When talking about hair removal, laser hair removal is one of the most vowed treatments by clients because of its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency. Laser hair removal is a non-invasive treatment known to remove or reduce unwanted body hair.
In 2016, over one million laser hair removal treatments were performed. This data proves that laser hair removal is one of the most promising minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in the United States. Definitely, it has become one of the top options for people who want to get rid of excess body hair as it can efficiently remove or reduce body hair, regardless of the size of the treatment area or the location of the treatment area itself.
How does laser hair removal do the work?
From the name itself, laser hair removal uses a laser, a concentrated light, to target the hair follicles. The hair follicles are the small hollow areas or cavities on the skin wherein the hair grows. When the laser light hits the hair follicle, the hair follicle starts to absorb the laser. This phenomenon makes the hair’s melanin attracted to the laser, thus, making the hair disappear.
Since the melanin, the pigment in the hair, attracts the laser, this makes laser hair removal more ideal for people with light skin and darker hair. If you have dark hair and dark skin, it may be difficult for the laser to know which to vaporize. Thus, the technician will use a special laser that can identify the difference between the skin and hair. As for clients with lighter hair, results will not be as visible as those with darker hair. This is because the laser will target more pigmented hair and may not attract light-colored hair. Basically, laser hair removal will not be as effective on gray, blonde, or white hair.
What happens during the laser hair removal procedure?
Like all cosmetic procedures, you will first undergo a consultation with a practicing specialist. This consultation will gauge whether you are an ideal candidate for the treatment. And once you are clear to go, you may either book an appointment at a later time or proceed with the treatment on the same day of the consultation.
Before the procedure itself, the aesthetic technician will clean the treatment area to ensure no microorganisms in the area. If the treatment area is sensitive, the technician may apply numbing cream or gel on the site. And since lasers will be used for the treatment, everyone in the room should wear protective eye gear to prevent eye damage coming from the laser.
When the numbing gel or cream is already working, the aesthetician will start to focus the laser beam on the area to be treated. Since the laser is concentrated, it will only cover a tiny area at a time. Thus, if the space going to be treated has a large surface area, then the procedure will take more time.
Tiny areas may take only a few minutes to finish, while larger areas like the chest can take one hour or longer.
Generally, laser hair removal is not a painful treatment. Clients, however, report a stinging sensation similar to a sunburn or rubber band snapping on the skin because of the laser energy. Since hair is “vaporized,” smoke puffs that smell like sulfur may also be experienced.
How to prepare for a laser hair removal procedure?
The practitioner who will administer the procedure should provide you with instructions on what to do before the appointment. These pre-treatment instructions will improve the procedure’s efficiency and steer you away from undesirable side effects. Below is a list of some of the standard recommendations for pre-treatment:
- Avoid skin irritation
- Do not expose yourself to the sun a few days before the procedure. Also, do not undergo a tanning session. Laser hair removal is safer on natural, untanned skin.
- Avoid plucking or waxing before the procedure.
- The procedure shall not proceed if you have a current infection in the treatment area, like a bacterial skin infection or a cold sore.
- Make sure not to take anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin as it may induce bleeding.
- If you have darker skin, your technician may suggest that you put a skin-bleaching compound on the treatment area to make the skin lighter.
What are the usual treatment areas for laser hair removal?
The usual area for laser hair removal must be the armpit. This is because this is usually the site of unwanted hair that is always noticeable. However, there are other areas the laser hair removal also treats. These are the following:
- Shoulders
- Back
- Chest
- Arms
- Legs
- Bikini area
- Neck
- Chin
- Upper lip
What are the possible side effects or risks of laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal does not have many serious side effects post-treatment. Moreover, severe complications due to laser hair removal also rarely occur. But, here are some of the most common side effects of laser hair removal:
- Redness in the treatment area
- Discomfort in the treatment area
- Swelling in the treatment area
- Skin irritation in the treatment area
These common side effects usually disappear after a few days. If these side effects stay longer than expected, you should contact a healthcare professional to ease the side effects.
On the other hand, these are the less common side effects of laser hair removal:
- Burns
- Scars
- Blisters
- Permanent change in natural skin color
- Infections
To ensure that you encounter the most minimal risks, ensure that you do the procedure with experienced professionals. You can find these professionals in Skinetic Aesthetics. Having experienced and board-certified specialists will give you peace of mind.
What to expect after the laser hair removal procedure?
One of the best features of laser hair removal is its minimal recovery time. Typically, you can go back to your usual routine right after the procedure. The practitioner may also recommend you put sunscreen on the treatment area after the procedure.
The verdict: does laser hair removal really work?
You may already see reduced hair in the treatment area right after the procedure. You may still see hair growth in the treatment area two to eight weeks later. This is because not all hair follicles respond to lasers equally. Usually, clients will see that hair doesn’t grow back between three to eight treatments. The consultation before the procedure will also let you know what to expect during the treatments. To ensure that hair won’t grow back again, you may need yearly touch-ups to maintain the hair loss.
Skinetic Aesthetics offers laser hair removal service straight from the hands of experts. Consider your hair problems solved with their expertise in aesthetic medicine and state-of-the-art facilities. Book an appointment now, and love the skin you’re in!
