Laser hair removal can help eliminate unwanted hair on arms, legs and back faces for good. An FDA-approved procedure, it offers permanent relief by cutting back on shaving, waxing or plucking visits.
Before embarking on laser hair removal, however, you will want to have some background knowledge. Here are 10 FAQs About Laser Hair Removal to assist in the preparation process for your first treatment session.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal utilizes light to eliminate hair follicles, leaving behind smooth and hairless skin. Light absorbed by pigment in hair follicles is converted to heat which then kills them permanently, no longer producing new hair growth. While shaving, waxing, and tweezing remove surface hair temporarily but don’t eliminate follicles; laser treatment provides permanent removal.
Laser treatments work by targeting dark pigment in hair follicles; however, blond, gray, white or peach fuzz cannot be detected as it lacks sufficient pigment to be detected by laser. Your Fitzpatrick skin tone also impacts treatment effectiveness – for this reason it is wise to consult a specialist.
At your appointment, you’ll sit comfortably in a treatment chair while the laser’s head slowly passes over the area that needs treating. Any slight discomfort experienced should be alleviated with topical anesthetics. Before beginning treatment it is wise to avoid shaving, tweezing, or waxing the area as these methods remove pigment from hair follicles making it harder for laser to identify and destroy it.
Each pulse of the laser takes just fractions of a second and can treat multiple hairs at once, whether on an area like your upper lip or greater surfaces such as back. A small area such as upper lip may only take several minutes while larger spaces like back could require up to an hour or more for complete treatment.
After your procedure, your hair will start to gradually fall out over several days or weeks, returning lighter in texture than before and finer overall. Most patients see results that last months or even years; however, for long-term reduction results further treatments will likely be needed.
Understand that laser treatments do not destroy all hair follicles; some will regrow after treatment has taken place. When these damaged regrowth hair follicles grow back slower and finer compared to when left undamaged; therefore it’s essential that regular sessions be attended and quality sunscreen be worn between treatments.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?
Laser pulses a small spot of skin every second, quickly treating multiple hairs at once. A small area such as an upper lip can be treated in less than a minute while larger areas like back or legs could take up to an hour – saving time compared to alternative hair removal methods such as shaving or waxing which take significantly more time to eradicate all unwanted hairs.
Heat from a laser will destroy hair follicles, stopping their production of hair. However, because hair grows according to an anabolic cycle with resting, shedding, and growing phases, you may see some hair grow back after multiple treatments; usually finer and lighter in color than before.
Laser hair removal generally provides more long-term solutions than shaving, waxing, plucking and cream depilatories in terms of results. Most individuals experience a significant reduction in the amount of hair in their treatment areas and when any does reappear it usually grows back thinner than before.
After your laser hair removal session, some redness and swelling in the area treated may occur; this should resolve within a few days. If discomfort continues after this point, try applying a cold compress over the area in question to ease discomfort.
Before your laser hair removal treatment, it is recommended that you refrain from using cream depilatories and shave the area that will be targeted two to three days in advance. Furthermore, staying out of direct sunlight is advised as having naturally or artificially tanned skin can reduce effectiveness of treatment and even lead to side effects.
Your best option when selecting a medical professional for laser hair removal should be one with adequate training. While FDA has approved certain devices for home use, it’s best to have a dermatologist or other cosmetic surgeon such as Dr. Michele Green perform the laser procedure on you.
Laser treatment cannot remove every hair on your body, but the laser can target most follicles in their active growth phase – so with regular treatments over several months or years you should see permanent reduction of unwanted hair. For best results, schedule sessions every six to eight weeks apart for maximum effectiveness.
What Are the Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal carries minimal risks when administered by licensed practitioners, though you should keep certain things in mind to minimize risks: for instance, you should avoid getting treatments near your eyes or during pregnancy; also contact your physician if any rare long-term side-effects develop after sessions have concluded.
Many people who undergo laser hair removal report experiencing redness or irritation on the area being treated, which usually means your skin has been damaged by its heat; this should resolve within an hour after each session.
As laser treatments can produce heat that targets and melts hairs, you may experience a burning sensation during treatment sessions – this is normal and caused by the laser’s heat reaching into your eyes to target and melt them. Therefore, wearing protective glasses or goggles during treatment is advised for eye safety purposes; shaving the area that will be treated prior to laser sessions also helps ensure hairs don’t grow back longer, which could make laser sessions difficult for effective targeting of these longer follicles.
Blistering after laser treatment may occur less frequently, though it remains possible. You may also see discoloration of your skin after laser treatments; this usually results from pigment being drawn away from its surface by the laser, although this should not usually pose serious problems.
Some individuals also experience skin infections after laser hair removal, particularly if treated by an unqualified practitioner. Similar to acne, these infections occur when pores become clogged up; to help avoid this happening again you should hydrate affected areas regularly while also avoiding over-the-counter antibiotic creams and keeping everything clean and tidy between treatments – any signs of infection should always be reported immediately to a healthcare professional such as dermatologist.
How Often Should I Get Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution for eliminating unwanted body hair, but for best results it must always be performed by an experienced board-certified dermatologist – such as Dr. Michele Green in NYC – so as to avoid burns or hyperpigmentation as side effects of treatment.
Laser hair removal treatments will vary, with about 90% of people experiencing permanent reduction after six sessions. Furthermore, it’s essential to use broad spectrum SPF30 sunscreen on areas of treated skin to protect it against further sun damage.
Laser hair removal requires that you wear goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. The procedure itself can take anywhere from minutes to an hour depending on its complexity and the size of the area being treated, but is typically completed quickly with only mild reddening and swelling after each session; any sulfurous smell caused by hair follicles being heated by laser will dissipate shortly thereafter.
Before scheduling a laser hair removal appointment, you will need to shave the area that will be treated in order to expose hair follicles that might otherwise be difficult to target with laser. Furthermore, plucking, waxing and electrolysis should be limited as these methods interfere with laser’s results and interfere with desired outcomes.
Laser hair removal works most effectively on people who have light skin with dark hair; its efficiency may decrease for those who have darker complexions or who sport blonde, gray, white or red locks.
If you are considering laser hair removal, consult your physician or specialist about the appropriate approach for you. As laser hair removal is an elective procedure and therefore not covered by medical insurance policies, it’s essential that you fully understand all associated costs before making your decision.
