LASER HAIR REMOVAL

What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is a procedure which removes hair from the body utilizing a long pulse laser.  Laser heat disables follicles from producing hair.

Who is a candidate for laser hair removal?
Both men and women seek laser hair removal to remove unwanted hair. Hair removal is commonly done on underarm, pubic area, legs, abdomen, lip, chin, back, buttocks, thighs, face, neck, chest, arms, and toes.

How many treatments will I need? At what intervals?
Most patients need at least 6-8 effective treatments spaced 8-12 weeks apart. Because hair grows in cycles, several sessions are necessary in order to affect all hair on any given area. Due to length of hair growth cycles, treatments are usually needed once every 8-12 weeks. Hair cycle length varies depending on body part. Face usually requires more frequent treatments (about 8 weeks apart) whereas legs and back need less frequent treatments (closer to 12 weeks apart).

Shedding of all treated hair should be expected within 3 weeks of each treatment. The hair that doesn’t shed and is growing as usual after 3 weeks has likely been either missed or not affected due to inappropriate settings. If this is the case, a touchup treatment is necessary at that time. All 6-8 treatments should be good effective treatments in order to achieve good results.

Once the hair sheds, patients should experience a hair-free period for several weeks. Once new hair comes in again, patients should come in for their next session.

Is laser hair removal permanent? Are there other permanent hair removal methods? 
Laser hair removal lasers have been in use since 1997 and the Food and Drug Administration approved them for permanent reduction. They disable hair permanently as long as the right type of hair is treated with an appropriate type of laser at effective settings.

However, it is called a reduction because, no matter what some clinics may claim, hair removal lasers cannot and do not remove 100% of the hair in an area. With proper treatments, laser can remove the majority of the coarse hair on a body area, but they cannot remove finer hair. Be cautious of clinics making claims that seem too good to be true.

Generally, a patient can tell how much reduction was achieved from a course of treatments after waiting 6-12 months from their last treatment. Any hair that grows in after the 12-month period is new hair that the body can develop due to numerous factors such as age, diet, hormonal changes, and medical conditions such as PCOS. Patients who experience new growth later in life can get touchup treatments.

Is laser hair removal painful?
In one pulse, laser removes all the hair on a patch of skin the size of a nickel or a quarter. Generally, laser hair removal is not much more painful than waxing, though the sensation is different. With each pulse, the feeling resembles a rubber band snapping against the skin for a quick second. Pain is only felt while laser is hitting the skin and doesn’t last. Most people do not require an anesthetic cream, though one can be prescribed to more sensitive patients.

*It should be noted not feeling any pain during treatments may be an indication that the laser is set too low to produce permanent results.

Are there any possible risks or side effects?
Some people may experience the following potential temporary side effects:
Itching, Redness for up to 3 days, Swelling around mouth of follicle for up to 3 days, Tingling or feeling of numbness

The following rare side effects are indicative of inappropriate laser type and/or settings:
Crusting/scab formation, Bruising, Purpura (purple coloring of the skin), Temporary pigment change (hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation)

What should I expect before and after the treatment?
Patients should not wax, epilate, or remove hair with the root using any other hair removal method for at least 6 weeks prior to their first session and throughout their course of treatments.

The area to be treated should be shaved 1-2 days prior to treatments so that the energy is targeted towards the hair follicle and not wasted it on the hair above the skin’s surface.

Treatments are relatively quick. Both underarms take about 5 minutes. Full legs can take 1-1.5 hours. After the treatment, applying ice packs and cooled pure aloe vera gel help soothe the skin.

All hair should shed within 3 weeks* following the treatment. Sometimes, shedding doesn’t start until about 10 days after the session. During the shedding phase, hair may look like it’s growing, but it is actually coming out to shed. Exfoliating and/or scrubbing gently in the shower with a loofa can help speed up the shedding process.

After 3 weeks, some patients may see small black dots remain in the hair follicles on some areas. These are commonly referred to as pepperspots, which eventually shed on their own. Exfoliating may help speed up the process. Regardless, they will be singed off in the following session.

Once the hair sheds, patients should experience a hair-free period for several weeks. Once new hair grows in, patients should come in for their next session. For most people and on most body areas, this happens about 8-12 weeks after the previous treatment.

Patients should continue treatments until remaining hairs are too fine for laser to target, or until they’ve reached their desired reduction.