Within weeks after treatment, your skin will shed hair that was in its anagen or growing phase, creating what can look like continued hair growth or stubble – this is all part of a natural process and should not be seen as anything less than beneficial.
Results and benefits from laser hair removal courses become apparent after six to eight sessions have taken place – usually lasting three months each time to achieve permanent hair reduction.
What to Expect
Laser hair removal is a safe and effective solution to unwanted body hair growth, suitable for both men and women alike. Utilizing light energy, this procedure permanently damages hair follicles to stop them producing new follicles – typically between two and six sessions are needed to reach visible results depending on skin tone, type and pigment of hair being treated; lasers convert pigment into heat energy which causes cells in your hair follicles to die and stop growing new hair strands from growing back out again.
Before your treatment session, it’s wise to avoid tanning beds and sun exposure as these can make your skin more sensitive to laser therapy. Shaving should also take place in advance in the area being treated; and waxing, tweezing or plucking hair in this treatment area disrupts its growth cycle and should also be avoided as these methods disrupt it as well.
Medical professionals will apply goggles to shield your eyes from laser light exposure. Your physician may then administer local anesthetic before starting the treatment.
Your doctor will use a laser handpiece against your skin and turn on the machine, emitting a high-pitched sound as it passes over its surface and may cause some temporary discomfort as it passes over it. He or she may repeat this process over the entire treatment area – taking anywhere from several minutes up to an hour, depending on its size.
After your laser treatment, your skin may become red and swollen; you may even smell smoke and burning hair; this is completely normal and sunscreen must be applied daily on the treated area to protect it. Over time, however, hair which was destroyed by the laser will regrow, typically becoming finer and lighter in color than before.
Most laser hair removal treatments produce long-term results for most individuals. Although you may require touch-up sessions every year or two to maintain hair-free status, maintenance costs typically much less than shaving and waxing. Results will depend on individual’s hormone levels and hair-growth cycles; thus it is crucial that they follow their doctor’s advice regarding what can and cannot be done prior to laser hair removal for maximum success.
Preparation
Laser hair removal is one of the most efficient ways to permanently get rid of unwanted body hair. Safe and permanent solutions such as this means once treatment has concluded you will never need to worry about shaving or waxing again!
Tweezing can also help make skin smoother and even, which is great news for people suffering from problems like folliculitis and discoloration. Finally, waxing reduces how long you spend plucking unwanted body hair – something any individual who loathes the process can appreciate!
Before scheduling your initial appointment, ensure that you’re completely comfortable with the idea of receiving treatment. If any concerns arise, discuss them with friends or family before making your decision to proceed with it. Once decided upon, follow your technician’s pre-treatment orders carefully for best results.
Avoid plucking or waxing the area prior to your laser session, as laser treatment works best on hair still in its growth phase; pulling or plucking will interfere with this treatment method. Furthermore, products which increase photosensitivity such as aloe vera and sun cream should also be avoided as these could potentially reduce photosensitivity in treatment sessions; tanning or wearing clothing which exposes areas which will be treated is also advised against.
At your consultation, you’ll receive specific instructions on how to care for the treated area in the days and weeks after treatment, such as proper skincare routines and handling potential side effects. It is essential that you follow these instructions closely as failure to do so could impede on results or lessen effectiveness; furthermore, regular recurring treatments no closer than four to six weeks apart is optimal in achieving long-lasting effects.
Laser hair removal can be especially helpful for people with thick, dark hair and light skin as the contrast makes it easier for hair follicles to absorb the heat of the laser beam. However, laser hair removal may not be effective for people with blonde, reddish, gray or pregnant hair, or pregnant women who may require other options for hair removal. Any potential candidates considering laser hair removal should seek advice from their physician prior to making any definitive decisions; otherwise they could suggest more viable approaches instead. These professionals will give you all of the information that will enable you to make an informed decision and ensure the effectiveness of your treatment. They can provide details regarding what sessions to expect as well as an estimate on how many might be necessary in order for results to show up.
Treatment
Hair removal specialists start their treatments by cleaning and prepping the treatment area, as well as applying numbing gel if necessary, which works by blocking nerve endings in the area being treated. Next, laser light enters skin and converts into heat that damages or destroys hair follicles to stop producing unwanted hair growth; subsequent hair that grows back may be thinner and lighter-colored than before due to laser treatments.
Sessions typically last anywhere from minutes to an hour and depend on the size and scope of the area being treated; treating a chest takes much longer than treating facial areas, for instance. After the procedure has concluded, you can return immediately to your regular activities without feeling like there’s an aftereffect from sunburn-like sensation caused by damaged hair follicles temporarily releasing pigment into their skin; using broad spectrum sunscreen can help avoid this happening post treatment.
Prior to any laser treatments, it’s best to avoid waxing or plucking the area that will be treated. If shaving becomes necessary for treatment purposes, only remove hair above skin surface – too close shaves could interfere with laser’s ability to damage or destroy follicles.
Avoid tanning or artificially darkening your skin before beginning laser hair removal treatments to avoid side effects like burns or hypopigmentation afterward. The best way to minimize these side effects is to always shave and use depilatory cream before treatments, and space out treatments so your hormones can regulate growth/rest cycles of follicles more naturally.
Once you’ve completed a full course of treatments, Oregon Health & Science University suggests receiving touch-up sessions every few years in order to maintain long-lasting, smooth results. According to them, this step is necessary as both hair and skin do not remain permanent and will eventually grow back on their own over time.
Not only should you schedule follow-up sessions regularly, but between them it’s essential that you practice good hygiene by washing and exfoliating your skin regularly with a gentle exfoliator – this will remove dead cells that clog pores and inhibit hair growth, moisturize your skin to keep it supple and healthy, and use sunscreen with SPF 30 or above when going outside – following these simple guidelines will ensure that the effects will last as long as possible!
