Laser hair removal is a safe, effective treatment that safely eliminates unwanted body and facial hair. It offers long-term relief from shaving, waxing and plucking.
Utilizing a laser light beam that absorbs melanin pigmentation, and converts to heat to disable hair follicles. As laser treatments target hair in its active growth phase, multiple treatments may be required in order to successfully treat.
What is the procedure?
Laser hair removal is a safe, efficient solution for permanently eliminating unwanted facial or body hair. The procedure works by targeting pigment (melanin) found within hair follicles to disable them; laser treatments not only produce effective results faster than shaving or waxing alone.
Procedure is performed using a highly specialized handheld laser instrument with its tip cooled with either cooling device or cooling gel to protect and minimize discomfort for you during treatment. Once activated by your doctor, a beam of light passes through your skin towards hair follicles where melanin absorbs it to create heat that damages and disables them – in turn stopping future growth of unwanted hair growth.
Based on your skin type and condition, your doctor may conduct multiple sessions approximately every 4-8 weeks for maximum effectiveness. This is due to hair follicles going through cycles of growth, regression and resting phases – during growth phase they’re most easily targeted with laser, while regression phase may cause them to begin producing hair again; more sessions may be necessary to disable them completely.
Once each treatment session, you should limit sun exposure or self tanner use for several weeks post-procedure. UV rays from sunlight can damage skin, increasing the chance of redness and swelling side effects. If sunbathing, use broad spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen frequently when sunbathing.
Laser hair removal can be used on most areas of the face and body, including necks, armpits, legs, underarms, bikini areas, back chest and abdomen. While it’s most popular among women, men can also benefit from having no stubble. Results from laser hair removal are permanent and will save both time and money over time – however please remember that FDA only approves lasers as permanent reduction methods rather than permanent removal solutions.
Does it hurt?
Laser hair removal is safe for all skin types and can be performed on any part of the body where unwanted hair exists, including legs and bikini lines. However, it’s most popular on legs and bikini lines due to its ability to eliminate prickly regrowth, reduce itching, and prevent pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps). Our advanced Prowave LX & Nd:YAG laser system utilizes simultaneous contact cooling with simultaneous beam targeting to eliminate pain without excessive gel usage – providing comfortable treatments you’ll look forward to!
Laser hair removal treatments will typically produce long-term results based on several variables, including your hair colour and thickness. You should begin seeing a decrease in unwanted hair growth after just four to eight sessions of laser treatment.
Before your appointment, a licensed professional will apply a topical numbing cream to reduce discomfort during your procedure. Furthermore, tanning or getting sunburnt in areas you are planning on treating increases your chances of pain during treatment sessions.
Your provider will use a laser hair removal session to move a handpiece over the area with unwanted hair. This handpiece releases laser beams into your skin that target hair follicles to stop their ability to produce new hair; you will feel something similar to a rubber band snapping against your skin with each pulse of the laser beams.
After your laser hair removal treatment, the area of skin affected will feel similar to having experienced mild sunburn; this discomfort typically lasts 24 hours and can be alleviated using cold gel packs or ice packs. You will also see a delay in hair growth due to some hair follicles entering their resting phase and entering restorative mode.
Though permanent hair reduction may be achieved after only a few treatments of laser hair removal, we strongly advise completing a full course of care to ensure all unwanted hair has been disabled and create smooth skin without future regrowth.
How long does it take?
Laser hair removal is one of the fastest cosmetic treatments available and can save both time and money over traditional methods like shaving, waxing and tweezing. Furthermore, its results tend to be more permanent. Keep in mind that multiple sessions will likely be needed before reaching desired results.
The duration of treatment depends on the size and location of the area being addressed; smaller areas require shorter treatments compared to larger ones like legs. Treating an underarm might only take 10 minutes while treating legs could take as much as an hour.
Before attending your laser hair removal appointment, shave the area that needs treatment in order to make it easier for the laser to target hair follicles more accurately. Furthermore, avoid tanning, self-tanners or lotion application before your appointment as this could increase heat produced by the laser and reduce overall costs associated with its use. Shaving can help minimize heat generated from this treatment option as well.
As part of your treatment session, you’ll wear protective eyewear while the laser targets unwanted hairs. A topical anesthetic may be applied as needed; once complete, however, you are free to go about your day as usual.
Many individuals will require two to six laser treatment sessions for significant and lasting results, due to lasers’ inability to target hair follicles during active growth phases; it takes multiple sessions for all hairs in an area to reach this phase.
After several treatments, you may notice that your hair growth has either significantly slowed or stopped entirely, due to lasers disabling active growth phases in hair follicles permanently. When they do return, however, new hairs usually tend to be finer and lighter in color than before.
Dependent upon the area being treated, laser hair removal appointments should take place every four to eight weeks at our clinic. For instance, treating chest or back hair would necessitate visits four to eight times.
How many treatments do I need?
Like waxing and shaving, laser treatment offers fast and effective hair removal without leaving unwanted stubble behind. After only several sessions you should see significant results to meet your desired look; however, regular maintenance treatments may still be needed in order to keep unwanted hair at bay.
MD ESTHETICS, located on 1910 Sook Road in Colwood and servicing Greater Victoria, specializes in aesthetic services and products including skincare and laser therapy treatments and products. Their skin rejuvenation options include Botox cosmetic and therapeutic, Belkyra, CoolSculpting, dermal fillers, Laser Genesis and microneedling; additionally they carry over 10 brands of skincare treatments available from them for sale.
