Laser hair removal can be seen as an investment, but many clients believe it to be well worth their while. As an effective and long-term alternative to shaving and waxing, it offers clients an effective long-term solution.
Laser energy targets the pigment in your hair follicles and destroys it to stop future hair growth. You’ll require multiple sessions in order to permanently stop unwanted hair growth.
What to Expect
Most men and women will require six to eight laser hair removal sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart for optimal results. At your free consultation, your practitioner will discuss what sessions would work best with your skin type and hair texture.
After receiving laser hair removal treatments, it is possible that some fine new hairs may reemerge; these will likely be much thinner and lighter than before, making them less noticeable. It is essential not to wax, pluck, or tweeze them as these will be addressed during subsequent sessions.
Laser treatments are most effective when hair follicles are in an anagen phase – where growth occurs and melanin concentration increases – so only 20% of our hair are ever in this state at any one time; multiple laser sessions will likely be necessary in order to effectively treat all unwanted hair growth. Once complete, however, you could expect up to an 80% permanent reduction in growth of unwanted strands!
Treatment 1
At your first laser hair removal treatment session, you should expect to notice an immediate reduction in unwanted body hair. However, typically six to eight treatment sessions will be needed before your desired results can be seen; during your consultation session with a specialist will give a more accurate estimation.
Laser hair removal uses a beam of light energy that targets your hair pigment, heating up its follicle and disabling it from producing new hair follicles. This method is both safe and effective; much safer than shaving or waxing which may lead to ingrown hairs, razor bumps and other skin conditions.
Your provider may apply a topical anesthetic before initiating your procedure, which may cause some slight discomfort during its completion but should otherwise be pain-free and quick.
Treatment 2
Hair removed using medical-grade lasers is gone for good – unlike shaving or waxing which may irritate the skin or depilatory creams which could pose potential risks on sensitive areas of the body, permanent hair reduction is possible with laser treatments.
At this stage, you should have completed half of your laser therapy sessions and should be seeing marked improvements to the area being treated. Your practitioner will assess and advise you regarding what can be expected in regards to remaining sessions.
The initial laser session will temporarily weaken or destroy hair follicles, leaving clients feeling like they have experienced sun-burn. After about one week of treatment, clients should notice they have begun losing hair; although it can seem like it regrowths itself this is actually destroyed hair follicles shedding. They must not shave or pluck this area during this time; laser treatment sessions must continue as planned until completion.
Treatment 3
After receiving laser hair removal treatments, patients typically notice some unwanted hairs start to shed naturally over the following four to six weeks – this should not be misinterpreted as hair regrowth and should not be waxed, plucked or tweezed as these small fine strands will be targeted during subsequent sessions.
Patients preparing to undergo laser treatment should avoid products which darken the skin for at least several weeks prior to receiving laser treatments, including any creams or treatments which darken sunless skin creams and lotions that claim to darken it further. It is also advised to wear sunblock on any treated areas.
Keep in mind that laser treatments only target hair follicles in their Anagen stage of development, therefore multiple (8-16 depending on skin tone and hair color) appropriately spaced follow up sessions are required for optimal results. Yet even after multiple sessions have taken place, individual results may still differ due to hormones and their specific hair growth cycle.
Treatment 4
After receiving their laser hair removal treatments, patients should experience permanent reduction in hair growth. Unfortunately, hormones still play a part in hair regrowth so it is advisable for patients to come in annually for touch up sessions to zap any additional new growth that may appear.
Note that your skin type also plays a factor when deciding how many laser hair removal sessions will be necessary; medical dermatology professionals classify skin types on the Fitzpatrick scale, for instance darker colors tend to be more susceptible to hyperpigmentation and therefore require additional laser sessions; this is particularly true for hormonally active areas like your face or neck.
Treatment 5
Laser hair removal uses selective photothermolysis to heat dark target matter in the hair follicle – such as melanin – without harming any other areas of skin, effectively shocking its growth and reproductive cells into destruction. Although multiple sessions may be needed before all hair is permanently gone, once gone most people remain hair free for months or years with thinner and lighter-colored growth when it eventually returns.
Laser hair removal also reduces irritation from depilation, shaving, waxing or electrolysis which may irritate your skin. Laser hair removal stands out among permanent hair reduction solutions available today.
Treatment 6
Laser hair removal works by targeting and disabling follicles, making it impossible for clients’ bodies to produce new hair growth in that area. After several sessions, clients should notice lighter-colored and finer-textured body hair than before – meaning less need for shaving, waxing or tweezing!
After each treatment session, clients should expect some redness or swelling as a side-effect from the heat energy used to kill follicles. Although the skin may feel sunburnt for several hours post-session, it will subside within hours or so.
Once treatments have been completed, it’s essential that clients maintain their results by attending regular maintenance sessions. Doing this will prevent unwanted hairs from returning as well as reduce ingrown hairs; eventually they’ll be able to completely eradicate their unwanted growth by staying on schedule with these maintenance appointments.
Treatment 7
After eight sessions, most patients will notice a substantial reduction in hair growth on their arms, legs and bikini area. Although certain areas may take longer to respond than others, overall the hair will become considerably thinner than before.
Laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to target pigment and heat the hair follicle, so selecting one with appropriate spot size, fluence (energy density), and cooling mechanisms is crucial to success.
Laser hair removal often leads to redness and swelling on the treated area of skin, so an ice pack may help alleviate these side effects.
An individual may also experience skin crusting. If they can avoid picking at it, however, this should typically resolve within several days. Additionally, when outside, they should use sunscreen with broad-spectrum SPF 30 protection or higher on any treated areas to provide added protection – further ensuring they do not expose themselves to direct sunlight or tanning beds between treatments.
Treatment 8
As soon as your laser hair removal course has concluded, you should notice a significant reduction in unwanted hair growth. However, hormones play a key role in hair regrowth so it’s likely some will return in due course.
Be sure to seek laser treatment only from qualified providers, and check that they are registered on a list that certifies they meet established training, skill and insurance standards. Furthermore, avoid sun exposure before and after treatments as this can damage skin tissue.
Laser hair removal involves pressing a handheld device against your skin, which may feel slightly uncomfortable but should not be painful. A laser emits energy which targets only hair pigment without impacting on skin pigment; this causes the follicle to destroy itself and stop producing additional hair follicles, thus stopping further hair production and stopping further growth.
