Laser hair removal can be extremely helpful for women and men dealing with excess body hair that leads to hirsutism, hypertrichosis or other hair growth conditions such as depilation, shaving or waxing; which often lead to irritation of skin and ingrown hairs. Laser removal eliminates this need, saving time and money in terms of depilation costs while providing permanent reduction in ingrown hairs from depilation shaving waxing which are all time consuming processes leading to ingrown hairs or irritation.
Your doctor will apply a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. The laser light will penetrate deeply and target pigment-rich hair follicles without harming other areas.
What is the procedure?
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive, safe, and efficient solution for eliminating unwanted body hair. When compared with shaving or waxing, its results are long-term or permanent, and vast areas can be treated in just one session.
Laser treatments utilize a beam of light to damage skin and destroy hair follicles, thus preventing new hair growth. The type of laser used will depend on your skin tone and hair colour; very dark hair may prove more challenging due to melanin absorption by your skin preventing energy reaching hair follicles directly; it is wise to consult a practitioner and discuss what would be the most suitable form of laser treatment.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, it’s essential that you shave the area of skin that needs laser hair removal on its scheduled day and receive some anesthetic cream or other pain relievers as your sensitivity might make this painful process feel even worse. Your practitioner will press a hand-held laser instrument against your skin while protecting its surface with cooling devices or gel that protects its surface while also helping reduce side effects and any possible discomfort during this procedure.
Procedure The procedure itself only takes fractions of seconds per pulse, making treatment of small areas such as an upper lip may take only minutes; treating larger ones, like back or legs could take as much as an hour.
Goggles should be worn to protect the eyes during laser hair removal procedures and a cooling air spray may be applied at the tip of the instrument to keep skin cool and minimise discomfort. As this is considered medical procedures, always choose a practitioner registered on a register that meets standardized training, skill, and insurance.
How long will the procedure take?
Laser treatments use light waves that are absorbed by melanin in hair follicles to produce heat that disables hair follicles without harming surrounding skin or being permanent. Most people need between four and six treatment sessions before results become permanent; treatments are fast, relatively painless and permanent making laser therapy an ideal alternative to shaving, plucking and waxing which may lead to irritation of surrounding tissue.
Treatment with light therapy can be used on most areas of the body. However, eyes should not be treated because this may cause a burning sensation. Furthermore, pregnant women and those taking certain medications shouldn’t use light therapy treatments and it’s also not advised for those suffering from genital herpes or cold sores.
During a laser procedure, patients wear protective goggles to shield their eyes from its light beam. Next, their practitioner will place the laser against their skin and administer multiple pulses through it; depending on the size of the area being treated, this process should only take an hour.
After your session, it is normal to experience redness and swelling of the surrounding skin. Therefore, it’s crucial to follow your physician’s post-care instructions for optimal healing; in particular avoiding sun exposure directly after treatment while always using broad spectrum sunscreen when going outside.
Patients typically see that hair growth diminishes with each treatment session of laser hair removal, usually between three to seven. Once this point has been reached, permanent reduction occurs and spending money on razors, waxing or depilatory creams becomes unnecessary – more than offsetting any costs associated with laser hair removal.
How much will the procedure cost?
Laser hair removal may cost more upfront, but it will ultimately save money in the long run. No more shaving and waxing! Plus no need for razors or waxing kits! To learn more about what the upfront costs might be of laser hair removal, schedule an initial consultation with an expert who can explain the procedure in greater depth while helping you make an informed decision if this course of action is right for you.
Cost of laser hair removal will depend on a range of factors, including body part treated, surgeon fees and geographic location. Multiple sessions may also be needed to achieve results; the most popular treatment areas include back, shoulders and legs.
Apart from location and quality of facilities, other important considerations include type of laser used and physician. Some types of laser work better on certain skin and hair tones than others so it is wise to consult a dermatologist who can suggest the optimal choice for you.
As the laser light targets hair follicles and eliminates them, you will experience a small pinch. Although this procedure is less painful than waxing or shaving, your pain tolerance will ultimately determine your comfort with this process.
Laser hair removal costs can vary significantly; expect to spend between $125 and $1,000, including office visit, application of topical anesthetic and laser treatment. You will also need follow-up appointments in order to experience its full benefits.
Are there any side effects?
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to get rid of unwanted body hair. As one of the most permanent means of hair removal, laser can replace methods like depilation, waxing and shaving altogether while providing relief for potential side effects like folliculitis or discoloration caused by these other methods of removal.
Finding a well-trained professional when receiving laser treatment is essential; results may differ significantly between providers. A trained dermatologist provides safe and successful results when choosing their practitioner.
Though laser treatments are generally painless, some individuals may experience mild to moderate discomfort during their session, depending on their pain threshold and area being treated. Some describe it as an uncomfortable “pinching” sensation lasting less than a second; nevertheless, these sessions tend to be much less painful than traditional hair removal methods like waxing, shaving and plucking.
On the day of your treatment, it’s also wise to avoid using tanning lotions or skin bleaching creams as this makes it easier for laser to target hair follicles without damaging surrounding tissue. Furthermore, shaving the area that will be treated prior to appointment may also prove helpful.
There are no long-term side effects associated with laser hair removal; however, some individuals may experience temporary side effects after treatment. Common temporary effects include redness, swelling and bumps which typically last only hours or days and can easily be remedied using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines.
How do I prepare for the procedure?
Unwanted hair growth is a common and embarrassing condition that can make us self-conscious about our appearance, leading to endless shaving, waxing and tweezing sessions that take up valuable time and are painful. Laser hair removal could provide the solution – it reduces unwanted facial and body hair while simultaneously giving smoother skin with reduced maintenance needs.
Before your appointment, it is recommended to limit sun exposure as much as possible as the laser uses heat to destroy hair follicles. Newly-tanned or darkened skin may prevent it from working effectively and result in side effects like hyperpigmentation, burns or scarring from its effects.
Two to three days before beginning laser hair reduction treatment, you should shave the area that will be treated. This step is key as laser treatments only target active growing follicles; shaving only removes visible hair above the surface while leaving behind active growing follicles intact beneath. Tweezing or plucking will only further damage follicles – possibly delaying permanent reduction. Additionally, avoid any form of plucking as this may damage follicles which could further delay permanent hair reduction efforts.
On the day of your treatment, protective goggles will be worn to safeguard against laser beam. Once in place, it will deliver pulses which resemble rubber band snapping against skin – this sensation usually only lasts a moment but could be more intense in certain parts of the body than others.
Prior to the completion of any procedure, you’ll have an opportunity to ask any queries and your practitioner will apply a cooling gel on the area to reduce discomfort. When treatment has concluded, you can resume normal activities.
