Laser hair removal is a cosmetic treatment used to permanently rid oneself of unwanted body hair. The procedure employs focused light beams that target pigment in hair follicles, eventually dissolving them for good.
People of various ages opt for laser hair removal treatments; however, before going ahead with any such procedure there are some factors that need to be considered first.
Age
Laser hair removal can safely and effectively rid unwanted body hair by targeting and killing cells responsible for growth. Mountcastle Medical Spa & Laser Center’s Northern Virginia medical spa uses the Palomar Icon Aesthetic (PIA) and Sciton BroadBand Light (BBL) systems to effectively eliminate undesirable hair from areas like faces, necks, abdomens, breasts arms back legs and more.
While many patients consider laser hair removal to be painful, the experience will depend on both the type of laser used and anatomic area being treated. Hair removal on the face tends to be much less uncomfortable than its use on legs and arms; prior to treatment your skin will be washed and moisturized and any necessary numbing creams applied if required. When your treatment begins you’ll lie comfortably in one of our private treatment rooms as one of our licensed estheticians stretches out the area being addressed.
Laser energy then travels through an anatomic area, passing through skin layers before targeting pigmented hair follicles and disabling them to stop further hair growth. A single session may remove considerable amounts of hair; however, multiple treatments are typically necessary for optimal results.
As hair follicles may regenerate over time and begin to produce hair once again, you must schedule regular maintenance visits with one of our licensed estheticians in order to prevent new growth from reemerging. At these follow-up appointments, our licensed esthetician will repeat the previous process in order to prevent hair regrowth.
Teenagers may struggle with feeling self-conscious about their appearance, especially regarding body hair. From being teased for having excessive facial or body hair to feeling pressure from peers to have a “smooth” body type – teenage girls often become very unhappy with themselves and struggle to maintain high levels of confidence.
Laser hair removal is an excellent solution for teens ready to switch up their lifestyle. Parents should ensure their teen is sufficiently mature to give consent for treatment and adhere to any post-treatment plans necessary.
Skin Tone
Laser hair removal is an FDA-approved treatment that is safe and effective at eliminating unwanted and ingrown hairs while improving skin pigmentation. Laser light energy absorbs melanin present in hair follicles to damage them over time and stop new growth from coming through. For optimal results, multiple sessions with an experienced practitioner using an FDA-approved laser should be undertaken for best results.
Your skin tone plays a significant role in whether or not laser hair removal in Virginia is suitable for you. Darker skin tones tend to respond best when their melanin content exceeds that of their skin; lighter tones may require additional treatments sessions until desired results have been reached.
If you are considering laser hair removal, the first step should be scheduling a consultation appointment with a specialist. At your meeting, they will review your medical history and answer any questions or provide tailored pre-treatment instructions based on individual needs and concerns.
At your treatment session, a laser specialist will use either an Nd: YAG or GentleYAG laser to permanently disable hair follicles. Its long pulses of light penetrate hair shafts to absorb melanin-rich melanin that produces heat energy that destroys and inhibits future hair growth follicles while leaving surrounding skin undamaged and free from pain.
As laser light energy absorbs melanin, it may sometimes lighten your skin as an undesirable side effect. But for many patients this change in pigmentation may actually help create an even skin tone and help create an overall more even look.
Laser hair removal can be an ideal solution for those tired of shaving and depilatory creams that can be both time consuming and painful. Laser treatment provides permanent solutions to problem areas; therefore it makes sense as an investment of both time and money.
Hair Color
Unwanted hair on the face, arms, legs and breasts can be an embarrassing problem that needs to be dealt with quickly and permanently. Shaving and waxing may temporarily suppress unwanted growth but eventually it reemerges and requires continued upkeep. Laser hair removal provides a permanent solution that eliminates shaving, waxing and plucking while leaving silky-smooth skin for all ages and skin types alike.
Your hair type also plays a factor in how laser hair removal treatments should go. Since laser light targets pigmented strands during laser hair removal, dark locks tend to work better for this process than blonde or red hues. Laser energy delivers directly into each individual follicle and damages its pigment deposits in order to stop new hair growth in that follicle from sprouting again.
Your initial consultation will allow your provider to assess if laser hair removal in Virginia is right for you and address any potential concerns that may arise. While it’s understandable if feeling intimidated is initially present, over time this anxiety should diminish as more information about what the procedure can do is given out about.
Your provider will advise that you forego tanning or sun exposure at least 4-6 weeks before receiving treatments, as this could cause pigments in both your skin and hair to compete for attention, making it harder for laser therapy to target melanin in hair follicles. In addition, plucked or waxed hairs must also be avoided while shaving will ensure maximum access for treatment purposes.
Before achieving desired results, multiple treatments will likely be required, typically every two months apart. This is because laser light needs your hair in an exposed phase for it to damage it effectively; your provider should be able to tell you exactly how many sessions will be necessary during their initial consultation and treatment plan.
Pregnancy
Unwanted hair growth can be an embarrassing and embarrassing problem that affects women and men alike. From arms, legs or breasts, its presence can leave us feeling self-conscious – or it may even cause discomfort for some individuals. Laser hair removal provides a safe solution to permanently reduce this unwanted growth.
Unfortunately, treatment should not be undertaken during gestation due to risks posed by it harming your baby; for this reason it would be wise to wait until postpartum.
Reason? Your hormones change during gestation, leading to hair to appear in new spots that didn’t exist before. While this should resolve itself after giving birth, some women experience downy hair for up to six months post-delivery.
Consultation with a plastic surgeon or laser technician allows pregnant women to discuss risks related to laser hair removal while expecting. Furthermore, specialists will also determine whether you qualify as an ideal candidate for such procedures.
Before your laser therapy treatment begins, it is essential that the target area be free from waxing or plucking to allow the laser to target it effectively. Furthermore, sun exposure must also be limited as skin color can influence how successfully the treatment goes ahead.
At your first session with a doctor or laser technician, a beam of light will be directed at a target area on your body. In order to maintain accuracy during treatment, it’s essential that you can clearly see this target as it aids precision during this process. Once activated, the laser then heats dark pigment in hair follicles to inhibit further hair growth follicles. After initial sessions have concluded successfully, follow-up appointments must continue until all unwanted hair have been permanently eliminated from your system.
Are You Ready to Say Goodbye to Unwanted Hair on Your Facial Features, Neck, Chest, Stomach and Bikini Line? Contact our Office Today in Alexandria Virginia NOVA Plastic Surgery has cutting-edge laser technology and an experienced staff to offer laser hair removal treatments in Alexandria Arlington Arlington Ashburn Fairfax Leesburg Mclean Vienna
