People typically need multiple laser treatment sessions in order to experience optimal results from laser hair removal treatments, and any hair regrowth typically tends to be finer and lighter in color after several sessions.
Pain tolerance varies, with most experiencing it as the sensation of rubber bands flicking the skin or being pinged by multiple small stings or flicks of electricity. Your technician may recommend applying a numbing cream prior to beginning treatment.
How long does it take?
Laser hair removal can be an extremely fast treatment option for most people. Each laser pulse takes just a fraction of a second and can treat multiple hairs at once; small areas (like arms) may only require less than an hour while larger areas ( like legs) could take up to an hour.
If you are planning to undergo laser hair removal, it is wise to refrain from plucking and waxing in the six weeks leading up to your appointment. Lasers target hair roots; when plucking or waxing removes these, leaving only above-ground hair behind. However, shaving may reduce risk of burns during treatment.
Most individuals require multiple sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart in order to achieve lasting results. As it’s possible for hair follicles to return after these treatments, touch-up sessions are highly recommended for optimal outcomes.
As with any medical procedure, laser hair removal will leave your skin feeling warm and possibly red – similar to sunburn – due to disrupted follicles being destroyed by laser light. Damaged hair typically falls out within two weeks after initial laser hair removal treatment has started; though in rare instances further treatment may still result in its demise.
For any inquiries or appointments related to laser hair removal, it is advisable to speak to a certified doctor or technician. Their credentials should show they meet set standards of training, skill, and insurance before being allowed to perform cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal.
Avoid taking breaks from laser treatment unless they’re absolutely necessary for your health or wellbeing. This is particularly important if you are considering becoming pregnant as hormone changes can reduce effectiveness of treatment sessions. If necessary, resume regular sessions as soon as your hormone levels return to normal; otherwise discontinue them completely during this period.
Can I stop it?
People seeking laser hair removal often do so with the intention of eliminating unwanted body hair and thus decreasing the need to shave, which is an admirable goal. Unfortunately, laser treatment is no instant fix and may take multiple sessions before finally providing smooth skin without hair growth. As such, it’s recommended to start sessions during autumn/winter with ongoing maintenance sessions throughout the year for best results.
Missing even one session could reduce the effectiveness of laser treatment, as its efficacy depends on when hair follicles are in their anagen phase – during growth cycles when 18-22% are targeted in one treatment session at once. Therefore, most packages for laser treatments include multiple sessions spaced six weeks apart.
Between treatment sessions, hair follicles will move into the anagen phase and no longer be targeted by laser. Missing one session could give those hair follicles enough time to regenerate and produce new, unwanted hair; therefore it is critical that you follow your technician’s advice and schedule regular appointments every six weeks.
Prior to getting laser treatment, it is wise to avoid other beauty treatments like waxing, plucking and chemical peels as these could create chemical reactions with the laser and reduce its effectiveness. Furthermore, tanning should be done at least one month in advance as sun exposure makes the skin vulnerable and susceptible to damage caused by lasers.
Finding a licensed and certified laser specialist with experience performing cosmetic laser procedures is of utmost importance, as laser procedures can be dangerous in inexperienced hands, potentially leading to burns, scarring and permanent changes to skin color – though these side effects are rare. A reliable laser technician will thoroughly evaluate your health history and medical records prior to proceeding with treatment to make sure you’re an ideal candidate and won’t experience any complications during or post treatment.
How often can I get it done?
Laser hair removal is an efficient, non-invasive way to safely get rid of unwanted hair, without leaving behind razor nicks and cuts in your skin. Plus, laser treatment reduces ingrown hairs that may be painful and irritating!
Although most people experience permanent results after four to six sessions, we will work closely with you to identify a treatment schedule that aligns best with your goals.
Laser hair removal involves passing laser light over the skin and over the hair follicles to target their pigment, more effective on dark than light hair but equally effective with both. Treatment doesn’t hurt but may feel similar to rubber band snapping against your skin and usually takes only minutes for smaller areas like chins; larger ones like legs might take an hour.
Once your treatments are completed, hair growth will slow significantly; subsequent hairs that come back will be finer, lighter and less noticeable than before. Over time, some or all hair may even stop growing altogether, leaving an area entirely free from hair. Depending on your skin type and hair color needs, multiple treatment sessions may be required in order to reach desired results.
Tweezing or waxing between laser treatment sessions should be avoided as this can damage follicles and prevent lasers from treating them effectively. Ideally, wait four weeks before booking another session.
Certain medications, including acne treatments and certain herbs, may reduce skin sensitivity to laser hair removal treatments. Therefore, be sure to discuss all medications you’re taking with the licensed professional conducting your laser hair removal sessions. They will provide the most up-to-date advice about how medication may interact with laser hair removal, and what steps to take should a new medication be prescribed. Antibiotics and antidepressants can sometimes trigger laser treatments by making your skin sensitive for up to two weeks after use, in which time sunblock should be applied frequently to protect it against pigmented patches forming on it.
Can I get it done while I’m pregnant?
Laser hair removal should generally not be undertaken while pregnant due to increased hormones that could alter skin pigmentation and cause hyperpigmentation, rendering treatment less effective. Furthermore, gestation can alter hair growth patterns making achieving desired results more challenging; while during gestation blood supply to skin can increase creating sensitive patches making laser treatments uncomfortable and painful for some pregnant women.
While no clinical evidence suggests laser hair removal has any adverse affect on unborn babies, most medical practitioners would advise expecting mothers not to have it performed on abdominal, breast or bikini areas during their gestation period.
Pregnancy may also bring unwanted hair growth in new places – such as arms, neck, face or belly – due to elevated levels of androgens and estrogen during gestation. Luckily, temporary hair growth will typically fade after giving birth when hormone levels return to normal levels.
At this stage, it would be wise to avoid hair removal methods that could be harsh on the skin, such as depilatory creams, waxing, or electrolysis – such as depilatory creams containing chemicals like thioglycolic acid and barium sulphide that could harm an unborn baby. Furthermore, any products which darken skin are best avoided as well as any sunless skin bleaching creams which might darken its surface.
Laser hair removal may not be recommended during pregnancy; however, other methods may still be suitable alternatives, including shaving, tweezing and waxing. Unfortunately, these can be time consuming processes requiring multiple sessions that may prove challenging during gestation and even cause painful rashes; so the most practical solution would be to wait until after giving birth and resume regular treatments; this will ensure maximum efficacy with minimal discomfort for mother and baby alike.
