Heat from the laser damages the pigment of each hair follicle, preventing it from producing new hair growth. While it may be impossible to eradicate every individual hair follicle in an area at once, repeated treatments result in permanent hair reduction.
However, results of your treatment will vary and to make the most out of it, follow the advice from Michele Green, MD; Hadley King and Corey L Hartman MDs respectively.
How It Works
Laser hair removal uses heat from a laser beam to destroy hair follicles, rendering them incapable of growing new hairs. Because the laser light targets only pigment from hair follicles and not surrounding skin pigments, treatment works best on individuals with darker hair and lighter skin pigments because this allows it to target just those follicles without affecting nearby areas.
Process is quick and requires no anesthetic creams; if any discomfort arises, an experienced technician may offer a numbing cream for relief.
After treatment, it’s essential to protect the skin from further exposure by wearing broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen on any areas treated by laser. Furthermore, exercise or other activities that increase sweat production should be avoided as the heat and sweat could irritate treated areas further.
Your lifestyle and genetics can also play an influential role in how long the results of laser hair removal last. Working closely with your dermatologist, they will develop a timeline to ensure you achieve desired cosmetic outcomes; for instance, those with dark-skinned or thicker hair may require multiple sessions more often than those with lighter locks and skin to reach desired cosmetic outcomes.
Maintenance treatments should also be part of your plans to ensure lasting results, and are especially vital in any areas treated on the face, since hair will grow back more rapidly than other body parts.
Consult with your dermatologist about any hormonal imbalances that might impact how quickly and how much hair regrew after treatment – an imbalance could include too much testosterone stimulating regrowth more quickly than expected, for instance.
Electrolysis and other non-laser treatments for permanent hair reduction should also be explored as possible solutions, since they may be more effective and less painful than shaving, although not as quickly.
How Many Sessions Are Needed
At your laser hair removal consultation, our team can determine how many treatments will be required to give you smooth skin. We consider factors like hair thickness and color contrast between skin tone and hair color – this allows our laser to target and disable the hair follicle without harming surrounding tissues.
Laser technology has made it possible to remove unwanted hair from darker skin tones as well. We still find it easiest to achieve long-term results with those who have lighter hair and skin tones as the laser targets melanin-filled hair follicles without harming nearby tissues.
Before arriving for laser hair removal treatments at our clinic, it’s important to avoid shaving, waxing, plucking or tweezing the area being treated. This is necessary because hair needs to be in its anagen phase for effective absorption by laser light energy. Furthermore, sun exposure and tanning should be limited for six weeks prior to each session for best results.
Before beginning laser hair removal sessions, we will apply a topical pain-relieving gel or anesthetic to the treatment area. Next, your technician will press a handheld device onto the surface of your skin and trigger the laser, creating what feels like elastic band snaps against your skin – this can be uncomfortable so we suggest applying an ice pack post-treatment.
Once your laser treatment has concluded, it is normal to see some hair regrowth as damaged follicles produce lighter-textured and-colored hair follicles begin regenerating again. Over time, however, these new hairs will become less visible as their density becomes thinner than that of natural growth.
As your treatment sessions continue, fewer and fewer hairs will regrow until there are none at all – leaving permanently reduced or eliminated hair in its wake. We advise coming in for maintenance sessions once or twice every year in order to help ensure that hair won’t grow back after you stop treatments have ended.
How Long Does It Take to See Results?
Laser hair removal can be an effective treatment to curb unwanted hair growth. After multiple sessions, most people see less to no hair growing on the treated area and experience smoother skin than they would with shaving, waxing or using tweezers to remove unwanted hair. Unfortunately, laser hair removal doesn’t always produce permanent results and some hair may return over time; to get an accurate understanding of what to expect from laser hair removal treatments consult a physician, dermatologist or trained hair specialist.
Before beginning laser hair removal treatments, a technician may apply a cooling device or gel to the area being treated, to protect your skin and decrease any discomfort from the process. You will also be required to wear goggles to protect your eyes from laser beam. However, some individuals experience burning, stinging, or pain during laser hair removal sessions and might require use of a numbing cream for comfort during these procedures.
Typically, when visiting a doctor or qualified hair specialist for laser hair removal treatments, you’ll feel an uncomfortable pinprick-like sensation on the surface of your skin and may also sense cold sensations coming from the tip of the laser instrument, depending on its type.
Your technician will press a laser against your skin, causing hair follicles to become damaged by its energy, damaging pigment of each follicle enough to stop producing new hair follicles altogether. He or she will repeat this process throughout your treated area.
After receiving laser hair removal treatment, your skin may become red and swollen; to help alleviate any possible sunburning effects use a broad spectrum sunscreen when outdoors. Over time you may see some hair regrowth which will likely be sparse and fine in appearance.
Those tired of shaving, waxing or tweezing to remove unwanted hair may want to schedule an appointment with Spring Street Dermatology’s SOHO, Tribeca or Uptown NYC offices for laser hair removal at Spring Street Dermatology. You can book your consultation online or contact the office directly and speak with an experienced cosmetic dermatology expert.
Will Hair Grow Back?
Unwanted hair can make us self-conscious, as well as time consuming to remove with traditional methods like shaving, waxing or plucking. But laser treatments offer permanent hair reduction through no longer needing these routines according to dermatologists Michele Green MD, Hadley King MD and Corey L Hartman MD.
Laser hair removal is a safe, effective solution to unwanted hair growth that leaves skin smooth and supple. Furthermore, it may help ease other associated skin conditions like folliculitis or pigmentation issues associated with this growth process.
Laser treatments also improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles in the treatment area, producing a more youthful complexion. It should be noted, however, that hair may still grow back after laser therapy has been completed as not all follicles can be destroyed during one session; rather, the laser targets pigmented melanin within each hair follicle that it destroys while damaging others follicles temporarily; these hairs usually regrow thinner and lighter than before.
Long-term results typically require multiple sessions at four- to six-week intervals for optimal results, and it’s essential that patients refrain from shaving, waxing or plucking the area to be treated prior to visiting a dermatologist – who will offer more guidance as far as preparation goes.
Before and after laser treatment, it is wise to avoid sun exposure or tanning beds as exposure can increase the risk of skin reactions. Wear sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30+ whenever possible for added protection.
Spring Street Dermatology can help you simplify your daily routine and rid yourself of unwanted hair with its laser hair removal consultation in SOHO, Tribeca or Uptown NYC. Their experienced doctors will tailor a treatment plan specifically to your needs and budget; ask our receptionist about package options or flexible payment plans; your flexible spending account might even cover some costs associated with laser treatment!
