Laser treatment can effectively remove unwanted hair from your face, arms, legs and bikini area. It also works to treat scars, wrinkles and pigmented lesions such as sun spots or freckles.
Laser treatments fall into two main categories – ablative and nonablative. Nonablative techniques include light therapies such as intense pulsed light (IPL) or violet-blue light.
Pain
Laser hair removal involves emitting light that is absorbed by the melanin pigment in your hair and converted to heat that damages hair follicles in your skin, thus inhibiting further hair growth. The type of laser used, the area being treated and your pain threshold will determine how painful the procedure will be; if discomfort arises prior to beginning treatment sessions speak with a dermatologist about ways to numb this area prior to going ahead.
Before going under the knife for laser hair removal, speak to your physician about using a numbing gel or applying ice. Additionally, people receiving this procedure often receive a local anesthetic injection prior to starting their treatment.
When seeking laser hair removal, make sure your dermatologist has experience treating your particular skin type. Choose a clinic with only medically-trained staff (dermatologists or nurse practitioners); avoid spas and salons where nonmedical personnel perform laser treatments.
Before seeking laser treatment, it is advisable to refrain from using any sunless skin bleaching creams or tanning products that might bleach your skin, and refrain from shaving and plucking the areas being targeted for several weeks beforehand.
Laser treatments typically do not cause much discomfort; however, you may experience temporary discomfort and redness of the skin which usually dissipates within hours of treatment. If pain becomes an issue for you during this first 24-hour period, try placing an ice cube over the treated area every two hours in order to help reduce swelling and bruising.
After your laser hair removal treatment, it is recommended that you cleanse the treated areas four times each day with soap and water, apply an ointment for protection from scab formation, and sleep with a pillow beneath your head to reduce swelling and pain.
PicoSure laser technology enables your doctor to utilize laser treatment on all skin types, even darker-skinned patients who had been denied laser treatments due to complications. This revolutionary treatment can effectively reduce brown spots while improving complexion without traditional downtime or risks associated with other laser procedures.
Side Effects
Unwanted hair growth can be an uncomfortable reality for many individuals, making shaving, waxing and plucking ineffective and inconvenient methods of depilation (such as shaving). Laser treatments provide a safe yet effective alternative that can significantly decrease unwanted hair on faces, chests and legs.
Laser hair removal works by targeting melanin pigment in hair follicles and heating and damaging it without harming surrounding skin, leading to permanent hair reduction over time. Treatment can be applied almost anywhere on the body including legs, arms, underarms and bikini line; however it is wise to avoid sun exposure or self-tanners prior to laser hair removal to avoid skin discoloration or other complications that could arise from sun exposure or use of self-tanning solutions.
A doctor will press a hand-held laser instrument against your skin. A cooling device or cool gel may be applied at the tip of the instrument to protect and minimize discomfort; during treatment you may experience mild pinprick sensations similar to warm pinstriping; an anesthetic cream may be provided as needed.
Prior to your laser session, it is recommended to shave the treatment area. Shaving should preferably take place one or two days prior to your appointment so as to achieve maximum shortness of hair in this area. Also avoid sun exposure or self-tanners for two weeks beforehand, as prolonged sun exposure can significantly lessen its effectiveness and increase risks of side effects.
After your treatment, it is normal to experience redness or irritation on the area being treated, but should subside within one hour with use of an ice pack to speed recovery. Some patients may develop bumps, redness or swelling around their hair follicle called folliculitis perifollicularis that resemble an ingrown hair; this usually clears up after several days.
Laser hair removal can significantly diminish fine lines and wrinkles, scarring, stretch marks, rosacea acne hyperpigmentation and hyperpigmentation on all skin types, though its benefits are especially noticeable on darker-skinned people who struggle with other methods for hair removal. Unfortunately it does not guarantee permanent removal – though hair may regrowth thinner and lighter after treatment sessions; many require multiple sessions in order to experience lasting results.
Results
Laser hair removal can be permanent and vastly superior to shaving, waxing, tweezing and electrolysis in terms of results. When choosing your laser treatment provider, make sure they specialize in dermatology or cosmetic surgery and have experience treating laser treatments on skin of various types – not spas or salons that allow physician assistants or licensed nurses to administer treatments; instead make sure a board certified doctor is present during each laser session for best results.
Before receiving laser treatment, it is essential that you avoid sun exposure and apply ointment or petroleum jelly to prevent scabs from forming. You may also require medication to manage inflammation or swelling.
At your consultation, you will meet with a physician who can address any queries or address concerns you have about laser treatments. He or she will examine your skin, treat a test patch, discuss treatment costs and create an individualized treatment plan and costs estimate. Before attending your first laser session it’s a good idea to shave the area that needs treating; waxing, tweezing or plucking hair may interfere with its effectiveness and impede results of laser therapy treatments.
After your treatment, you should expect to witness a 10-25% decline in the active hair follicle count. If your doctor suggests additional sessions, try scheduling them regularly so you can see results faster and thinner hair growth than before. Your hair will eventually grow back but much thinner and lighter than its former self.
Some at-home devices claim to be permanent solutions for hair removal; however, most dermatologists advise against their use as they only serve to reduce the number of follicles on your skin and potentially make existing hair finer and thinner. Only an in-office laser can permanently eliminate unwanted hair; any home devices should always be used after consulting a dermatologist first.
Are you fed up with shaving, waxing or plucking to rid yourself of unwanted hair? At Renew Med Spa in Waxhaw, our Motus AY laser technology provides safe and effective hair removal treatments that will leave you feeling confident about yourself in all areas.
Cost
Consider how much money laser treatment could save by eliminating shaving, waxing and electrolysis; its costs may outweigh its price. However, to help manage costs efficiently it’s essential that your laser clinic offers flexible payment plans and accepts insurance plans.
Make sure the doctor providing your treatment is board-certified in the field in which it applies, and be wary of spas and salons that employ nonmedical personnel to perform laser procedures.
For dramatic before and after pictures, laser treatments like CO2 or the newer erbium YAG laser may provide effective results, says Nazarian. But those looking for milder results might prefer light therapies like IPL, Q-switched pulsed dye lasers and ND:YAG lasers instead. While they’re gentler than their laser counterparts, Devgan notes.
