Laser hair removal is an efficient and safe solution to eliminating facial hair. Less invasive than waxing and shaving, laser treatment provides long-term results with minimal hassle.
Before beginning the procedure, your face will be thoroughly cleansed and a numbing gel may be applied. Your practitioner will then aim the laser at the treatment area; most people describe the sensation as feeling similar to that of snapping rubber bands against skin or experiencing sunburn.
The procedure
Laser hair removal stands apart from traditional methods, which involve multiple visits to a salon and only provide short-term solutions, by permanently eliminating facial hair growth with pulses of light. According to research published by Dermatologic Surgery in 2001, laser hair removal proved more successful than electrolysis or waxing for facial hair.
Before the procedure starts, your face will be cleansed thoroughly. A numbing gel may be applied to the treatment area and you’ll be provided with eye protection. A practitioner will use a pencil to mark out areas for treatment before shaving any existing hair off before using laser light pulses to damage hair follicles with pulses of light that damage their cells enough that they vaporize and stop producing new hair growth.
There are various lasers used for facial hair removal, such as alexandrite and diode lasers. Which laser will be best for you depends on both your skin tone and hair color as well as treatment effectiveness; for instance, darker skin tones with lighter hair would benefit greatly from diode laser treatments as this option works effectively at eliminating dark pigment from their faces.
To achieve optimal results, it’s recommended that you refrain from plucking or shaving the area being treated six weeks before your appointment. Furthermore, sunbathing and using self-tanners could darken the skin, preventing the laser from targeting it effectively.
As part of your treatment, you may experience some slight discomfort; it should not be painful. Most patients describe it as feeling like pinpricking their skin or like rubber band snapping against it; once the laser pulse has completed its course, any pain should subside quickly so you can return to normal activities immediately after.
As with any procedure, selecting an experienced and appropriately qualified practitioner is of utmost importance. Make sure they’re listed on a register to demonstrate they meet standards for training and skill, as well as having sufficient insurance in case any complications arise during treatment. In addition, discuss your medical history with them beforehand in order to ascertain whether this treatment is right for you.
Preparation
Are you tired of shaving or waxing away unwanted hair? Laser treatments could be the perfect solution to get long-term results without shaving or waxing! Lasers use light beams to target pigment in hair follicles while leaving surrounding hair shafts and skin undamaged. Make sure you follow your technician’s pre-treatment orders and attend regular sessions, to achieve long-lasting effects.
Before your laser session, ensure the treatment area is free from lotions and makeup, as your technician will apply topical numbing gel. Furthermore, eye protection must also be worn during this procedure; sun exposure in the days prior to an appointment should also be limited, since laser treatments do not work effectively on tanned skin – avoid sunless tanninners as these can darken skin further!
Shaving is permitted, though you should shave carefully to not come too close to the skin. Shaving allows the laser to target only hair follicles without hitting other parts of your face like skin pigmentation – thus helping avoid burns. Plucking or waxing the area are prohibited as well.
Your skin may experience redness and swelling after each session, but these should quickly subside with use of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream or keeping the treatment area cool after your treatment session.
Some individuals notice a difference immediately following their first laser hair removal session, while it could take several months before your facial hair regrows. Most clients require multiple sessions in order to achieve permanent results, with regular maintenance appointments to prevent new hair growth. Depending on your goals and needs, visiting a laser hair removal clinic every few weeks or even monthly may provide optimal results; the benefits far outweigh any temporary discomforts that might be experienced as part of treatment.
Results
Laser facial hair reduction offers faster, more convenient and long-term solutions to traditional techniques such as waxing, shaving or threading for hair removal. Treatment sessions don’t take as long as waxing appointments and don’t feel nearly as painful!
To achieve optimal results with laser hair removal, it is crucial that you refrain from plucking or waxing any unwanted areas for at least four weeks prior to beginning treatment. Furthermore, sun exposure and fake tanning should be limited for four weeks beforehand, while any products containing alpha or beta hydroxy acids, hydroquinone and retinol should also be avoided for three days before and after each procedure.
Laser hair removal results may differ for each person; while some become permanently hair-free, others require maintenance sessions. Hormonal changes throughout adolescence and menopause can increase hair growth so it is crucial to schedule regular treatments to maintain desired outcomes.
Most clients can experience visible differences from just one treatment, though the exact number of sessions needed depends on individual hair and skin types. We generally suggest six-12 treatments to achieve lasting results.
At times during laser hair removal treatments, patients may feel a slight tingling sensation at the targeted site and some swelling post-treatment; this should not pose any major difficulties and can often be managed using over-the-counter pain relievers.
Laser treatment is relatively painless. The laser’s light energy targets melanin in hair follicles to destroy it, leaving behind less dense follicles that won’t grow back as quickly and an improvement to overall hair density. Lasers are safe procedures suitable for all skin types including those with darker complexions.
Side effects
Laser light penetrates hair follicles to convert melanin pigments to heat energy that destroys them, with very minimal discomfort experienced from treatment. While most cases of hair removal by this means are successful, there may be risks involved; to ensure maximum effectiveness it is important to consult a doctor first and avoid tanning beforehand as tanning could interfere with results.
Before beginning laser hair removal, your skin will be cleansed and numbing gel may be applied to reduce discomfort. Eye protection should also be worn since laser light can damage eyesight. Treatment typically lasts from minutes to an hour, depending on the size and location of the area being treated; although some individuals experience pain during this process it is much less painful than waxing and most side effects such as redness and swelling should subside naturally after treatment; an anti-inflammatory cream or ointment might help soothe and comfort the skin after treatment to ensure an easier recovery process for you and those involved in keeping upkeep of their skincare.
Scarring can also be a side effect of laser hair removal, although this should rarely occur in a medically run clinic. Scarring may result if either the laser is too powerful for its intended user’s skin tone, or from inexperienced technicians operating the machine.
Laser hair removal can cause other side effects, including scabbing and crusting of the skin if the laser tip becomes too hot, burning its surface. Furthermore, hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation could occur on darker skin types if improper use of the laser occurs or on certain darker types.
Before and after laser treatments, it’s advisable to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol as both can aggravate skin swell and make removing hair follicles more challenging. Furthermore, waxing or plucking could make targeting these hairs harder; most patients require two to six laser sessions before seeing results they want.
