Laser Hair Removal
Are you tired of shaving, plucking, or waxing?
Do you get razor bumps or acne-like breakouts when you get rid of unwanted hair?
If so, you may want to consider laser hair removal.
Lasers are used to remove unwanted facial and body hair safely and effectively.
Thanks to advances in technology, most people can safely have laser hair removal.
Removing the unwanted hair can take 6 sessions or more.
Once you reach your desired results, maintenance treatments may be needed.
What areas can be treated?
Laser hair removal can treat the:
- Armpits
- Back
- Bikini area
- Chest
- Face, especially the upper lip and chin
- Legs
- Neck
- Shoulders
What must I do after getting laser hair removal?
To avoid possible side effects, all patients need to protect their skin from the sun. After laser hair removal, you should:
- Avoid direct sunlight from hitting your treated skin.
- Not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment.
- Follow your after-care instructions.
You will see some redness and swelling after treatment. This often looks like a mild sunburn. Applying a cool compress can help reduce your discomfort.
Is there downtime?
No, laser hair removal generally does not require any real downtime. Immediately after having laser hair removal, your treated skin will be red and swollen. Despite this, most people return to their everyday activities.
When will I see the results after having laser hair removal?
It may take approximately 2 weeks to see your results. The results vary from patient to patient. The color and thickness of your hair, area treated, type of laser used, and color of your skin all affect the results. You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment.
To remove the hair, most patients need approximately 6 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients will experience permanent hair reduction that can last for years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it. The hair also tends to be finer and lighter in color.
How long will the results of laser hair removal last?
Most patients remain hair free for months or even years. When some of the hair regrows, it will likely be less noticeable. To keep the area free of hair, a patient may need maintenance laser treatments.
What are the possible side effects?
The most common side effects are minor and last 1 to 3 days.
These side effects include:
- Discomfort
- Swelling
- Redness
Other possible, but rare side effects from laser hair removal may include:
- Blistering
- Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks
- Infections
- Scarring
- Skin lightening or darkening
In time, skin color tends to return to normal. Some changes to skin color, however, are permanent. This is why being treated by a skilled laser technician that has in-depth knowledge of the skin is important.
It is also important to follow your pre and post care instructions. Following both the before-treatment instructions and after-treatment instructions will greatly reduce your risk of side effects.
When is it safe to have another laser treatment for hair removal?
This varies from patient to patient. Removing hair often requires a series of laser treatments. Most patients can have laser hair removal once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your dermatologist will tell you when it is safe to have another treatment.
Most patients see some hair regrowth. Your dermatologist can tell you when you can safely have laser treatments to maintain the results.
Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?
Lasers play an important role in treating many conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails. In recent years, many advances have been made in laser medicine. Dermatologists have led the way in making these advances.
One such advance is that more people can safely have laser hair removal. In the past, only people with dark hair and light skin could safely have laser hair removal. Lasers can be safely used on darker skin types with technicians that are educated and skilled in the safety of skin types and laser treatments.