Laser skin and hair treatments offer an effective solution to shaving, waxing and plucking needs while improving skin imperfections.
Your physician uses a handheld laser instrument to press against your skin, applying cooling devices or gel as necessary, to emit a beam of light which damages hair follicles and restricts future hair growth.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Unwanted hair growth can be embarrassing and difficult to remove with traditional techniques like shaving, waxing and tweezing. Laser hair removal uses a focused beam of light to destroy the hair follicle, stopping current growth as well as future. As laser light attracts to pigment in skin and hair follicles containing melanin (dark-colored melanin), laser removal is most successful on dark-colored melanin. While gray, red or blond hued melanin may prove less effective; technology continues to advance; options exist for removing lighter-colored melanin hairs as well.
Long-term hair reduction requires multiple initial treatment sessions. The number of sessions may depend on your hair color and skin type; to optimize results it’s essential that sun exposure be limited before and after treatments; use sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher protection, shave the area prior to laser hair removal treatments so the laser can easily target follicles, etc.
At your laser hair removal treatment, goggles will be worn to shield your eyes from laser light. Your technician will then clean the treatment area and apply cooling gel, before moving a laser device over it to deliver pulses of light that cause a snapping sensation when they hit hair follicles.
If you have sensitive skin, a topical anesthetic may be applied prior to beginning treatment. As part of your session, the technician will adjust the intensity of laser light according to your individual needs and tolerance level.
Select a licensed medical professional when choosing your laser hair removal treatments. Many spas and beauty salons employ technicians with minimal training in laser hair removal who could cause injuries to skin or eyes through electrolysis, laser treatments or waxing procedures; injuries could include skin trauma from electrolysis procedures; severe burns from laser treatments; ingrown hairs during waxing procedures or ingrown hairs through waxing processes.
Home laser hair removal devices may also be purchased, although no substantial studies exist that establish their safety and efficacy compared to treatments done in doctor’s offices. Home machines don’t undergo as stringent testing requirements as medical devices.
What Are the Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal uses high-intensity pulses of light to target and destroy pigmented melanin in hair follicles, safely eliminating unwanted hair on the face, legs, arms, chest back and bikini line. Although not permanent in nature, laser hair removal may reduce or even eliminate the need for shaving plucking waxing altogether. People might experience some mild discomfort during treatment with reddening skin that typically fades within hours after completion; some individuals might also feel tingling sensations that require applying cold compresses over affected areas to help soothe.
Laser hair removal typically results in temporary redness or irritation to the skin due to heat from the laser damaging follicles and causing them to swell up, prompting more hair follicles to grow back into place. Therefore, it is crucial that people protect the treated areas by wearing sunscreen whenever going outdoors.
Laser hair removal may cause ingrown hairs, which arise when hair follicles converge into each other and form bumps on the skin. People can avoid ingrown hairs by resisting temptation to pull out hairs with tweezers or razors and limit sunbathing and waxing times accordingly.
Some individuals may experience scarring or blisters as side effects from laser hair removal treatments performed by qualified practitioners, though such risks should be rare if limited treatment sessions are being provided by certified individuals. You can avoid such issues by making sure your provider is licensed and certified.
Make sure your practitioner uses a laser device with an integrated cooling system, to avoid burning or damaging the skin during treatment. Also, it would be a wise move to conduct a small patch test first to gauge how your body responds and identify any potential issues with treatment.
How Long Will Laser Hair Removal Take?
Your treatment session length depends on the size and nature of the area being treated. For instance, if your goal is simply hair removal from small areas like your chin or underarms, laser therapy could last as little as five minutes while for larger surfaces like legs or chest it could last much longer.
As part of your treatment session preparations, try to avoid waxing and plucking hair for six weeks prior to visiting us, since these practices temporarily remove roots that our laser can detect. Instead, shaving will allow it to target hair roots more accurately. Sun exposure should also be minimized, since sunrays may alter pigment in hair follicles which could hinder results.
Cynosure Elite Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers are suitable for all skin types and hair types, including dark and light complexions. Laser hair removal works best on people with dark hair against light skin to target melanin deposits in hair follicles more efficiently and remove them permanently. Our technicians will work with you to plan treatments at optimal intervals to achieve permanent hair reduction.
After attending your recommended number of laser hair removal sessions, your hair should become significantly reduced, with any that does regrowth being sparse and fine in texture.
If you want more information on laser hair removal, make an appointment for an ideal Image Aesthetic Consultant consultation today. Our consultants will review your goals and budget, creating a custom plan designed specifically to get the results that will meet them. Contact us now to schedule your appointment! We look forward to helping you love your skin! *Results cannot be guaranteed as each individual may differ due to factors like skin tone, thickness of hairs and density, hormone levels as well as where treatment sites may be on the body.
How Much Will Laser Hair Removal Cost?
Laser hair removal is often more comfortable than waxing and shaving; however, its discomfort depends on your skin type and area being treated.
Laser hair removal is a semi-permanent technique that uses light energy to damage hair follicles and decrease the production of unwanted hair growth. The procedure can be used on virtually any part of the body; some common treatment areas include the face, armpits, legs, back and bikini line.
While temporary hair removal methods exist, many are looking for permanent solutions. Relying on razors, tweezers, depilatory creams or waxing to do the trick can be time consuming and often painful – more permanent solutions might just be what’s necessary!
Laser hair removal is the go-to permanent hair reduction method. This technique involves pulses of light that target hair follicles and absorb the pigment (color) present in their locks; then its energy transforms into heat energy which disables them and stops new growth from taking place.
Laser hair removal sessions typically last 15-30 minutes and involve using a handheld device to direct a laser onto the area being treated. Though you may experience some minor discomfort during these procedures, laser technology is safe for most skin types and colors.
Cost-cutting with laser hair removal depends on several factors, including its type and location of treatment; facial hair is generally more costly to eliminate than leg hair. Also, your choice of laser equipment can impact its cost; some models provide simpler treatments while others cost more but provide superior results.
