Are you tired of shaving, waxing and plucking away unwanted hair? Permanent laser hair removal offers long-term solutions.
Contrary to other hair removal methods, laser treatment disables hair follicles to stop further hair growth and must be administered over four to eight sessions to achieve full results.
Hormonal changes can significantly hinder hair regrowth, so some individuals may require touchup treatments as needed.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Unwanted hair can be an inconvenience and time drain. You may choose clothing to conceal unwanted growth or spend hours grooming it away with shaving, waxing, or plucking. Laser hair removal offers a safe solution for permanently decreasing unwanted hair while making future removal simpler and faster.
At the start of a laser hair removal session, your doctor will apply topical anesthetics to numb your skin before moving a handheld laser applicator across the area that needs treatment. When the light hits pigment in your hair follicles and destroys them, this prevents future hair production – you may feel something similar to a rubber band snapping against your skin.
Before seeing long-lasting laser hair removal results, multiple sessions may be required. Your specific treatment plan will depend upon factors like skin type and color, hair thickness, hormonal influences and location of hair follicles; your Ohio State outpatient clinic in Columbus will help devise one.
Prevent plucking, waxing or electrolysis for six weeks before beginning laser hair removal treatment. Furthermore, limit sun exposure prior and post treatment in order to minimize sun damage on the area being treated. Your physician will also ask about medications or supplements which could alter how the laser responds to your skin.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal uses pulses of light to temporarily disable the hair follicles responsible for unwanted hair growth, thus forcing them into dormancy and leaving the newly growing follicles much finer and lighter than they had been when they finally begin growing again. While not a permanent solution, laser hair removal offers one of the best long-term strategies for slowing hair growth.
To achieve optimal results from laser hair removal treatments, it is crucial that patients adhere to all instructions from their dermatologist both prior to and following treatments. This includes avoiding sun exposure as well as exfoliating their skin both physically (with scrubs) and chemically with skincare products containing alpha-hydroxy acids such as scrubs. It is also advisable not to wax or pluck hairs within the area being treated since this will make them harder for lasers to target and may lead to post-laser irritation of skin irritation.
Before your treatment begins, eyewear will be provided to protect your eyes from laser light flashes while targeting pigment in hair follicles. Once this process starts, a handheld laser applicator will move in a grid-like pattern over the target area; for smaller areas like upper lips it could take as little as several minutes while larger areas like back may take an hour or more for full coverage.
As the procedure proceeds, you may experience some discomfort from light pulses of energy as they hit specific follicles; this sensation has been likened to that of rubber band snapping against skin. Once treatment has concluded, however, you should be able to resume normal activities without experiencing an extended recovery period.
What Are the Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal?
Are you sick and tired of the pain, shaving irritation and thigh bumps associated with waxing and plucking hair removal methods like waxing? Laser treatments could be your solution! This quick, effective aesthetic treatment has already proved its worth among countless women and men looking for alternatives to traditional methods; however, before scheduling an appointment it’s essential that you fully understand all potential side effects associated with laser hair removal treatments.
Most people find laser hair removal to be safe and without long-term health risks. When considering this treatment option, however, it’s essential that you find a qualified provider and request a patch test prior to commencing any treatments – particularly if there are any preexisting skin conditions or medications which might interfere with its effectiveness.
Laser hair removal involves using a machine emitting a beam of light that will destroy hair follicles, thus preventing future growth. It’s non-painful and usually doesn’t last more than an hour; your practitioner will clean the area beforehand and apply numbing cream so you don’t feel any discomfort; some patients report experiencing slight pinching or rubber band snapping but this should pass shortly afterwards.
Following laser procedures, your skin may appear red and swollen afterward; this should subside after some hours. In extreme cases, blisters could form when exposed too soon after treatment if exposed too much sunlight; be sure to cover exposed skin if possible! Additionally, rare instances may include darker pigmentation of treated areas; this is easily avoided by consulting an experienced practitioner prior to beginning laser treatment.
How Long Will Laser Hair Removal Last?
Laser hair removal differs from shaving or waxing in that its effects are permanent when the follicle is destroyed; however, as hair will eventually grow back it should not be seen as a complete solution for everyone.
How long laser hair removal lasts depends on various factors, including skin color and thickness of hair. Treatment works best on those with dark hair and light complexions as the contrast allows the laser to spot and destroy each follicle more easily; it should not be considered effective against blonde, gray or white locks.
Individual results of laser treatment vary, taking longer for some people than others to reach their ideal aesthetic. Furthermore, it is vital that you forgo any hair growth-promoting habits – such as plucking or waxing stray hairs – prior to getting laser therapy, which could impede on results.
Though laser treatment is considered permanent, your hair might regrow faster due to changes in hormone levels or simply because its growth cycle has changed.
Regrowing hair tends to be finer and less dense after treatment; therefore, regular laser sessions every 4-6 weeks for body hair and twice annually for facial hair should be maintained for best results.
Make sure your laser hair removal provider meets all necessary qualifications before selecting them to conduct the sessions, such as being registered and meeting set standards of training, skill, and insurance coverage. Visit multiple providers in order to estimate how many treatments will be necessary in order to reach desired results.
How Can I Prepare for Laser Hair Removal?
One of the best ways to prepare for laser hair removal is to discontinue shaving or waxing in areas that will be treated. Lasers target hair follicles, so for effective treatment to occur it’s necessary that the hair be in its natural state – plucking or waxing can damage them, making the treatment less effective. It is recommended that in advance of any laser appointments no plucking or waxing be performed as it could reduce effectiveness and make plucking/waxing less effective than expected.
If you’re worried about discomfort during or after laser treatment, many laser professionals recommend taking some ibuprofen or paracetamol before and after your session to help alleviate any potential discomfort that might result from it and make skin more resistant to irritation post-session.
Before receiving laser therapy, any scented body product or lotion must be avoided in the days leading up to it, and sun exposure must also be restricted in order for optimal treatment results. A sunburn will interfere with its efficacy as a laser targets pigments; moreover, many professionals refuse to treat clients who already have sunburns due to increased risks post-treatment.
Preparing for laser hair removal requires arriving with clean skin. Avoid applying deodorant or anything else to the area to be treated; clothing materials which irritate may cause problems; activities requiring excessive rubbing should also be avoided as this opens pores of skin and increases infection risks.
