Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and it is vitally important that a practitioner with extensive training be selected as your provider.
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to unwanted hair growth, typically taking several treatments over time to effectively clear away most of it from a particular area such as an upper lip. Treatment might need to occur every four to eight weeks in areas like this one for maximum effectiveness.
How Does It Work?
Laser hair removal is an efficient, noninvasive way to eliminate unwanted hair. This technique prevents ingrown hairs and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by destroying the hair follicle. Before receiving laser treatment, avoid waxing or plucking of the area being treated; you can still shave and trim as normal before your appointment. Also avoid sun exposure before and after undergoing laser therapy as its laser may mistake tans as pigmentation which could result in burns from overexposure to light.
Your dermatologist will use a handheld laser instrument to apply laser hair removal treatments, depending on which laser type is being used, to press against your skin. A cooling device or gel may be applied depending on which laser model is selected to protect your skin and reduce any discomfort during treatment. A light beam then passes through to reach hair follicles where heat damages them enough that they no longer grow back; you might feel an occasional warm pinprick sensation which usually is not painful.
Your physician may recommend multiple laser treatments in order to achieve the results you are after. An initial series of four to six treatments spaced approximately six weeks apart should do it; additional sessions may be necessary if hair growth occurs rapidly in areas like your face or pits; this applies more so for faster-growing regions like legs.
After initial treatment rounds have concluded, you may require periodic maintenance sessions. These are generally advised for women suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), using hormone replacement therapy or experiencing menopause/perimenopause and declining estrogen levels.
Your number of maintenance laser treatments depends on factors like your hair growth cycle, its color and thickness as well as skin tone. Regrowth after laser hair removal tends to be slower and finer, with any that does occur being lighter in texture and color than prior. While results from laser hair removal treatments last months to years in terms of results being permanent; eventually hair follicles heal themselves and begin producing hair again, so additional laser sessions may be required to maintain a hair-free complexion.
Nd:Yag
Laser hair removal can be an effective treatment for excessive hair growth (hirsutism). It reduces unwanted growth while lightening dark locks. Furthermore, it works by decreasing the number of follicles that produce hair which prevents further expansion – all without impacting surrounding tissue or the patient. However, results won’t be immediate and in order to get optimal results you may require multiple sessions – during your consultation we will determine exactly how many sessions will be necessary in order to see desired outcomes.
An Nd:YAG laser is an ideal way of treating darker skin types. With its wavelength of 1064nm, this type of laser penetrates without damaging skin tissue while targeting blood supply that supplies hair follicles – thus making this treatment effective in combatting dark complexions.
Studies have demonstrated that the Nd:YAG laser can effectively remove hair in patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI. Furthermore, it has proven safe for darker tanned skin; however, some users reported temporary increases in pigmentation; in such instances it is essential to avoid sunlight and other sources of ultraviolet radiation.
Nd:YAG lasers stand out from diode and Alexandrite lasers by not absorbing melanin, providing wider treatment coverage of skin colors. Furthermore, its longer wavelength means faster treatment of darker tones.
Twenty patients suffering from hirsutism were treated using Nd:YAG lasers at fluences between 30-40 J/cm2 in an investigational study. Hair reduction was measured after three treatments and 12 months post-last session; Axillary hair seemed most responsive to laser exposure than legs or face hair, and treatment pain was mild without being related to either hair thickness or epidermal damage; histological changes mirrored clinical responses by showing selective injury of hair follicles without disruption to adjacent epidermal cells.
The Nd:YAG laser is an excellent option for patients with darker skin as it doesn’t absorb melanin; however, other lasers may be more suitable to treating white or blonde hair. Before making a decision to undergo any laser treatment, always consult with an experienced physician who can assess both your skin type and hair texture to suggest suitable laser therapies for you.
Diode
Light and heat energy from a laser travels directly to hair follicles and destroys them, unlike waxing, shaving and tweezing which removes hair at its surface but doesn’t target germ cells in follicles directly – eventually this causes them to stop producing new hair, eventually dying away altogether. For maximum effectiveness you may require eight-10 sessions for permanent removal of unwanted body hair from a specific location on the body.
Diode laser hair removal works by employing semiconductor technology to produce coherent projections of light in both visible and infrared wavelengths, which are then absorbed by specific pigment cells within the skin. Diode lasers offer greater melanin absorption levels than any other laser system and thus make for an efficient method for dark skinned individuals who also sport dark-skinned hair.
Laser treatments are effective ways of targeting melanin in hair follicles and inhibiting future growth, using heat from a laser beam to break apart melanin deposits and disable hair follicles from producing new hair growth. They’re especially recommended for people with thick, coarse locks that don’t respond well to traditional treatments such as bleaching.
Laser hair removal can be an extremely safe and effective treatment when patients follow all pretreatment instructions carefully. They should avoid sun exposure, wash their skin with mild cleanser before their session and avoid using other hair removal products or methods before beginning laser treatments. In order to ensure maximum hair follicle exposure before treatment begins, patients should also shave before getting an infusion session done.
Additionally, patients should make sure to wear protective eyewear during laser hair removal treatment, as the laser could potentially damage the eyes if it comes into direct contact.
Finally, patients must understand that their individual laser hair removal sessions will depend on many different factors including skin tone and hair color as well as which areas of the body needing treating; generally darker areas will need additional sessions than lighter areas.
MeDioStar diode laser hair removal technology offers safe and effective hair removal for all skin types and hair colors, making it the ideal solution. Join Dr. Jason Emer for an informative live webinar on December 14, 2020 to gain more knowledge of this groundbreaking solution!
Alexandrite
Alexandrite lasers are widely used for the removal of pigmentation disorders and tattoos, but their primary use is permanent hair removal*. A laser beam with precisely 755 nanometers wavelength is directed at each hair that needs removing; its light is absorbed by its color pigments while high energy transfers are transferred directly into its root for destruction, effectively stopping future regrowth and making this method both efficient and safe*.
This treatment does not require local anaesthesia and can be completed much more quickly than tweezing or waxing due to an innovative cooling system that protects skin from thermal damage while offering minimal discomfort during laser therapy.
For optimal results, multiple treatments may be required in order to achieve results. The exact duration depends on which body area needs treating; treatments for upper lips typically last one or two sessions while larger areas such as legs can take up to an hour or more. It is also essential that during these treatments sun exposure and tanning beds be avoided along with epilation shaving and depilatory cream use.
Prior to recently, patients with darker skin tones could not be successfully treated for laser hair removal as the laser beam would attract and destroy dark melanin found within their surrounding skin structures. Thanks to Alexandrite laser technology, however, these patients can now also be successfully treated – though be wary as this type of laser may cause side effects such as erythema, edema, blistering purpura and hypo-hyperpigmentation as a result of its more aggressive nature.
