Laser Hair Removal provides an effective alternative to shaving, waxing, tweezing and other depilatory methods. Laser light targets pigment (or coloring) within hair follicles to destroy them and thus stop any further hair growth.
People of all skin and hair colors can benefit from this procedure, although dark hair and light skin tones tend to fare best in results. Recent sun exposure or tanning sessions should be avoided before scheduling treatment.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that utilizes pulses of light to safely, quickly and permanently reduce the number of unwanted follicles. It is safer, faster and more reliable than traditional methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing or threading; however it’s essential that any practitioner doing the procedure meets adequate levels of qualifications and experience – look for someone listed on an industry register as this will indicate they meet set standards regarding training skills and insurance coverage.
Laser treatments work by penetrating the skin and targeting pigment in hair follicles with light energy, dissolving them and inhibiting further hair growth. Although individual results vary, most have seen significant hair reduction after five to ten treatments sessions.
After your treatment, the treatment site may feel tender or red; this should subside quickly. Before your first session, avoid tanning beds and other forms of sun exposure which might darken the skin, as well as shaving, using tweezers or waxing in areas that will be treated.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal uses laser energy to target and destroy unwanted hair follicles, effectively stopping their future hair growth while simultaneously decreasing your need for shaving, waxing or plucking. While several sessions may be necessary to reach optimal results, once complete your unwanted hair should have been permanently eliminated from your skin.
Minor side effects associated with laser hair removal typically include redness and swelling at the treatment area; these should subside on their own within 24-48 hours. If any persistent or severe reactions persist or worsen over time, please reach out immediately to your clinic or dermatologist so they can check to make sure there’s no sign of infection.
Some people can experience permanent scarring from laser hair removal treatments; this usually stems from practitioner errors; you can minimize this risk by choosing only qualified practitioners to carry out treatments on you and by properly caring for the area treated after sessions by moisturizing and protecting it from sun exposure.
What Are the Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?
Laser Hair Removal is one of the most permanent ways to permanently eliminate unwanted hair, extracting follicles from their roots to stop future growth and remove all types of unwelcome follicles at once. It offers superior results with less irritation or discomfort than traditional depilatory treatments.
Some of the more frequently experienced side effects of Laser Hair Removal treatments are redness, itching, swelling of the treatment area and changes to skin tone. These symptoms typically last two or three days and indicate that your body has responded negatively to the pulsed light used during therapy.
Laser hair removal works best on those with dark hair and light skin as its laser light targets pigment in the hair rather than any surrounding tissue. However, current technology offers sufficient versatility that most patients can benefit from this procedure.
As part of your treatment, it is advised that you shave on the day of your session in order to maximize the penetration of laser light into the hair follicles. Also avoid sun exposure or tanning before your appointment to avoid unwanted pigmentation issues that could arise as a result. Sessions should take place 4 – 6 weeks apart for best results.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Take?
Laser Hair Removal is an advanced cosmetic treatment used to permanently reduce unwanted facial and body hair using a powerful laser beam that targets pigment in both the hair and skin. When directed toward hair follicles, laser light heats them up before damaging them permanently preventing future hair growth in that area. Laser hair removal provides an alternative solution that is safer and more permanent than shaving, waxing or tweezing for permanent hair reduction.
However, for maximum safety and results it is crucial that patients select an experienced medical provider such as Dr. Michele Green for the procedure. Also to avoid financing it with credit cards or loans that contain high interest rates.
Most patients will require six laser hair removal treatments to achieve permanent hair reduction. Each subsequent session removes an increasing percentage of unwanted hair until you become completely hair free. It is advised to attend treatment sessions every 4-6 weeks in order to experience maximum effectiveness.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?
Laser Hair Removal is an increasingly popular solution that offers long-term relief from grooming needs, without the hassle of repeated grooming sessions. While costs vary per laser treatment session, many providers provide package pricing plans to help reduce upfront expenses.
Your physician will provide an upfront, transparent breakdown of projected costs and provide advice regarding which treatments may be necessary to reach desired results.
The average laser hair removal price varies based on your treatment area and skin tone; darker skin tones often need specialized laser technology in order to get optimal results.
Laser hair removal costs can also vary based on the clinic and physician you select for treatment, and generally aren’t covered by insurance; however, an FSA might help cover some or all costs incurred during cosmetic procedures.
Are Laser Hair Removal Treatments Safe?
Unwanted hair can be an embarrassment, especially on the face and bikini area. Relying solely on traditional methods of removal such as tweezing, waxing and shaving may prove expensive and ineffective; laser hair removal offers a cost-effective and long-term solution that permanently reduces unwanted follicles.
Laser hair removal is generally safe, although certain precautions must be taken. Laser treatments tend to make skin more sensitive to UV rays; therefore, using sunscreen after your session is advised. Furthermore, for maximum effectiveness it’s wise to avoid plucking or waxing for six weeks prior to laser hair removal sessions as these will remove melanin that helps the laser locate hair follicles for destruction by targeting them with energy from laser beams.
Another consideration with laser treatment is that some areas may not be treatable due to natural pigmentation of their body, including areas with blonde, red and grey hair. As laser works by targeting melanin in hair and skin cells, if there’s none present it cannot be targeted with its beam.
Are Laser Hair Removal Procedures Painful?
Laser Hair Removal is generally less painful than waxing or other traditional methods of hair removal, but still requires some tolerance of discomfort. Some may experience little pinches that they compare to an ant bite or rubber band snapping against their skin during treatments; to ensure maximum comfort during your procedure our experienced technicians apply numbing cream beforehand and keep in mind your comfort level during each zapping of unwanted hairs.
As with waxing, laser hair removal treatments differ depending on both your personal pain threshold and area being treated. While initial tingling sensations may exist during treatment, most clients find laser hair removal significantly less painful than waxing.
To further reduce pain, we advise scheduling your laser treatment session outside of your menstrual cycle and avoiding caffeine during this period. Your pain receptors become more sensitive during this period and laser treatment could become even more uncomfortable for you. You can take anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen to alleviate discomfort.
Are Laser Hair Removal Results Permanent?
Laser hair removal targets the pigment in hair follicles and therefore skin tone is an integral factor for its success. Lighter skin tones absorb less of the laser’s energy and this causes significant reduction of hair growth; making laser treatment much more efficient than waxing or tweezing methods, which only remove surface skin layers.
Because tanning absorbs more melanin than it should, tanning increases your likelihood of hair follicle treatment becoming harder. Furthermore, laser light can absorb into skin pigment and cause burns or scars from laser hair removal treatments. To get maximum benefit out of laser hair removal treatments it is advisable to forego tanning prior to receiving laser hair removal treatments.
Note that laser hair removal may not be suitable for pregnant women or individuals actively transitioning due to hormone levels affecting hair growth rates; however, Dr. Green will work closely with you in creating an appropriate laser hair removal treatment plan tailored specifically to meet your personal goals and needs.
