Laser hair removal works best on hair follicles that are in their active growing stage; therefore, multiple treatments (6 or more) may be required for optimal results.
Hair that does regrow often appears lighter and thinner due to damaged follicles producing thinner and lighter locks.
What Causes Hair to Grow Back After Laser Treatments?
Are You Struggling With Unwanted Hair Growth? Like many, laser hair removal might be your perfect solution if it has not produced satisfactory results with other solutions like shaving or depilatory creams and waxing. Laser can eliminate your need for shaving creams, razors and waxing treatments and provide permanent, long-term solutions with long-term effects that no other methods can.
Laser hair removal works by heating and damaging the hair follicles that produce hair in a targeted area, effectively rendering them incapable of producing new strands; any existing ones will gradually shed over 7-30 days, leading to thinner and lighter regrowth that gives a much smoother appearance overall. Keep in mind, however, that laser hair removal isn’t permanent; multiple treatment sessions will likely be required in order to achieve optimal results.
Laser treatment destroys germ cells within hair follicles, but does not kill them completely. Some follicles can recover and begin producing hair again – although its results tend to be lighter or thinner than what had previously grown there; as a result, you’ll require at least six laser sessions for best results.
After laser treatments, some hair may grow back due to hormonal imbalances or natural processes. You can help avoid this happening by adhering to a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals; furthermore, avoid high-sugar processed foods as these could create hormonal imbalances which lead to extra hair growth.
Laser hair removal may not be permanent, but it still provides long-term solutions that will free you of the need to shave, wax and tweeze. By participating in multiple treatment sessions you can achieve a more attractive and smooth appearance that lasts far longer than any other method of hair removal – and since laser treatments tend to be less costly than shaving creams or waxing methods in terms of cost savings over time.
How Do Laser Hair Removal Treatments Work?
Laser hair removal sessions use pulses of safe, targeted laser energy that penetrate deep into skin tissue to target and destroy hair follicles, thus preventing future hair growth, while making any that reemerges less noticeable over time. Over time, any hair that does reappear will be thinner and lighter in color; over time laser treatments can significantly decrease unwanted hair growth on all parts of the body including arms, legs, underarms, chest, stomach and back.
Though some patients experience temporary discomfort during laser hair removal treatments, most find the process relatively pain-free. A topical anesthetic may help mitigate discomfort during treatments.
As part of the hair removal process, laser light heats and damages pigment in hair follicles to render them incapable of growing hair, ultimately leading to their destruction altogether. This may require multiple treatment sessions depending on where your follicles are in their growth cycle at the time.
Hair grows in cycles: resting period, shedding phase and then growing back again. Due to how heat affects follicles and damages them during laser treatments, they may sometimes damage one which is already growing or may be in a shedding phase at the time of your laser session. In such an instance, however, new growth may continue but with finer and thinner locks than those originally removed by the treatment.
Laser hair removal treatments are not a permanent solution to hair removal; though they will drastically decrease the amount of growth in treated areas, you will likely require periodic touch-up sessions in order to maintain reduced hair growth. This is because some follicles may remain intact under the surface skin, or because some cannot be reached as easily using laser treatment.
If you are considering laser hair removal treatments to permanently get rid of unwanted body hair, we advise making an appointment at our office for a consultation session. At this appointment we can determine how many treatments will be necessary as well as provide insight into what to expect during each of them.
How Long Do Laser Hair Removal Treatments Last?
Laser hair removal should not be seen as a quick fix; rather, it takes multiple sessions over time for permanent results to take place. At your initial consultation appointment with one of our specialists, they will discuss the number of sessions needed to achieve your desired goals; typically most people need four to eight treatments to see results; your schedule may be tailored specifically based on your unique needs and the area being treated.
Your doctor will use a handheld laser instrument to heat up pigment and damage hair follicles, stopping them from producing further hair growth. In some cases, cool gel may also be applied on top of the instrument tip to provide extra comfort during treatment and decrease any potential discomfort; some patients report experiencing a warm pinprick sensation during this phase.
After your initial treatment session, you should witness a marked reduction in hair growth within your targeted area. Any regrowth typically will be lighter and finer in texture than before.
However, some hair may still regrowth even after treatment has taken place, especially if your anagen phase hairs were still in progress at the time. By adhering to your recommended schedule of four to six weekly visits for further treatments in your series of treatment, less and fewer hairs will come back out over time.
Your doctor will likely suggest scheduling an annual check-up appointment to maintain results and ensure all unwanted hair has been permanently eliminated by laser. If you choose not to attend, keep in mind that some regrowth may occur over time.
Prior to beginning any laser hair removal treatment, it is crucial that any plucking, waxing, or shaving in the treatment area be avoided as any hair not in their anagen phase will not be targeted by the laser beams.
As direct sunlight can hinder treatment effectiveness, it is wise to either avoid sun exposure altogether or wear sunscreen at your treatment site. If an appointment needs to take place outdoors, make sure you bring along a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 so that it can be applied afterward.
Will Hair Grow Back After Laser Treatments?
At each laser hair removal session, a doctor will apply a handheld instrument containing either a cooling device or cool gel on its tip to protect and minimize risks of side effects. Next, a laser beam passes through your skin into your hair follicles where its intense heat damages their structures and inhibits further hair growth.
After receiving multiple laser treatments, most unwanted hair should have fallen out and not come back; any that does reappear will most likely be much thinner and lighter than before.
Individual results vary, however most patients require two to six treatments sessions for maximum hair reduction. If regrowth appears during treatment it is crucial that you stick with your plan and attend follow-up appointments regularly.
Hair follicles may also be in their telogen phase, where the hair appears to have completely vanished from your skin’s surface. While it might appear that your telogen phase hair follicles have responded well to laser treatment and seem inactive, it is still wise not to shave or wax this area since the laser will still affect these follicles and they could start producing additional unwanted hair growth again after some time has passed.
If regrowth is becoming an issue for you, touch-up laser treatments could be helpful in treating it. Their frequency will depend on your hair follicle’s natural growth cycle as well as other factors like hormones or medication that could influence it.
It is also essential not to interfere with laser treatment by employing other hair removal methods like shaving, plucking or waxing – these techniques will cause hair follicles to regrow early and lessen your results.
If you are considering laser hair removal, contact our office immediately to arrange your initial consultation. We will work closely with you to develop a tailored treatment plan to meet both your needs and budget, helping you achieve smooth, hair-free skin! All major forms of payment are accepted. Additionally, financing solutions may be available depending on your financial circumstances.
