Laser hair removal effectively eradicates unwanted hair by dissolving pigment from within a hair follicle and thus stopping further hair production from happening in future cycles. This procedure also effectively stops or significantly slows any future growth of unwanted hair growth.
Your dermatologist can give you an estimate of how many laser treatment sessions will be needed to leave your skin hairless and smooth, tailoring their plan specifically to meet your individual needs and desired aesthetic goals.
Treatment Areas
Laser treatment for hair follicles located beneath the surface of skin in areas like the face, legs and bikini line can permanently reduce or eliminate their presence altogether. As a cosmetic procedure that’s safe and effective for both men and women alike, it offers permanent solutions. Laser hair removal works by focusing light into your skin to transform it into heat to destroy melanin pigment in unwanted hair follicles, damaging them so they stop producing new strands altogether; over time these newly grown-back hair tend to be finer texture lighter color and smaller in number than before treatment began.
At times, treatment sessions may feel slightly uncomfortable; this usually depends on which area is being addressed. For instance, treating upper lip can take just minutes while armpit treatments could last an hour or longer. After your session, the area might appear red and swollen similar to sunburn; applying a cold compress might reduce this discomfort.
Dr. Green can assist those requiring laser hair removal treatments on larger body areas by discussing the best plan of care with them and providing insight into how many sessions will be necessary to meet their goals and recommend an individual schedule to best accommodate these requirements.
People seeking to reduce or remove unwanted neck hair may benefit from seeking laser hair removal treatments. Unfortunately, hair in the neck area can often be hard to remove using traditional methods like shaving and waxing and may cause problems such as ingrown hairs and pseudo-folliculitis if left alone for too long.
Laser hair removal works best on those with dark skin and hair colors; their contrast allows the hair follicles to absorb laser light more readily. People with white, blonde or red hair don’t respond as favorably, therefore resorting to other means such as electrolysis for permanent hair reduction.
Frequency
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive solution to unwanted hair that uses pulses of light energy to heat and destroy hair follicles, stopping new hair growth. Over time, this may reduce unwanted hair permanently – however it will regrow at some point and require frequent treatments for best results.
A variety of factors will determine how many treatments a person requires, such as hair color and coarseness as well as hormone influences. Skin tone also plays an important role, since darker tones tend to be more susceptible to hyperpigmentation and laser burns; however, modern laser technology now makes laser treatments suitable for a wider variety of skin tones.
Patients typically require multiple sessions to target and destroy all hair follicles effectively. Everywhere on their bodies, hair follicles have various stages of growth – some in an active growth stage (anagen), others transitioning into catagen stage and yet others entering telogen stage; performing laser hair removal at appropriate stages will maximize results.
Between laser hair removal treatments, it is wise to avoid shaving or waxing as this can damage the hair follicle and lead to faster regrowth of hair follicles. Furthermore, shaving may lead to ingrown hairs or razor bumps which may be uncomfortable and even painful for some individuals.
At a consultation, a laser hair removal specialist will be able to give a more precise estimation of how many sessions will be necessary to reach desired results, and may suggest other cosmetic procedures that might prove helpful.
Select a highly experienced therapist when selecting someone to perform your laser hair removal treatments. A registered practitioner with an established association indicates they have met certain standards of training and skill, while it’s wise to also verify their insurance in case there are complications or side effects during treatment.
Cost
When contemplating laser hair removal, it is crucial that you know how much the treatments cost in order to make an informed decision as this will allow you to determine whether this option is feasible and whether long-term savings over waxing or shaving may exist.
Costs associated with laser hair removal vary based on the body area being treated and between clinics in a region. Consulting a professional will give an idea of anticipated costs associated with your specific case; however, to get the best price it pays to shop around.
Laser treatments use melanin present in hair follicles to detect and damage them, with its absorption by laser energy heating up and destroying follicles, leading to reduced hair growth after just a few treatments. Laser hair removal offers an effective alternative to shaving and waxing methods which may cause skin irritation, ingrown hairs or razor burn.
After receiving laser treatments, some hair may re-grow. To achieve permanent results, however, multiple sessions of treatment are typically required as only about 30% of hair follicles are active at any one time; multiple treatments are necessary in order to destroy all active follicles. It should also be noted that facial hair grows at a slower rate than arm or leg hair growth.
Laser hair removal is generally considered cosmetic procedure and, thus, not covered by private insurance plans. There may be exceptions where medically necessary procedures may cover laser hair removal; to be certain about this matter it’s wise to consult both with your provider and insurance company.
Laser hair removal can be an expensive investment, especially if treating large body areas. Furthermore, treatment usually requires multiple sessions that must be spaced out over weeks or months. But if you can secure lower priced treatment and commit to regular appointments compared with traditional waxing and shaving practices you could save money in the long run – potentially even saving more than what was spent in waxing and shaving treatments!
Side Effects
Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution to help remove unwanted body hair. However, there may be side effects to consider during this procedure.
Many patients will experience redness and swelling following laser treatment. This resembles mild sunburn symptoms and may be discomforting; using a cool compress can provide temporary relief. Others may notice some light skin pigmentation changes post treatment due to hair follicle pigment being destroyed by laser, leading to light skin pigmentation changes; typically these side effects subside within days post treatment and return back to normal.
Other potential side effects of laser hair removal may include a burning sensation on the treated area and minor skin irritation that usually resolves within hours, but can still be uncomfortable. Scrubbing will make irritation worse, and people should adhere to aftercare instructions provided by dermatologists as soon as they return home from their session. Patients may also notice an odor similar to sulfur during this phase.
An individual should always use a trained and qualified practitioner when seeking laser hair removal, to reduce risks of complications. People should check whether their practitioner has registered with a health board or another suitable authority so as to ensure they meet set standards of training and skill.
Modern technological advancements have rendered laser hair removal more effective for more skin tones; however, multiple sessions still may be required depending on individual hair thickness and treatment area size/location. People looking for permanent reduction should expect six-8 treatments spaced out every few weeks.
People suffering from hormone imbalances such as PCOS may not experience similar results from laser hair removal treatments, and tanning should be avoided prior to and following laser hair removal as sun can interfere with its effectiveness.
