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Millions of men and women with unwanted body hair spend countless hours on temporary hair removal
methods -- including shaving, waxing, applying chemical depilatories, and tweezing. A traditional
semi-permanent method, electrolysis, cauterizes and destroys each individual hair follicle, but
this procedure is quite time-consuming.
Laser hair removal is a permanent reduction in unwanted hair. The laser works by sending energy
into the pigment of the hair shaft, which is absorbed by the surrounding follicle. The heat
generated by this process damages the follicle and stops hair production.
Laser hair removal is appropriate for any area where there is excess hair, with the important
exception of the eye area. Since the laser works on more than one follicle at a time, larger
areas like the back, arms or legs are just as easily treatable as smaller areas like the upper
lip or bikini line. However, because the hair is targeted on the basis of color, the hair must be
darker than the underlying skin for the laser to be effective.
Although the FDA has approved several types of laser for permanent hair reduction, results can vary.
Each individual has a different metabolism, hormonal level, hair quality and number of hair follicles,
all of which can influence the outcome. Moreover, normal hair goes through a growth cycle in three stages:
the anagen, or growing phase; the telogen, or resting phase; and the catagen, or transitional phase. During
the anagen phase, hair is susceptible to the laser’s energy, but during the telogen and catagen phases,
it is resistant. At any one time, various percentages of body hair will be in each of these phases, making
complete removal unlikely without multiple sessions.
What are some of the most common benefits of this treatment?
How are the treatments performed?
How long do the treatments take?
How much pain is there?
What can I expect afterward?
What are some of the most common benefits of this treatment?
Laser hair removal is efficient, long-lasting method for removing unwanted hair that
saves much of the time and energy previously given to other methods.
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How are the treatments performed?
The initial consultation: Your laser technologist will advise you on what to expect from laser treatment. He/she
will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations. Test
patches may be performed to determine whether your hair will respond favorably to the laser.
The treatment:
During the procedure you’ll feel intense emissions of light on the skin as the laser is absorbed by the hair follicles.
Each pulse of the laser lasts a fraction of a second and treats an area of approximately ½ inch. Many lasers are equipped
with cooling systems to decrease skin temperature, providing a mild anesthetic and preventing burns from the heat generated
by the laser.
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How long do the treatments take?
The treatment time can vary considerably depending on the size of the area treated, and the particular technique used. A small
area such as the upper lip may take only five minutes, while a larger area like the back or legs may take up to one hour.
Since the laser affects only those hairs in the growing stage, and not all hairs will be in this stage at the same time, several
treatments will most likely be needed to effectively remove all the hair from one area. Subsequent sessions will be scheduled at least
a month apart, when you will probably begin to notice the regrowth of hairs that were previously in the resting stage.
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How much pain is there?
You should expect some discomfort during the treatment. This is most often described as a stinging sensation, and varies from one individual
to the next. A numbing cream can be applied to the skin prior to treatment to minimize pain.
What can I expect afterward?
Following the procedure the area may be red or swollen, as if mildly sunburned. Occasionally, the skin in the treated area becomes slightly crusty,
but this reaction should fade within a few days.
Although you can resume your normal activities, you should avoid exposing the treated area to the sun. Clean the area with mild soap and water and
do not use any products that may irritate the skin (such as Retin-A or astringents).
You’ll notice hair “growing” in the area within ten days of your treatment. This is actually the damaged hair falling out, rather than re-growth.
You may shave these hairs if they bother you, but do not wax, tweeze, or bleach hairs between sessions.
If you have a dark complexion, you may notice a temporary lightening of the skin in the area. Although most patients are satisfied with the results of
laser hair removal, it is impossible to predict the success of the treatment for each individual. The resiliency of hair follicles in different parts
of the body and in different individuals can vary widely. Multiple treatments are usually needed to reduce the amount of unwanted hair permanently.
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