Laser hair removal offers an effective long-term solution for body hair, freeing you from razoring or waxing appointments altogether. But is the investment worth making?
Laser treatments tend to produce better results if your hair color contrasts more with its surroundings, providing contrast for light beams to target.
Ideal Candidate
Laser hair removal near Encino is ideal for anyone who is tired of shaving, waxing or plucking to achieve permanent hair reduction. Laser treatment works by targeting pigment in hair follicles to disrupt growth cycles – an excellent solution for larger areas like legs and arms but less effective in smaller patches or facial hair.
Laser light is drawn to melanin, the color pigment found in hair. Dark hair is easier for lasers to detect than its lighter counterpart as they don’t compete for light with skin tone for attention; however, thanks to modern advances, even those with paler hair and lighter skin may benefit from the procedure.
Beyond hair color, other factors to be taken into account for laser hair removal include avoiding sun exposure before treatment and any open wounds or skin rashes in the area to be addressed. Furthermore, individuals must also be comfortable enduring some discomfort during this procedure.
Individuals with both tanned skin and light hair tend to make ideal candidates for laser treatment, although this is not always possible with all laser technologies. If you need help determining whether laser treatment is the appropriate choice for you, Silk, A Medical Spa can provide a consultation appointment at their Spa location in Los Angeles.
Laser hair removal offers more than just an effective alternative to tweezing or shaving; it can save both time and money when used to address unwanted hair growth. Many find laser removal particularly helpful when applied to armpits where excess hair may require hours per day to be removed manually or through other products; it is also great at helping with embarrassing bikini areas; many patients report being able to reduce or eliminate shaving in legs, chest back and shoulders for greater comfort and confidence levels.
Treatment Areas
Laser hair removal near works by targeting the pigment (melanin) present in hair follicles to disable their growth and stop future hair follicles from producing more hair follicles, and ultimately prevent future hair growth. A person may require multiple laser treatments at four-six week intervals before seeing permanent reduction. A treatment is considered permanent when 20-65% of targeted area follicles have completed one complete cycle of growth before no longer producing new follicles that can produce hair.
Laser hair removal provides one of the safest and most effective permanent body hair reduction methods available today, without causing damage to surrounding tissue or skin. Furthermore, it eliminates shaving, waxing and other forms of depilation which may be painful or irritating.
At times, people may experience discomfort during procedures; this usually passes within hours or so. A topical anesthetic can help minimize pain.
For those who are sensitive to heat, a cool air mechanism can be utilized during treatment in order to keep skin comfortable during therapy. Furthermore, laser devices contain built-in plume evacuators which help eliminate toxic smoke/plume while simultaneously decreasing discomfort during the session.
Laser hair removal poses several inherent dangers, the primary one being direct contact between its beam and a person’s skin or eyes, which necessitates wearing protective goggles during treatment. If an unsuitable laser type is chosen for treatment it could result in burns or blisters being left behind; this risk becomes especially concerning if non-qualified practitioners provide this service.
Another risk associated with laser procedures is the potential to alter skin color in certain spots due to heat from the laser interacting with melanin present in hair follicles. With proper post-treatment care and avoidance of sun exposure in treated areas, most qualified practitioners should not find this an issue; doctors might even suggest bleaching cream for darker-skinned patients prior to beginning laser treatments.
Procedure
Laser hair removal involves emitting pulses of light at specific wavelengths that target the pigment (color) in unwanted hair follicles, unlike waxing or shaving. It is typically performed in-office by trained aestheticians using topical numbing cream prior to starting treatment, to help minimize discomfort for most patients; however, everyone’s pain threshold varies and a first treatment could feel like rubber bands snapping against your skin; but again this depends on individual tolerance levels.
Laser treatments target hair follicles and destroy them through heat of the laser light, leaving a small incision behind that allows your aesthetician to apply lotion or anti-inflammatory cream after each laser session is completed. Following treatment, it is advised to avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month post treatment as skin can become extremely sensitive; we therefore suggest full coverage sunscreens with SPF 30 protection or higher and allow time for your body to heal post-treatment. We may suggest restful days afterwards so your body has time to recuperate post treatment.
Your skin type, color and hair thickness will ultimately determine how many treatments will be necessary to successfully rid you of unwanted hair. We advise six to eight treatments spaced four to eight weeks apart so we can target each hair when it is in its growth stage and prevent future growth between treatments.
Once hair follicles have been permanently destroyed by laser, they no longer produce new hair growth. Although some regrowth is expected, it will typically produce thinner and lighter-colored strands compared to their predecessors, making them much less visible. Although laser hair removal results are considered permanent, occasional touch-up treatments may be required in order to catch any remaining stray hairs that would have otherwise gone undetected.
Laser hair removal is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic procedures in America and an excellent way to eliminate unwanted body hair. When selecting the ideal clinic for this procedure, be cautious of spas and salons offering this service as these facilities often use outdated equipment in unsupervised settings. Instead, select a board-certified physician experienced in laser hair removal on your particular skin type for best results.
Recovery
Hair removal can be quick and painless; topical anesthetic is applied prior to starting treatment, with protective goggles worn for your eyes during the procedure. A trained technician uses the laser handpiece to gently pass over areas you would like to target; its light energy destroys melanin in hair follicles which eventually stops them producing new hair, eliminating or significantly reducing unwanted hair while leaving skin soft and smooth.
However, following laser treatments you may experience some temporary reddening of the skin which should dissipate within hours or two at most. Apply a soothing aloe vera gel or lotion to ease any discomfort; furthermore it’s wise to avoid direct sun exposure, sunless tanning creams, hot baths/showers/saunas as well as swimming pools that contain chlorinated water for 48 hours post treatment – particularly on days two to three post procedure.
Your doctor will likely suggest a series of laser treatments to achieve long term hair reduction, with most people needing at least six. Each session takes less than one minute; to reduce downtime it is best to schedule them early in the morning.
Once your desired results have been attained, follow-up treatments may be required in order to keep your skin hair-free. At these sessions, technicians will target any remaining hairs that have not yet been eliminated by laser.
Laser hair removal offers many advantages over its counterparts. One major perk of laser hair removal is eliminating the need for depilation, waxing and shaving altogether, saving both time and money in the process. In addition, it may help improve skin quality; specifically by eliminating issues caused by unwanted hair growth such as folliculitis or pigmentation issues that arise as a result.
Select a physician with extensive expertise in using lasers and extensive knowledge of skin conditions, while verifying their credentials before beginning treatments at salons, spas or other locations that employ nonmedical staff to perform laser procedures.