Laser Hair Removal:  Is This Popular Treatment Right for Me?

As summer approaches, women and men often imagine throwing away their razors and tweezers and never waxing again. Maintaining a hair-free body and face can be costly, tiring, and painful.

But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, many patients are electing to have non-invasive laser hair removal for a long-lasting solution to body and facial hair. The sessions can be performed in a matter of minutes and require no downtime.

To get the most out of laser hair removal, it’s important to assess your goals and concerns to determine if the treatment is right for you.

What Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is a non-surgical treatment that reduces the amount and density of hair growth. During the treatment, light-based energy is focused on the pigment in hair follicles to weaken and destroy them.

Do You Want to Reduce Hair Growth up to 90% and Shave Less Often?

Depending on the treatment area, laser hair removal can reduce hair growth up to 90%. However, these results are cumulative and achieved over a series of 4-6 sessions.

Additionally, treatments are spaced 6-8 weeks apart, which can mean up to a year to experience the full effects.

Do You Want to Eliminate Ingrown Hairs?

One of the most significant benefits of laser hair removal is that it can reduce or eliminate ingrown hairs. It can take several months before patients note this improvement, but the end result is soft and smooth skin that is free of redness and bumps.

Do You Want to Save Money in the Long-Run?

Once patients complete a series of treatments, they only need touch-up sessions every 1-2 years.

Therefore, the initial investment required for laser hair removal is well worth the savings on waxing and shaving in the future.

Which Area(s) Do You Want to Treat?

Laser hair is safe and effective for a variety of facial and body parts. Common treatment areas include underarms, legs, bikini, arms, shoulders, back, and chest.

Anywhere near the eyes is not suitable for laser hair removal.

Are You Prepared to Stay out of the Sun Before and After Treatments?

Because of the laser’s attraction to melanin, patients are advised to avoid sun exposure for 2 weeks before and after treatment. Additionally, a daily broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least 30 SPF should be worn daily to prevent darkening of the skin and burns.

How Do You Feel About Shaving the Area Before and After Treatment?

To enable a clear pathway for laser energy to reach hair follicles, the area must be shaved the day of or the day before laser hair removal.

Also, patients are not able to wax, pluck, or thread hair regrowth while undergoing treatments. However, shaving is allowed anytime post-procedure and is required before each subsequent session.

Can You Tolerate Some Temporary Discomfort?

Treatment time can range from 10 minutes to one hour depending on the area(s). Patients often describe laser hair removal as feeling like the snap of a rubber band.

Afterwards, all normal activities may be resumed, and the skin may look and feel like a mild sunburn.

To learn more about laser hair removal, please call our office today to schedule a consultation.