Laser hair removal uses laser light energy to temporarily destroy active hair follicles, leading to near permanent hair loss after six sessions of treatment performed by medical professionals such as plastic surgeons or dermatologists.
Procedure can range anywhere from several minutes to an hour, depending on the size and scope of the area being treated. Prior to treatment, you will need to shave off all areas that will be affected.
Choosing a Doctor
Are You Tired of Waxing, Ineffective Hair Removers, and Endless Shaving? Laser treatment could be your solution! As with any procedure that involves your body, finding a qualified practitioner who understands your individual needs and can perform the treatment safely and effectively is key. Luckily, there are a few key features when looking for someone who specializes in laser hair removal treatments that you should look out for when searching.
Make a list of questions to pose to any prospective providers before scheduling your initial appointment, such as:
Does This Individual Have Medical Training and Experience in Laser Treatment? Although laser treatment is considered cosmetic, any errors could have serious repercussions; thus, it’s crucial that the person providing laser treatments have medical training and experience, such as being a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
Check online reviews and seek recommendations from those who have had treatments done, to gain more information about their credentials. Ideally, try and find someone with at least five years experience providing laser hair removal treatments.
Be sure to ask if your insurance will cover this procedure as it typically falls under cosmetic treatments. Also make sure you know what you can expect from your treatment, such as how long sessions will last and if any discomfort should be anticipated.
Your individual results may depend on many factors, including your hair color and skin tone as well as the area being treated. On average, two to six treatments should produce significant results. It’s essential to avoid sun exposure before and after treatments in order to minimize burns or discolorations that could hinder progress.
Bear in mind that your treatments may not be permanent as your hair may eventually grow back. But if you continue your treatments and avoid sunlight exposure, the new hair that grows back could likely be finer and lighter than before.
Reputable practitioners provide treatments in a safe and clean environment. Before initiating treatment, they will shave the area being treated before applying an anesthetic cream or gel to reduce discomfort during your session. Next, they use handheld laser instruments to target hair follicles where your hair growth originates; this will significantly diminish hair growth.
While the procedure can be uncomfortable, most people liken it to feeling little pinches from shark fins. In the end, though, the results can make the discomfort worthwhile – just be sure that if any side effects arise like blistering or severe burns that you visit a doctor immediately to prevent scarring and other complications from developing.
Preparing for Treatment
Those frustrated with shaving their bikini line or spending thousands of dollars waxing or plucking unwanted hair could find laser treatment an attractive solution. But before making an appointment at their local spa, there are a few things they should know in advance in order to prepare themselves properly for their first session.
Prior to getting laser treatment, it’s essential that you stop tweezing and waxing the areas where you intend to receive laser therapy. Lasers work by targeting pigment, so if tweezing/waxing disrupted any of your follicles through tweezing/waxing they won’t be effective; additionally it should wait several weeks so the hair has time to grow back before beginning treatments.
Based on your location and skin type, laser treatment could take several sessions at four-week intervals to effectively eliminate hair from growing back in cycles. Each treatment utilizes pulses of energy targeted to heat up and damage each pigmented follicle so as to stop future production of additional hair growth.
Laser treatments are considered safe and noninvasive; however, you may experience discomfort or some pain during the session. Some have described the sensation as similar to multiple bee stings or rubber bands snapping against their skin. It’s recommended that goggles be worn during treatment to protect eyes from being hit with laser beams.
Once treatment has concluded, you can immediately resume normal activities. Since the treated area may still be red and swollen, hot tubs or saunas should be avoided until at least 24 hours have passed post-session. Furthermore, to protect treated skin using high-SPF sunscreen is important.
Your laser hair removal technician will give you a list of “pre-treatment orders” to follow in the days and weeks leading up to your appointment. Failure to follow these orders could significantly hinder results or, even worse, render treatment impossible altogether.
As a general guideline, laser hair removal should only be administered by licensed physicians or certified clinical electrologists. Cosmetologists often lack the training and expertise required for safe laser treatments; national-certified electrologists are required to undergo extensive training and testing prior to being accredited as national-certified electrologists; certification credentials should be displayed prominently at your chosen clinic – any lack thereof could indicate potential issues and you should look elsewhere for care.
Procedure
Laser hair removal uses light to permanently eliminate unwanted hair. A laser beam absorbs melanin pigment in hair shafts and damages their follicles so they cannot produce further hair growth. Although no anesthesia is required for the procedure, you may wish to apply topical numbing cream prior to beginning therapy to ensure a comfortable experience and reduce irritation. Before you undergo this treatment, your physician will review your medical history, discuss risks, benefits, and expectations in order to make an informed decision if this treatment option is right for you.
During a laser treatment procedure, your physician will use a handheld device with cooling capabilities or cool gel attached to minimize discomfort. A laser can treat an area the size of a quarter every second; small areas like upper lips may take less than a minute while larger regions such as backs or legs could take up to an hour to treat completely.
Before seeing results, you may require multiple treatments with laser hair removal. While results won’t come instantly, most unwanted hair will be eliminated within six to nine sessions of laser treatments.
Laser treatments differ from shaving in that they penetrate the skin and target hair follicle roots directly, eliminating surface layers of hair. Not only are laser treatments quicker and more convenient than wax or tweezing removal of unwanted hairs, they’re also permanent; with regular follow-up appointments you can achieve hairless happiness – meaning less need for shaving or waxing in future years!
Laser treatments tend to work best on those with dark hair and light skin, as the contrast between those two colors makes it easier for their hair to absorb laser energy. People with darker locks might experience temporary lighter spots from laser treatment; this should not cause concern. It’s important to inform your physician if taking medications that might increase pain or bleeding during your procedure (e.g. aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs). You should also reschedule if having open cuts, cold sores or sunburn.
Before receiving laser treatments, it’s advisable to avoid products which darken your skin as these could interfere with results. Tanning or tanning beds should also be avoided for at least a few days prior to an appointment as laser treatments do not work effectively on tanned skin. You may experience redness and rash immediately after your procedure, which should fade within hours; otherwise apply an ice pack to help ease swelling post-treatment. It’s a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothing as this will also assist.
