Laser Hair Removal

Hair removal done through laser treatment is a form of epilation procedure.  It is done through selective photothermolysis, a process where localized damage is caused by the lasers. 

This heats the area to be treated selectively so that it targets only the hair and not the skin. The treatment needs to be done in several sessions to be able to get the desired effect of permanent hair removal.

One needs to go to treatment for at least 6 sessions making it necessary of cosmetic clinics to market the treatment by package depending on the needs of the person who needs to get rid of unwanted hair from some parts of their bodies. 

The upper lip, chin, armpits, bikini line and legs are among the common treatment locations for laser hair removal.

Hair removal on the face area would require a series of treatment that would go on for a month. The chest area would need 2 months while 3 months would be the least for the legs. The intervals needed for treatments at the mustache and chin area is 4 weeks per session while the arm, chest and abdomen areas gets a space of every 5-7 weeks. The leg hair removal treatments are done every 6-8 weeks.

One treatment would cost as much as $429 and this would vary from region to region depending on whether your doctor and the clinic that he represents are in an urban, suburban or rural area.

The Procedure

Before you schedule for a laser hair removal treatment at a clinic, you should consult with a doctor first to ascertain if you are an apt candidate for the treatment.

Your doctor will be asking you questions on your medical history and you will be made aware of the benefits and dangers of the procedure.

You will also be asked of your expectations of the procedure and will be told also on what to expect after the procedure.

Those with tans or sunburns are advised to wait until their tan has faded or their sunburns have healed before undergoing with the treatment. Having a tan or sunburn increases the risk of acquiring side effects such as blistering and discoloration.

Because laser treatment is effective only on short visible hair, you will be advised to shave on the area intended to be treated 2-3 days before the procedure.

The hair regrowth should be allowed to grow into a stubble. Electrolysis, plucking and waxing are to be avoided before the treatment. You should also avoid being exposed to the sun 4 to 6 weeks before the treatment.

The amount of time needed to complete a laser hair removal treatment would largely depend on the area where the procedure is to be performed.

So, the process could be done in just minutes in other areas while on others, it could take hours. This type of hair removal treatment uses a laser that emits only a low energy, which goes through the skin onto the hair follicle.

The laser's energy destroys the follicles until they won't grow back anymore after a number of sessions. No anesthesia is needed in most of the cases although a topical local anesthetic is sometimes applied for reduction of discomfort as a slight stinging sensation could be experienced upon the application of the laser.

A cooling device or gel will also be used to protect skin depending on the laser type used in the procedure. You may notice a strong odor of skin that is burning but this is only normal as the laser would slightly char the hair stubbles that are to be removed.

Benefits

The benefits that you could get from laser hair removal treatment include its being a non-invasive technique that is gentle in eliminating bothersome hair from all parts of your body that you want to be treated and it leaving you with smoother and silkier skin without the disturbing hair regrowth. Because the procedure gets rid of a patch of hair at a time, it is able to treat more effectively larger areas like the back and chest. Because of its convenience and minimal discomfort, laser treatment is a popular replacement for the conventional razors, electrolysis and waxing. As it is a procedure that mostly needs no anesthetic, you could immediately get back to your normal activities after. 

Dangers/Other Considerations

Before going through laser hair removal treatments, there are some things that you might like to consider first. The procedure should be seen as process that is ongoing so that it requires quite a number of sessions before you could get the results that you desire.

A temporary slight reddening or localized swelling of the skin could also be experienced after the procedure. Because of this, you may have to use products or a skin regimen that is prescribed and specially formulated for your needs. You should use a sunscreen on any area that was treated and that gets exposed to the sun.

Patients with darker skin and hair may not respond as well to the treatment as those with slightly lighter coloring. White or gray hairs as well as blond hairs are also not as responsive to the treatment and could not even be treated sometimes.

Among the possible side effects of laser treatment is temporary hyperpigmentation or the darkening of the skin which could become permanent in very rare cases as well as hypopigmentation or lightening of the skin. Others include hair changes, changes in skin texture, blistering and scarring and crusting or scabbing.
 

Our Laser hair removal section is full of information and facts about the laser treatments and procedures involving hair removal, from our discussion about laser hair removal price and laser hair removal risks and dangers, the information presented in the facts about laser hair removal, we also try and provide some insight into laser hair removal reviews. For those of you who are interested in getting your treatment at home we also have a part dedicated to home laser hair removal procedure and electrolysis.