coverage.
As part of your treatment, protective eyewear will be worn during laser light sessions to shield them from eye strain, as well as topical numbing cream to minimize any discomfort. Once this step has taken effect, a specialist will use a laser to destroy hair follicles in targeted areas using two to six laser treatment sessions, each lasting 30-40 minutes and lasting anywhere from two to six months to reach desired hair-free results.
Once hair follicles have been damaged, any subsequent hair growth will not take root and thrive; meaning that any new growth will likely be finer and lighter in color than before. For optimal results after treatment it is essential to use ice packs, anti-inflammatory medication and avoid heat sources like saunas or steam rooms; you must also protect the treated areas with sunscreen every time you go outdoors even during winter.
Some individuals who require laser hair removal due to medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome or hirsutism find that their insurer covers it. Unfortunately, other people must pay out-of-pocket; fortunately, there are ways of lowering overall costs so you can easily afford laser hair removal without breaking your budget.
Will my insurance cover laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is usually not covered by health insurance plans; however, certain policies may provide coverage if it is medically necessary to treat another condition. The best way to determine your insurance’s coverage of a treatment option is to have your doctor advocate for you; they should be able to explain any relevant details about it and any required documentation submission in order to meet the policy’s criteria.
Folliculitis may qualify for coverage and should be treated by laser hair removal as it occurs when hair follicles become blocked or inflamed, often from shaving with an uncomfortable razor, waxing, or chemical hair removal products. Folliculitis causes red bumps similar to acne that if left untreated can lead to scarring or discoloration. Laser hair removal is one solution that may resolve and help prevent future episodes of folliculitis.
For those without health insurance, researching affordable laser clinics is worth your while. Many will offer special pricing or discounts when booking multiple sessions upfront. Or if you prefer at-home laser hair removal devices as an economical long-term option. Just be sure to follow all directions precisely or you risk damaging or side-effecting it!
People suffering from folliculitis, PCOS or other conditions that lead to excessive hair growth may benefit from laser hair removal treatments in a clinic setting – not spas or estheticians. Insurance policies only support laser treatments when they’re conducted at these settings.
Laser hair removal isn’t covered by Medicare and most HSAs or FSAs, so finding alternative means of paying will likely be necessary if insurance doesn’t cover it. There are financing options that may help offset its cost; take the time to research options and submit detailed documentation in order to increase your odds of having your laser hair removal covered by insurance.
