Are you tired of shaving and waxing and the associated irritation? Laser hair removal could be the perfect solution! This treatment permanently disables each individual follicle to stop further growth as well as eliminating razor bumps or pseudofolliculitis altogether.
Shave the area you plan to treat just prior to your appointment – both experts agree this will give the laser more chance of targeting hair follicles successfully.
How do I know if I’m a good candidate for laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal can help reduce unwanted body hair. Unfortunately, however, it’s not suitable for everyone; lasers work best on darker coarse hair while being ineffective against light or fine hair. Furthermore, having skin tone compatible with laser treatments will determine your eligibility; your skincare expert can assess if you make an ideal candidate.
Your doctor will suggest a series of laser treatments spaced out at least monthly. Prior to each session, you should shave the area being treated. A cooling device or gel may be applied for protection. Next, they’ll press a hand-held laser instrument against your skin – its laser beam will pass through and target pigmented hair follicles that have stopped growing; you will feel something similar to a warm pinprick sensation as the beam passes over them and into you skin.
To achieve optimal results, it is necessary to attend your appointments on schedule in order to experience full results. Hair growth occurs in cycles, and laser therapy will only be effective during an active growth phase of its follicles.
Before your initial appointment, it is advisable to avoid using tanning beds, waxing and plucking the targeted area. In addition, sun protection should also be given priority as sunburn could compromise its efficacy.
Ideal candidates for laser hair removal include women and men alike who wish to reduce the frequency with which they must remove unwanted hair from their faces and bodies. Furthermore, they must commit to an appropriate treatment regime: one or two treatments alone typically won’t yield results; often, multiple sessions over several weeks or months may be needed in order to reach desired goals.
Many men and women experience ingrown hairs, razor bumps, or other complications from manually plucking away unwanted hair. If you would like more information about laser hair removal’s advantages, schedule a consultation at Silk, A Medical Spa based out of Encino in California; our professional team welcomes new patients from surrounding communities!
What are the risks of laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is an outpatient procedure using laser light energy to rid unwanted hair. Wear protective eye goggles during treatment at a medical office with an experienced provider and you may feel a mild stinging sensation or warm pinpricks as the laser passes over your skin, targeting hair follicles responsible for hair growth and emitting light energy that destroys them, stopping future growth and leaving skin smooth. Report any discomfort immediately as they may offer cooling creams or ointments as an aid for comforting.
Studies have determined that laser treatments are generally safe for most people; however, pregnant women should avoid getting laser hair removal treatments due to hormone changes during gestation which cause changes in your skin and hair follicles, making laser hair removal ineffective. A doctor can advise you of other alternatives should you be planning a pregnancy.
Laser hair removal should not be undertaken if you are tanned or have dark skin as the pigment in your body absorbs light energy from the laser and may cause burns, discoloration and ineffective results. To maximize success when having laser hair removal it is advised that any tanning sessions take place prior to attending appointments and use high SPF sunscreen daily for added protection.
Laser hair removal may cause increased hair growth instead of diminishing it, most commonly among individuals of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or South Asian heritage. If this side effect occurs to you, speak to your provider as it should usually be reversible through additional treatments at another time.
Laser hair treatments from an accredited medical spa can significantly lower your chances of razor bumps by offering cutting-edge devices and technology, and being led by qualified physicians. Avoid “cheap deals” and back door offices which often run by unqualified practitioners as these may increase risk.
Laser treatments should be spaced out over six to eight treatments at various intervals to achieve significant hair reduction, and periodic maintenance sessions will help keep the area smooth and silky.
How long will it take to get rid of my razor bumps?
Laser hair removal for razor bumps varies with each individual, yet most people experience an improvement after only a few treatments sessions. Laser hair removal works by targeting pigmented areas of skin responsible for unwanted hair growth; when these follicles become damaged and no longer produce new hair growth, irritated ingrown hairs that cause razor bumps can begin to gradually fade and eventually go away altogether.
Shaving and other methods of hair removal may result in ingrown hairs that lead to redness, swelling and bumps – often known as pseudofolliculitis barbae – when shaved hair curls back into the skin after shaving and causes irritation or inflammation. When this occurs, our bodies’ natural defense mechanisms attack these ingrown hairs and cause them to form razor bumps – painful swollen bumps which are known as razor bumps.
OTC products that claim to help remove ingrown hairs often only provide temporary relief and often contain harsh ingredients which irritate the skin. Laser hair removal provides a safe and effective alternative as it targets pigmented cells in follicles responsible for ingrown hair growth, thus effectively targeting these ingrown hairs.
Laser hair removal can be performed on various areas of the body susceptible to razor bumps, including the face, neck, underarms and bikini area. It’s an ideal solution for women and men who wish to reduce the time they spend shaving, waxing or plucking unwanted hair from their bodies; depending on individual skin tones and hair color some individuals may require multiple laser hair removal sessions for optimum results.
Laser hair removal is generally safe and effective for most people, without long-term side effects. Some individuals may experience temporary redness and swelling post-laser hair removal treatment; this could be an indicator that their skin has responded to treatment differently than expected, however this should subside within hours or days; those experiencing it should use cooling creams as soon as possible to reduce any discomfort.
How much will it cost?
Laser Hair Removal (LHR) prices vary greatly based on factors like where and who performs your treatment, the type of machine used at the clinic, and any extra services such as numbing cream or cooling gel applications.
Your first appointment will consist of a consultation with a specialist who will assess both your skin and hair type to make sure this procedure is suitable for you. They’ll provide you with an expectations list to keep in mind and address any potential concerns during treatment, giving you ample opportunity to ask any additional questions and learn more about this treatment option.
After your consultation, the laser treatment session can begin. Your aesthetician will shave the areas that will be targeted before applying numbing cream if necessary before using laser to target unwanted hairs with intense heat – stopping future hair growth by eliminating their source.
Your experience might feel similar to getting pinged by bees, taking anywhere from several minutes to an hour depending on the size and area being treated. After treatment your skin might look red or swollen but you should usually be back to regular activities quickly.
Private health insurance typically does not cover cosmetic surgery procedures, including laser hair removal treatments, so out-of-pocket costs must be covered for treatment. Many specialist offices offer package deals with flexible payment plans to ease upfront expenses; medical credit cards or long-term financing could also help cover upfront expenses.
As a final reminder, it’s crucial that sun exposure and tanning beds be avoided both prior to and post LHR laser treatment. Sunburn can reduce effectiveness of lasers while also leading to side effects like redness or swelling; additionally pregnant and breastfeeding women should wait before getting laser treatments as the light from these lasers could reach unborn children and cause birth defects.
