Laser hair removal has an outstanding safety and effectiveness record, and technology continues to advance each year, making treatments safer and faster.
However, some issues must still be addressed: inexperienced technicians, inferior and outdated equipment and incorrect treatment settings can all contribute to subpar results or worse: permanent discoloration.
Inexperienced Technicians
Doctors stress the importance of knowing a bit about where you’re getting your laser treatments from. Make sure the technician you use has graduated from an established laser cosmetics school and holds current laser safety officer certification if possible; otherwise avoid their clinic altogether.
Many states have laws regarding who may operate medical equipment. North Carolina for instance allows physicians who can either be present or not operate the machinery; however, some dermatologists who see multiple bad outcomes every year due to botched laser treatments don’t find this regulation satisfactory; they want a physician with specific laser training present during treatments and on site at all times.
Dermatologists are concerned that states’ laws allowing non-physician staff, such as electrologists – who were acknowledged by several doctors interviewed for this article as effective laser practitioners – to perform laser procedures can be dangerous. “It’s really buyer beware now,” notes Goldberg. Some medi-spas advertise they employ physicians but many times these are either retired or not specialists in performing the procedure in question.
Though not as painful as waxing or shaving, electrolysis may still cause discomfort for some individuals. Many describe a sensation similar to snapping rubber bands or heat as unpleasant; especially if a technician sets their machine too high.
Keep in mind that laser hair removal only reduces unwanted hair, not completely eliminate it; multiple sessions may be required. Selecting an effective device and setting, as well as adhering to your treatment plan’s specifications is crucial to reaching desired results.
Based on your skin tone, one device might work better than another. When purchasing from a reliable provider, they will advise which option would best fit you so that you aren’t just picking whatever is the most expensive and hoping it works out in the end.
One important point about laser treatments: Always ensure they’re kept cool so the pigments in hair follicles, rather than skin cells, are heated. Technicians should ensure your skin stays chilled during your laser sessions for best results.
Discount Laser Centers
Laser hair removal is one of the fastest-growing non-invasive cosmetic procedures in the US, prompting laser centers all over to offer various technologies and pricing plans to customers. Unfortunately, many discount laser centers may not use cutting edge equipment for laser hair removal.
As part of their cost-cutting measures, laser centers sometimes rely on outdated equipment like IPL (intense pulse light) machines that may cause burns on darker skin tones. IPL machines also present more risks of side effects compared to Alexandrite laser systems.
These discount laser centers often face problems related to their technicians’ training and experience. Due to the sheer power of lasers, inexperienced or poorly trained staff who don’t understand how best to utilize it can cause significant harm. It is advised that any customers looking for laser hair removal choose a salon run by board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon as this ensures more reliable treatment results.
Laser hair removal offers numerous advantages: For one thing, unlike other forms of hair removal methods, laser treatments are permanent; however, results may take several treatments before noticeable differences can be seen in an individual. Additionally, this procedure may cause temporary side effects, such as reddening of the skin or mild swelling post treatment. Therefore, it’s crucial that all potential side effects be discussed with a doctor prior to beginning any sessions. Laser hair removal offers more convenience and safety than shaving and waxing for hair reduction, at less expense and in less time. Plus, its efficiency means less grooming time spent! Laser hair removal can help avoid razor bumps and ingrown hairs while relieving other conditions related to unwanted hair growth, including folliculitis and discoloration. Therefore, laser hair removal offers an effective permanent solution to unwanted hair.
Low Joules
Laser hair removal can be an economical alternative to shaving and waxing; however, it’s essential that your device provides high enough joules in order for it to actually work!
Low joule devices will not work effectively with darker skin tones, including those recently tanned. For optimal effectiveness at home devices should provide at least 16-20 joules on their highest setting to target melanin in hair follicles and prevent it from producing further hair growth.
To achieve this goal, both spot size (width of laser beam) and pulse width must be optimized. A larger spot size enables operators to treat larger areas more comfortably at lower fluence settings; pulse duration plays an essential role too – shorter pulse duration is essential in treating thinner hairs while thicker ones need longer pulse durations in order to heat enough follicles for damage.
Laser hair removal devices must also be able to distinguish between your natural skin tone and unwanted hair color, in order to deliver sufficient power without inflicting pain on you. Failing this test would prevent it from delivering effective treatment results and leave you without results.
An additional issue lies with technicians who have not received proper training on how to operate laser machines, including not knowing how to customize settings according to different skin types and hair colors, or understand the ways in which the laser works. A good laser technician should always ask about your Fitzpatrick skin tone and hair color prior to starting treatments for you.
Quality laser technicians always keep the skin cool during treatments to ensure only hair pigments are targeted, rather than surrounding tissue. Most professional machines include cooling devices in their handpieces; if you feel as if your technician is misusing this tool correctly, it might be worth shopping around for another provider.
Skin Tones
Laser hair removal can be an effective and safe solution to unwanted body hair, yet some individuals don’t experience what they anticipated due to improper settings or treatments from their technician. If this has happened to you and the results haven’t met expectations, perhaps a change of provider is in order?
Lasers work by targeting and destroying hair follicles with energy delivered at exactly the right level to avoid damaging surrounding skin tissue. If set too high, permanent scarring could result in permanent discoloration which is especially problematic among those with darker skin tones.
Utilizing an inappropriate setting is one of the primary factors behind ineffective laser hair removal. People with dark skin and darker hair must be treated at lower fluences (energy/power levels), as the laser has difficulty distinguishing between skin pigmentation and dark hair follicles.
One issue to keep in mind when using kitchen shears as opposed to professional equipment, which could result in patchy and uneven results, possibly leading to skin burns. Therefore, it is best to always seek help from trained technicians certified technicians.
Last, not following proper post-treatment recommendations can lead to problems. This includes avoiding direct sunlight after treatments and applying quality sunscreen when outside. Furthermore, people should keep the area clean after each session and use cooling creams or ointments as directed after treatments.
Laser treatments often lead to some re-growth of hair afterward due to only 80-90% of hair follicles being destroyed during treatments, meaning some remaining ones could still grow back darker and harder for future treatments to eliminate. A good technician won’t overdo their treatments and attempt to eradicate 100% of hairs in an area. Instead they will allow enough time for it to come back naturally over time. It is important for clients to know this will take place.
