Laser hair removal has quickly become one of the most popular aesthetic treatments in the United States. With laser hair removal, you can say goodbye to unwanted hair that leaves you with bumps, nicks, or burns, and say hello to skin that is smooth without the need to remove hair every day.
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that utilizes a laser to remove unwanted hair. During your treatment, a laser beam will pass through the skin to an individual hair follicle. The intense heat of the laser then damages the hair follicle, which inhibits future hair growth. With laser hair removal you can eliminate unwanted hair in nearly any area. Some of the benefits of laser hair removal include:
- Precision – dark, coarse hair can be selectively targeted without damaging surrounding skin.
- Speed – each pulse of the laser takes only a fraction of a second and can treat multiple hairs at the same time.
- Predictability – after five to eight sessions, approximately 90% of patients will experience 80% permanent hair loss.
Melanin is a natural pigment that gives our hair, eyes and skin color. Laser hair removal relies on the fact that melanin in your hair absorbs light. The key to laser hair removal success is for the hair to absorb enough light that permanently damages the hair follicle so that it no longer produces hair. By using specific wave lengths of light, the laser permanently damages the hair follicle without injuring the surrounding skin.
A hair follicle is most sensitive to the thermal effects of laser only during its growth phase. Only part of your hair is in the growth phase at any one time. Therefore, laser hair removal must be performed 5 to 8 times, scheduled four to six weeks apart, for permanent hair removal.
Can any skin or hair color benefit from laser hair removal?
People with light skin and dark (black or brown) hair will have the best result with laser hair removal (about 80% permanent hair removal after five sessions scheduled four to six weeks apart). Historically, people with blond and red hair have fair results and people with gray and vellus hair (the short, fine, light-colored hair commonly seen on a woman’s face) have poor results with laser hair removal. Fortunately, we now have a cream available that can pre-treat the area and significantly improve laser hair loss in these hair types. Persons with dark skin will have to use the Nd:YAG laser to get permanent hair removal. This laser is smaller in diameter and will take longer to complete the individual sessions. Additionally, persons with dark skin will require about eight sessions for permanent hair removal.
Is laser hair removal painful?
We use a Zimmer cooling device that should allow the treatment to proceed with minimal discomfort. You may feel a slight sting or burn during treatment.
How long after treatment will it take for the hair to disappear?
You should see some loss of hair after the very first treatment. Five to eight sessions are usually required for permanent hair removal.
What are the risks of hair removal?
Laser hair removal is very safe. Some people feel like they have a slight sunburn immediately after treatments. Changes in skin pigment rarely occur.
How long does hair removal take?
The time for hair removal varies greatly depending on the area treated, the thickness of the hair, skin color, etc. Underarm hair removal can be completed in five to ten minutes. Full leg hair removal may take an hour.
What areas of the body can receive laser hair removal?
We can perform laser hair removal on almost any part of the body, male or female. The most popular areas for females are facial, bikini and underarm hair. The most popular areas for men are back and neck hair.
How much does laser hair removal cost?
The cost varies greatly depending upon the area being treated. Five sessions of underarm hair removal will cost approximately $400.