Laser hair removal is a non-invasive way to get rid of unwanted body hair. It uses pulses of heat to destroy pigment cells in unwanted hair follicles and prevent future growth.
Since hair grows in cycles and lasers can only target follicles during their active phase, multiple sessions will likely be needed to reach results. Therefore, we advise choosing a device suitable for dark skin tones.
How many sessions do I need?
Laser hair removal utilizes pulses of light energy to penetrate hair follicles and destroy their dark pigment, thus inhibiting future hair growth. This innovative procedure can significantly reduce unwanted hair on any area of the body; however, multiple sessions may be necessary in order to achieve maximum effectiveness; the number of sessions needed varies between four and six depending on individual requirements.
Keep in mind that at-home laser devices do not compare with professional lasers in terms of power or effects; overusing these at-home devices could result in burns, skin damage and other undesirable side effects if used more often than recommended. It is recommended to avoid waxing or shaving prior to laser hair removal sessions as this can interfere with its effectiveness and compromise its success.
At each session, a trained practitioner uses a handheld device to deliver pulses of light energy that are absorbed by pigmented hair follicles and converted into heat energy, damaging their follicles and dissolving their shafts – often leaving clients with the sensation similar to sunburn. Over time, however, damaged follicles become incapable of producing new hair growth, leading to thinner and sparser coverage throughout.
Each treatment session usually lasts 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the targeted area. For larger spots, multiple visits may be needed over several months while, with smaller spots such as face or bikini line treatment sessions lasting only 10-15 minutes, they could suffice.
After just a few treatment sessions, you should start seeing noticeable results. Once your follicles have been damaged, they’ll stop producing hair growth altogether and the remaining locks will become finer and lighter in color – in some cases even falling out on its own!
At first, it is essential to continue treatment with a certified practitioner until your desired results have been realized. Once this has happened, monthly or as-needed maintenance treatments should be utilized to maintain them and ensure lasting change.
If stray hairs reappear a year after receiving laser therapy treatments, this indicates that the follicle was not in its active growth phase at the time of your session and has since returned to its previous state – this highlights why regular laser sessions are essential.
How long will each session last?
Your treatment sessions depend on the area and how quickly hair regrowth occurs after each session. A certified practitioner will use a handheld device to deliver pulses of light energy directly onto unwanted hair. Melanin in your locks absorbs this light energy, turning into heat which damages hair follicles and prevents future growth, leading to thinner, lighter, less noticeable hair that grows back over time.
Before your treatment begins, your skin will be cleansed and may receive numbing gel. Next, you’ll sit or stand in a darkened room while wearing protective eyewear; many have described laser light pulses as feeling similar to warm pinpricks or rubber band snaps against their skin. Finally, for two weeks prior to and post-treatment you must avoid taking any retinoids, antibiotics, or tanning lotions.
As important as it is to attend all your treatment appointments, missing one could set back and make achieving hair removal more challenging. “Missed appointments could result in more regrowth because the hairs have entered their next growth cycle,” according to dermatologist Dr. Corey Hartman. Furthermore, missing too many treatments early will prolong the process significantly and require more treatments overall.
Once your initial series of laser hair removal sessions has brought about the desired results, maintenance sessions should only need to occur every few months to keep unwanted hair at bay. These appointments typically last less than half an hour and can even be completed from home.
Even though at-home devices may seem tempting, experts advise against them. While these devices might seem easy enough to use properly and damage your skin when mishandled improperly, these should always be handled by trained professionals using certified devices and experienced in treating various skin types. Furthermore, as the FDA does not regulate at-home laser hair removal devices they could come with false promises and endanger your health in other ways.
How often should I get maintenance treatments?
Laser hair removal offers an effective alternative to shaving, waxing or plucking to remove unwanted hair. A laser is used to target and destroy hair follicles to inhibit future hair growth; some individuals see results immediately while others require multiple sessions before reaching their desired hair-free look. It is important that treatment plans remain on schedule; missing appointments could compromise success.
On average, laser devices emit a concentrated beam of light energy that penetrates into the skin, where it absorbs into pigment in hair follicles to damage and destroy them – this prevents new hair growth while decreasing thickness, color and appearance of any regrowth that occurs – typically between six to eight treatment sessions are needed to reach desired results.
Prior to each treatment session, it is vitally important to shave the area that will be treated. This allows the laser to better target hair follicles that lie below the surface. In addition, sun exposure before and after each laser session increases risk factors and decreases effectiveness; be mindful.
After each treatment session, it’s not unusual for you to experience redness and swelling in the treated area – this usually resembles mild sunburn – however this discomfort should subside with either applying a cold compress or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Your dermatologist may provide specific aftercare instructions as well.
Maintenance treatments should take place every four to six weeks after your last laser therapy session. Keep in mind that lasers only damage hair follicles during their active growth cycles; missing a treatment could increase hair regrowth time and may leave behind stubble or patchy areas of hair that become harder to treat with the laser device. If missed sessions continue, more frequent sessions will need to be scheduled until all unwanted hair has either been completely eliminated or significantly reduced in thickness and density.
How long will it take to see results?
Laser hair removal is one of the most frequently performed minimally invasive procedures performed by doctors, as it offers effective yet safe results. Although at-home laser systems may seem attractive as cost-cutting measures, it is essential that you understand their full time and effort requirements in order to achieve what results you desire.
Laser hair removal systems utilizing Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) utilize this light source to target melanin pigment in your skin and turn it into heat, which in turn destroys hair follicles while inhibiting further growth.
But IPL devices can only effectively damage hair follicles during their active growth phase; therefore, multiple treatment sessions may be required in order to achieve permanent results for people with darker skin tones. Most likely six to eight treatments will be necessary before seeing lasting change.
Before an IPL laser hair removal session begins, your practitioner will cleanse the area to be treated. They may then apply numbing cream or gel in order to make the procedure more comfortable. Once this has taken effect, your practitioner will move their device across your targeted body area and send pulses of laser light that feel similar to warm pinpricks or rubber band snapping against their skin. Many patients report experiencing warm pinpricks similar to pinpricks from rubber band snaps when these pulses come close to hitting skin surface area before.
Prior to any laser treatment session, it is imperative that the area is shaved. This will enable the laser to more quickly find your hair follicles and roots more effectively. Furthermore, waxing before laser therapy could prevent its ability to target those areas more precisely.
Once you’ve completed a course of laser treatments, the effects should be noticeable in terms of hair growth. Your locks may become thinner and lighter-colored while any stray hairs should have stopped growing as quickly. But it is still important to schedule regular IPL maintenance top-up sessions in order to maintain results.
Most IPL laser systems recommend scheduling IPL sessions every 2 weeks until your area is hairless, after which time sessions can occur every 3-12 months depending on your skin’s hair cycle.
