Laser hair removal is considered a permanent way to reduce unwanted hair.
Although called laser hair removal the procedure does not remove all hair, but
permanently reduces the total number of hairs in the area treated.
The process to remove the hair follicle is called selective photo-thermolysis.
During the treatment a laser is scanned over the skin, and ‘zaps’ of light enter through the top layer of the skin then travel down the hair to the hair follicle.
By absorbing this laser energy, the hair follicles are damaged, impairing their ability to grow.
The hair follicle must be in an active growth stage for the laser to disable the
growth. Hair follicles may enter their growth cycle after your treatment,
therefore multiple treatments are required to deliver optimal results. Treatments
are usually given at intervals of 4-6 weeks, or when there is new hair growth in the area. On average, it takes from 6 to 10 treatments to reduce the hair – most clinics will not guarantee removal, but will guarantee a percentage of reduction.
Any area with hair growth can be treated, but the most commonly treated areas
are the upper lip, chin, neck, back, chest, underarms, bikini line and legs. The treatment is described as feeling like an elastic band snapping against your skin, but can feel painful in sensitive areas (underarms, bikini line) so it is possible to have a anesthetic applied to the skin before the treatment.
An ideal candidate for hair removal is someone with a pale complexion and dark hair, but darker skins can also get good results. It has been reported that
blond hair does not react to the laser, but new technologies it may be possible
to reduce lighter hair.
There are a variety of places you can get a laser hair removal, occasionally a
plastic surgeon will perform it, but it is more commonly a nurse or dermatologist. Some clinics have estheticians with no medical training at all performing laser hair removal so it is important you carefully choose who to perform your treatment as a laser is a powerful tool that can cause damage in unexperienced hands.
Approximate Cost : $200 – $2,000
Recovery: None, area may be sore 5-10 days
Possible complications: Rare risk of: burns, infection, scarring, numbness,
pigmentation changes.