Laser hair removal is a procedure that removes hair by targeting an intense light beam on the follicle. The beam passes through the skin and transforms into heat, which damages the follicle. This inhibits the hair from growing back.
If it does grow back, it is usually weaker and paler. Laser hair removal will greatly reduce the hair in any given spot on your body, but it doesn’t promise permanent hair removal.
Since the laser targets the color or melanin of the hair, the most common type of laser hair removal worked best for darker hair. It may not be very effective for people with white or blond hair. However, new technology has developed laser hair removal for any color of skin or hair.
The most common places people use laser hair removal is on their legs, underarms, bikini line, chin and upper lip. It is used on almost every area of the body except the eyelid and area around the eye.
Before having a laser hair removal procedure, the surgeon will review your medical history as well as any prescription drugs you are taking. He will discuss the benefits, risks, and your expectations, so you’ll have a clear picture of what to expect.
Some tips for preparing for laser hair removal are:
• Stay out of the sun and away from tanning products for at least six weeks before having the procedure.
• Don’t pluck, wax or have electrolysis to remove hair for at least a month before the procedure.
• You may shave, and we sometimes recommend it because it doesn’t damage the follicle.
If your hair is very thick, the surgeon may trim it with scissors before the procedure. We’ll give you special goggles to wear to protect your eyes from the laser beam.
If required, we can apply a topical anesthetic cream to reduce any discomfort during the treatment. It may take 15 – 20 minutes to treat a small area such as the upper lip and an hour or more to remove a lot of hair on a man’s back.
You may have a bit of redness for a few hours after the procedure. The surgeon may prescribe treatment for any discomfort such as ice compress or steroid cream.
You should avoid direct sunlight and tanning beds while the skin is healing, and even when you are completely healed, you should wear sunscreen whenever you are in the sun.
This is one reason many of our patients prefer to have laser hair removal done during the winter. By the time the warm weather starts, their skin is ready for summer clothing.
People respond to laser hair removal differently. You may need maintenance treatments from six to 12 months.
In any case, it’s recommended to have several treatments for the best results because hair has different stages, and laser hair removal only works in the growth stage.
All the hair will not be in the growth stage at the same time, so you need to have several treatments to remove all of the hair in a certain area.
Laser hair removal is a very efficient and safe way to greatly reduce the amount of hair on your body. Contact Chernoff Cosmetic Surgery today to schedule an appointment.