Laser hair removal works differently from shaving or waxing in that it targets only melanin (the pigment found in hair), not skin pigment. As a result, it works better on darker hair on lighter skin tones while less effectively on blonde, gray, or white hair on dark skin tones.
Most treatments should be scheduled between four to eight weeks apart to allow hairs to go through all their growth cycles and be effectively targeted.
How many sessions do I need?
Laser hair removal is a safe, popular solution to permanently suppress unwanted body hair growth. A series of treatment sessions may be necessary in order to effectively decrease and eventually stop its regrowth in targeted areas.
Laser treatments work by targeting hair follicle pigment directly. Melanin absorbs light energy and heats up, damaging hair follicles and stopping growth altogether. After multiple treatment sessions, hair will no longer grow from these follicles – effectively ending their ability to produce it forever.
Patients’ skin type and color will also have an effect on how many treatment sessions will be necessary; darker hair tends to respond less well to laser hair removal treatments, and those with darker skin may require more sessions than someone with lighter skin. It’s wise to consult a dermatologist who has experience treating all skin types so they can help you devise an appropriate plan based on individual needs.
Before your first treatment session, your doctor will meet with you to assess your goals and medical history, providing an estimate on how many sessions will be required to achieve the results desired. After this initial appointment, there will be another follow-up visit so as to ensure you remain on track towards smooth, hairless skin.
At these appointments, your doctor will use a handheld device to press against the surface of your skin before activating a laser treatment. While you may feel some prickling sensation from the laser during treatment, it should not be too painful. Small areas like hands may take minutes while larger ones could take an hour or more for complete coverage.
Staying committed to your scheduled treatments sessions is of utmost importance for successful results. Missing one can delay the development of desired results as hair grows in cycles and takes time for laser therapy to damage enough follicles for effective prevention of future hair growth. Try avoiding waxing or using depilatory creams in between appointments as this could impede their effectiveness.
How long will the treatment take?
Your treatment session length depends on the area we’re treating; for instance, laser hair removal sessions for small areas like upper lips or chin may take only five minutes, while larger ones such as legs or back can take up to 30 minutes. But laser hair removal is fast enough that multiple spots can be tackled at once!
Your doctor will use a hand-held laser instrument equipped with cooling gel or devices to protect and reduce discomfort, but its heat still penetrates deep into your skin, damaging hair follicles and inhibiting hair growth. You may experience either warm pinpricking or mild burning sensation for brief moments before your discomfort subsides; should this occur, they can adjust settings or cooling devices so as to alleviate it further.
After your session, it’s important to resume regular activities. We advise staying out of direct sunlight and applying sunscreen on the treated areas; direct sunlight can make future treatments less effective or cause permanent changes to skin pigmentation, while shaving, tweezing or plucking any hairs growing from them can reduce future risks as well. In addition, artificial or natural tanning beds could negatively affect results as well as increase risks.
Most people require four to six laser sessions before seeing results they are satisfied with. Once achieved, however, any unwanted hair growth should cease for months or even years and if any does reappear it tends to be finer and lighter colored than before.
Laser hair removal offers long-term results to help you look your best. Laser treatments eliminate the need for depilation, waxing or shaving and help reduce associated skin problems such as folliculitis and discoloration associated with hair growth. If you are interested in learning more about laser hair removal we encourage you to reach out today for a consultation session!
Will I feel any pain?
Laser hair removal works by targeting and disabling hair follicles that produce unwanted hair growth, producing lasting results with multiple sessions spaced every four to six weeks. Most people need at least four to six treatments in total before seeing results that last over time.
As part of your treatment, your practitioner will press a hand-held device against the skin to initiate the laser process and feel it like rubber band snapping against it; discomfort varies according to the size of area being treated and can also include some redness and/or itchiness, but these sensations usually go away quickly.
Your practitioner will customize a hand-held device to your skin and hair type in order to reduce discomfort and optimize results. A laser beam will pass through your skin and target hair follicles beneath, heating them up with heat from laser energy and destroying them before growing hair again in future cycles. Unlike electrolysis or needle epilators that remove individual hairs at a time, laser treatment eliminates painful hair removal methods like shaving, waxing and plucking by permanently targeting all at once with its heat beam.
As part of your preparation, it is recommended to avoid shaving, plucking and waxing for four to six weeks prior to laser treatment. Such activities temporarily remove hair follicles and roots that make it harder for laser technology to locate them. If you do need to shave, ensure to do it closely as this will allow the laser light to easily identify follicles quickly while helping you avoid discomfort.
Laser hair removal uses heat and light energy to vaporize unwanted hair, producing small plumes of smoke with an unpleasant sulfurous aroma. Treatment might last from several minutes up to an hour depending on the size and location of the area being treated; sensitive areas may require topical anesthetic as an added layer of protection; for those seeking painless results, contact your dermatologist about potential topical anesthetic options before beginning this procedure.
After receiving treatment, it is important to avoid direct sunlight or use broad-spectrum sunscreen on the treated area. You may notice an initial reddening and swelling that resolves after several hours or days; cold compresses can help ease any discomfort that may arise from treatment.
Will my hair grow back?
Laser hair removal offers permanent reduction of hair growth; however, multiple sessions may be needed to ensure all the follicles have been destroyed by laser light. Laser light targets pigment in hair follicles to turn it into heat that destroys them; when new hair grows back out it tends to be much thinner and lighter compared to before and doesn’t regrow as rapidly.
The number of sessions required will depend on your hair color and texture as well as skin tone. Darker locks and lighter skin require fewer sessions in order to see dramatic results; laser treatment works more effectively on hair follicles in their anagen growth phase rather than those dormant or catagen.
Also influencing how many sessions you require is your hair regrowth rate; an accelerated hair cycle requires additional sessions to achieve desired results. Before commencing laser hair removal treatments it’s essential that any other methods such as plucking or waxing be avoided as these techniques disturb hair follicles, shifting them from anagen phase into catagen or resting phase and back again.
Choose a clinic that provides top-of-the-line laser equipment and has experienced technicians to reduce side effects like swelling and pain that are more likely to arise in the early days post treatment. This will help minimize potential discomfort experienced after receiving laser treatment.
Effective laser hair removal treatments require lasers with larger spot sizes and higher fluence; higher fluence means the laser can heat up hair follicles more effectively to destroy them. Furthermore, tanning beds should be avoided prior to laser hair removal treatments for best results.
Laser hair removal can be an excellent solution to unwanted hair on arms, legs, neck, back, chest and bikini line. To learn how this procedure could improve your appearance schedule a consultation at Spring Street Dermatology’s offices in SOHO, Tribeca or Uptown New York.
