Unwanted hair growth can be an annoyingly common issue among both men and women. Removing it using methods like shaving, waxing or other means may require time-intensive labor intensive processes such as waxing.
Laser treatments employ a light beam to disable hair follicles, leading to reduced unwanted hair. Lasers tend to work best on darker-hued tresses on lighter skin tones.
How many treatments will I need?
If you’re fed up with shaving, tweezing and waxing hair on a regular basis, laser hair removal could offer lasting solutions. Using light energy to target and destroy hair follicles directly means no more worrying about peach fuzz or overgrown lips!
Before your initial laser hair removal treatment session, goggles must be worn to protect the eyes from the laser light. Your physician will conduct a patch test on your skin to make sure there are no adverse reactions from the type of laser being used; in case there are none, numbing cream may also be applied for additional comfort during sessions.
Experience some discomfort while receiving laser hair removal treatments; the severity will depend on you as an individual. Some have described the sensation as similar to rubber bands snapping across their skin; it can be further amplified depending on factors like hair thickness or density being targeted. A cooling tip is often included with laser machines to alleviate pain or discomfort during treatments.
After your laser treatment, it is normal for any damaged hairs to start falling out over time – this process could take anywhere from days to weeks and it is important that any post-treatment instructions given by your laser technician be adhered to as this can speed up shedding while helping prevent ingrown hairs.
Typically, eight to 12 treatments (and possibly even more for darker skin tones) will be necessary to see maximum reduction of unwanted hair. Since hair grows in cycles with only some being in active growth phases at any one time, and because laser can only affect those within anagen phase at one time, successive sessions must occur to disable enough anagen phase hairs for desired results.
How long will the treatments take?
Laser treatments may take between minutes and an hour depending on the area being treated. To prepare for an appointment, avoid plucking or waxing any of the hair you wish to remove as this can reduce its effectiveness with laser therapy. It’s also wise not to get sun tanning before your appointment as lasers don’t perform well on tanned skin; in addition, aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs should also be avoided prior to receiving laser treatment.
Before arriving for your appointment, be sure to shave the area. Though this can feel painful at times, it is necessary for arriving with a smooth and clean face or body. Your doctor may ask you to remove clothing in the treatment area before applying a cooling gel that reduces discomfort. Some patients experience temporary redness or swelling that can be eased with cold compresses or over-the-counter pain relievers.
At each laser treatment session, your physician will use a handheld device to press against your skin and trigger light pulses that travel down hair follicles to damage them and stop their hair growth permanently. Patients with darker skin often see permanent reduction in unwanted facial hair after only one or two treatments while those with lighter facial hair might need multiple sessions to get similar results.
Once a laser damage to a hair follicle occurs, it takes anywhere from days to weeks for that hair to fall out and cause further thinning of its roots. As it may appear as though growth continues unimpeded during this timeframe, it’s essential that you adhere to your treatment plan and attend all scheduled appointments for optimal results.
Hair may grow back between sessions, but this does not represent true growth but simply hair that was already in regrowth stage. Hair grows in cycles and only those in active cycles will be affected by laser treatments.
How much will the treatments cost?
Facial hair can be a major source of frustration for both men and women alike, ranging from temporary solutions like shaving and waxing, which may leave thicker and darker growth behind than ever. Laser hair removal offers a permanent solution, offering excellent results on most skin types and tones.
Depending on the area being treated, four to six laser sessions should be sufficient to achieve long-lasting results. Each laser treatment session typically lasts five to 10 minutes depending on its size and nature of treatment.
Before your treatment begins, it is essential that all makeup, lotions or deodorant be removed from the area being treated. You will also need to shave two to three days prior to your appointment as this helps the laser target only hair follicles with pigment containing hair shafts at their surface follicles – shaving disrupts this process by cutting it short at its source follicle. Waxing or tweezing should also be avoided prior to receiving laser therapy treatments.
At your treatment session, you’ll sit comfortably as your practitioner maneuvers a handheld laser device over the area to be lasered. When in contact with skin, its sensation can feel similar to having a rubber band snapped against it; this may cause some minor discomfort. Your practitioner will apply cold gel or an ice pack as necessary.
Once the laser treatment has been completed, you may experience some redness and swelling in the area being treated. This typically lasts a few hours to a few days and can be reduced by applying an ice pack regularly to this spot. Furthermore, it’s wise to limit sun exposure for several days post treatment as your skin may be more sensitive.
Laser hair removal offers an effective alternative to razors and waxing, however it should be noted that the laser cannot guarantee complete hair removal permanently; hair follicles that are targeted need to be in their active growth phase for it to work, so subsequent treatments at regular intervals are required until all unwanted hair has been eliminated.
Will I have any side effects?
Laser hair removal is one of the most sought-after noninvasive cosmetic treatments available today in the US, as it works across skin tones and colors. Laser treatments have proven highly successful at reducing and even eliminating unwanted body hair on large and small areas alike; though at least 4-6 sessions (spaced about one month apart) must occur before you see results.
Before your first laser treatment session, we’ll clean and apply a numbing gel for maximum comfort. Next, we’ll wear protective goggles to shield your eyes from laser beam exposure; depending on where we treat, you may experience slight discomfort similar to rubber band snapping or sunburn-like sensation.
Laser energy absorbs pigment in hair, which converts into heat that damages its follicle. Once damaged follicles cease producing hair production altogether, and hair will no longer grow back after several treatments have taken place.
Some hairs may shed shortly after receiving treatment, while most will require days to weeks for all affected strands to completely shed. To reduce ingrown hairs and speed up this process, exfoliating three times weekly in the area of treatment is recommended.
As is always the case, it is also essential that your practitioner has adequate training and experience with the type of laser you will be having treatments with. A great way to do this is asking your technician for their certification, and checking that they meet set standards in terms of training, skill, and insurance coverage.
Preventing blistering during and after laser treatments requires protecting the treatment area from direct sunlight; otherwise, it could result in blistering that’s both uncomfortable and inconvenient. We suggest wearing sunscreen with SPF 30 protection prior and post sessions and staying clear of tanning beds for the best experience.
