Laser hair removal works best on people with light skin and dark hair. The contrast of pigments makes it easier for the laser to absorb heat and destroy hair follicles more efficiently; however, treatment can still be effective on darker-skinned people who have lighter locks.
Laser hair removal requires multiple sessions spaced four weeks apart in order to see significant results.
How long does it take?
Laser hair removal is a fast, safe treatment option suitable for men and women of all skin types. Due to its growth cycle, multiple sessions will likely be necessary in order to fully remove unwanted hair and prevent future growth. We advise booking sessions every 4-6 weeks in order to make sure all the unwanted follicles in your treatment area have been removed before they can regrow back again.
Laser hair removal treatments involve subjecting the skin’s surface to thermal energy from a laser device that targets melanin in hair follicles to inhibit future hair growth. Waxing and plucking must be avoided between sessions in order for the laser device to more easily locate and destroy unwanted follicles; shaving is acceptable and recommended in order to make targeting of unwanted hair easier.
Most patients require six to eight treatments sessions to achieve the desired cosmetic results, as laser technology only targets hair follicles during their anagen (growth) phase; otherwise it won’t target and destroy those found in catagen or telogen phases.
Most of our male patients choose to have their chest, shoulders and back treated for aesthetic and personal taste reasons. Because hair grows at various rates in these larger body areas, more treatment sessions may be required than with face or arm areas.
How many treatments do I need?
Laser hair removal treatment often requires multiple sessions in order to produce long-term results, so it’s essential that treatment sessions fit your schedule and goals. Your laser hair removal specialist will collaborate with you in creating an appropriate schedule that aligns with your goals – typically four weeks apart is optimal but hormone fluctuations may extend this length of time for transgender patients as hormones affect hair growth patterns.
As soon as your first round of laser treatment concludes, you should notice results: hair that was hit by the laser begins to shed off at an increasingly slower rate before eventually falling out altogether. With additional sessions under way, hair growth will return much slower – ultimately leading to your final goals being reached.
Laser hair removal is an efficient, noninvasive way to permanently diminish unwanted body and facial hair. It has become a popular solution among men struggling to control unruly beard hair while women suffering from excessive facial hair can benefit greatly from having this procedure performed; as it helps restore facial symmetry.
Traditional hair removal methods can be painful, time-consuming and costly. By consulting our team for guidance on hair removal methods that work effectively for you, you can learn how to eliminate unwanted hair for smooth, radiant skin that makes you feel your best self.
How long will the treatments last?
After completing their treatment course, most patients experience at least an 80% decrease in hair growth. Results will differ between men and women and depend on various factors such as skin tone, hair color, genetics and hormone levels. Once practitioners are confident that optimal results have been achieved they will schedule maintenance sessions every 3-12 months depending on your unique hair cycle.
Laser treatments go far beyond simply “zapping” away unwanted body hair; their thermal energy targets pigment found in darker hairs, stunning the hair follicle and eventually disabling it; when new growth does reemerge, however, it tends to be finer and lighter colored than before.
Following laser treatments, patients should avoid waxing, plucking or shaving the area as any remaining hairs not eliminated by the laser will be targeted in subsequent sessions and could cause scarring. You will likely notice that unwanted hairs begin shedding after laser therapy sessions which is natural and should not be confused for new growth.
Each laser hair removal treatment typically lasts four to one hour depending on the area being treated, with two to six sessions typically being necessary to achieve long-lasting hair removal results.
How do I prepare for the treatments?
Before your treatment session, there are a few tasks you need to accomplish first. First and foremost is finding a licensed and experienced laser hair removal practitioner – online reviews or personal referrals may provide useful leads here – who offers laser hair removal treatment. They should then offer an initial consultation session so they can assess if you are eligible and answer any of your queries about what might happen during it.
Your technician will use a handheld device that emits pulses of light to target and damage hair pigment, often without discomfort for most individuals but occasionally creating sensations similar to rubber band snapping against skin. Sessions typically last 15-60 minutes depending on the area being treated.
Prior to your laser appointment, it is recommended that you refrain from plucking and waxing the area being treated for four to six weeks, as this can harm hair follicles. Shaving is encouraged as it doesn’t affect its root. Also avoid sunbathing as laser treatment cannot be applied on sunburned or tanned skin.
Before your final treatments, they may feel slightly uncomfortable; but once your hair has been removed from your complexion, you’ll enjoy smoother and more comfortable skin as a result! Not to mention saving both time and money by no longer needing to resort to methods like shaving or waxing for removal of unwanted hair!
What happens during the treatments?
Laser energy targets the pigment in your hair follicles to permanently damage them and stop future hair growth. You may experience mild discomfort like warm pinpricks or light rubber band snaps against the skin during treatment; you might also be left with reddening or swelling following laser procedures, though this should subside shortly afterwards.
Before laser treatments begin, patients must refrain from plucking, waxing and tweezing as this can disrupt hair follicles and interfere with laser procedures. Shaving may also help the laser target hair directly.
People typically require multiple laser hair removal sessions in order to experience permanent hair reduction, as hair growth and loss is cyclic in nature. Initial laser treatments target new-growth phase hair follicles while subsequent sessions target resting or dormant phase follicles.
At each session of laser hair removal, your doctor will apply a topical gel or lotion to protect your skin and ensure maximum heat loss from heat loss. After which, a technician will turn on the laser; its pulses can be felt as slight sensations depending on the size and location of your treatment area; this process typically lasts from minutes to an hour depending on which body part needs treating and results in an almost noticeable decrease in hair growth on that body part after each treatment session.
What happens after the treatments?
As part of a laser hair removal treatment, it’s common to experience some temporary shedding after each treatment session. While this shedding may look similar to new growth, it is actually just the result of destroyed anagen (growth phase) follicles dying off due to laser destruction; not every anagen follicle will die at the same time; some will move through catagen or telogen stages before eventually falling away to make way for new follicles that were never targeted by laser.
After treatment, skin may remain red and tender to touch for some time afterwards – comparable to mild sunburn – however this can be mitigated with cold compresses or moisturizing cream. Furthermore, hot shower water can further irritate and exacerbate redness, swelling, or itching on your skin. To alleviate symptoms quickly and reduce any further discomfort it’s essential that cold compresses are applied after each showering session for maximum efficiency.
As part of a post-treatment regimen, it’s also essential not to shave or wax the treated area during this phase. Shaving and waxing could prevent hair follicles from returning to their anagen phase in a timely manner and result in uneven, patchy regrowth. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments should also be avoided due to being too aggressive on skin – instead clients can gently exfoliate treatment areas with scrubs or washcloths twice or thrice weekly in order to stimulate them back into anagen phase and ensure smooth hair regrowth.
