Laser hair removal is a popular and effective way to get rid of unwanted body hair. During the procedure, the intense heat of the laser beam damages the hair follicles, which inhibits hair growth. You may feel a warm prick or a cold sensation due to the cooling appliance or gel. Results vary from patient to patient, but you can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment.
To remove hair completely, most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments. When hair grows back, it tends to be less and finer in texture. The destroyed hair follicles eventually give way and the hair begins to shed and fall out. It is important to note that only an experienced healthcare professional should perform this procedure.
Possible side effects include burns, scarring, and permanent skin discoloration. After laser treatment, hair should fall out over a period of several weeks. You may be asked to shave a day or two before your sessions. Other possible side effects are rare when laser hair removal is performed by a dermatologist or under the direct supervision of a dermatologist. In patients with blond hair, the laser is relatively ineffective because in the hair bulb there is a minimal amount of pigment to achieve its goal, and its mechanism of action depends on this objective.
Some companies specialize in removing light hair or using lasers to obtain deeper skin tones, making it easy to know what type of treatment you would receive there. Hair with strong pigments is the most ideal type for this procedure, since the laser focuses on the pigment. However, technological advances have allowed darker skin to successfully receive the most current lasers that can destroy hair follicles. Today, laser hair removal is a treatment option for patients with fair hair and skin and for patients with dark skin. Laser hair removal should be performed in a series of 4 to 6 treatments to be able to treat and eliminate the different stages of hair growth.
When you book your appointment, describe your skin tone and hair color and ask the salon what lasers they use (and if they work with your hair and skin tone). This laser treatment removes unwanted hair by destroying the hair follicles responsible for hair growth. Once you have finished your series of treatments, you should have complete removal or an extremely substantial reduction in hair. When you undergo laser treatment, you no longer need to waste time and energy shaving or waxing your hair. Next, esthetician Ashley Taylor, who kindly explained the process to me step by step during my consultations, and dermatologist Rachel Maiman, MD, will explain how laser hair removal works and what to expect from the treatment.
