Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin pigment in your hair, which is then converted to heat and destroyed to stop further hair growth.
Your hair typically grows in stages, with most of it currently in its anagen stage – these will be treated during treatment sessions.
How many sessions will I need?
Laser hair removal treatments are a series of procedures designed to combat future growth and leave you with smooth, silky skin. While some individuals experience permanent results, most require ongoing touchup sessions in order to avoid unwanted regrowth of unwanted hair. Your treatment schedule will depend on your complexion and type of hair; additionally, use of broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ is necessary daily for best results.
Your initial treatment sessions should be spaced six to eight weeks apart to ensure that your hair is at its thinnest. Your technician may apply topical anesthetic for added comfort during treatment sessions; once multiple treatment sessions have taken place, your hair should begin growing thinner and lighter over time.
Laser treatments will work better when your complexion is light with dark hair than when your complexion is darker with blonde or white locks, due to contrast in skin tone affecting hair color making it easier for the laser beam to reach and destroy each individual follicle.
As part of your laser hair removal experience, protective eyewear will be provided to shield your eyes from the laser beam. A technician will use a hand-held laser device containing a cooling agent tip in order to avoid skin damage during treatment. Depending on the area being treated, shaving or exfoliating may be required before beginning therapy.
Before beginning laser therapy, it is advisable to avoid waxing, plucking, or using hair removal creams in the areas to be treated as these can disrupt its effectiveness. Tanning or self-tanner use should also be avoided before your appointment; if tanned instead, waiting until its effects have faded fully before scheduling laser treatment will be necessary.
Failure to adhere to your treatment plan can be disastrous; without enough laser sessions, hair follicles will regenerate and cause new hair growth – especially noticeable among people with darker complexions and lighter hair types, although light complexioned individuals may also experience this phenomenon.
How long will the treatment take?
After their initial three treatments, most people will notice that hair regrowth has dramatically diminished, which means they may no longer require shaving their arms, legs, face or bikini area for several weeks. Unfortunately, new hair growth will still occur occasionally due to hormonal shifts that impact follicles; should this occur it would be wiser to come in for another touch-up session so no hair goes unattended.
If you are concerned about the length of your laser hair removal session, we advise consulting a doctor or specialist prior to beginning treatment. Timeframes vary depending on factors like area size and skin complexion – typically anywhere from minutes to an hour for underarms, legs, back and face treatment areas.
At the start of a laser hair removal procedure, your doctor or practitioner will apply gel to the targeted area to allow the laser light to better penetrate your skin, causing less tissue damage than with traditional shaving. Although you may experience some minor discomfort for the duration of treatment – many clients report feeling like tiny rubber bands flicking against their skin! – any side effects should be minimal.
Once your laser treatment has been completed, your skin may feel sensitive or swollen afterward. To reduce discomfort, we offer a topical numbing cream which can be applied directly to the area. Following your session it’s also important to refrain from using tanning lotions, sunless skin products and other hair removal methods in the area; such methods could compromise results from laser treatment by dislodging hair follicles. Plucking and waxing could also interfere with laser therapy by disrupting its effectiveness by disturbing hair follicles directly – best avoided after every session!
Once you’ve had several laser hair removal treatments, the effects should last months or even years. Even if any hair does reappear, it should usually be finer and lighter in color. Should regrowth occur occasionally, we advise receiving maintenance laser treatments every few months to keep unwanted hairs from becoming permanent while also providing greater control over when and how often to shave – giving you the best of both worlds!
How much will it cost?
Laser hair removal is a safe, permanent solution for unwanted body hair that eliminates shaving, waxing and depilation – while simultaneously reducing their associated irritation and discoloration. Furthermore, manual removal methods take more time and require expensive equipment or special creams; in comparison, laser removal requires no such investment and doesn’t have such risks associated with them.
The number of treatments necessary for desired results varies according to both person and area, although generally lower legs, arms, and back require more sessions than facial/bikini treatments. Factors like skin tone, hair color and hormone levels also play a part in how effectively laser therapy works.
Before each session, the targeted area must be clear of tan or dye to allow laser light to easily penetrate your skin and destroy hair follicles. You should refrain from plucking, waxing, or using depilatory creams for at least a month prior to receiving your initial laser treatment session.
At your treatment session, eye protection will be worn to safeguard your vision against laser beams. A topical anesthetic may also be applied if necessary if any discomfort arises before starting. Treatment sessions generally last only a few minutes in sensitive areas.
After six to nine treatments, most patients find their hair growth is either minimal or completely stops. On occasion, hair does regrow due to hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy or menopause; however, when it does come back it usually appears lighter and softer than its previous version.
Costs associated with laser hair removal vary by provider and treatment area, and can even include packages specifically targeting full legs or arms, while others charge per treatment hourly. To maximize value for money, research pricing of each provider before scheduling an appointment – some health insurance plans may even cover some or all costs if considered medically necessary.
Will I have any side effects?
Laser treatments, from hair removal to skin resurfacing and pigmentation reduction, tend to be safe when performed by trained professionals. There may still be side effects with any procedure though; therefore, it’s essential that you understand what they might be in order to identify potential issues early.
As part of your treatment, goggles will be worn to shield your eyes, and you may experience several brief yet sharp stings as the laser heat penetrates the surface of your skin. This is entirely normal and could last a few minutes or up to an hour; its cause lies within laser heat being absorbed into your surface layers of skin. Following treatment, your area might look slightly redder and swollen immediately following application as well as smell like burning hair due to laser’s heat.
Once your treatment has concluded, it’s essential that you wash and apply an ointment or petroleum jelly to prevent any scabs from forming. Furthermore, it would be prudent to forego using any sunless skin creams which darken skin tone as well as shaving in this area during this period.
Laser hair removal will require multiple sessions over 2-6 months before your unwanted hair has completely vanished from your scalp. Once treatment is finished, long-term results should follow; with only occasional touch up sessions likely needed.
Hair will often begin growing back within weeks following your first laser treatment, though it will usually be much thinner and lighter than before due to how laser light disrupts germ cells responsible for hair production; thus, stimulating hair follicles to produce ultrathin, light hair over an extended period.
After your initial laser treatment, you should also notice that hair regrowth becomes significantly reduced over time–either it won’t grow at all or only sparsely. Over time, the number of hairs will diminish to where shaver or waxing will no longer be necessary, leaving behind smooth and flawless skin!
