Although laser hair removal has been around for over two decades, it is more popular than ever. The treatment is a safe and powerful approach for disposing of unwanted facial and body hair. Laser hair removal is a convenient procedure that can save you the trouble of time-consuming drudgery like waxing, shaving and tweezing.
How It Works
Laser hair removal treatments work by destroying hair follicles with laser energy. The treatment focuses upon the melanin part of the hair, which gives it its color. Surrounding skin tissue is left largely unaffected. After the destruction of the hair follicles, they can no longer produce hair in that specific area.
Treatment Sessions Required
Most people would like to get it over with with only one treatment. But laser hair removal doesn’t work that way. Although you’ll see up to a 20% decrease in unwanted, treated hair, you’ll require multiple treatment sessions to to get the results that you are after. The explanation comes down to the way that hair grows.
Each individual hair follicle functions on its own unique time cycle. Each follicle has a growth phase and a dormant phase. During a hair follicle’s dormant phase, it will shed its hair. Since the laser focuses on melanin, there is nothing left for it to target. By undergoing multiple treatment sessions, you’ll be able to catch each individual hair follicle when it happens to be in a growth phase, allowing it to be treated.
Laser Hair Removal Cost
A typical laser hair removal treatment costs about $400, according to the latest statistics.
Schedule a consultation with your provider to determine your final fee.
Your Treatment
Your provider will use a medical-grade laser to emit a focused beam of light onto unwanted hair. It will target the melanin in your hair, which will absorb the thermal energy, damaging the follicle and destroying it so that future hair growth is inhibited or prevented.
Although your hair will not fall out immediately, it will in the weeks to come. Hair that regrows will be much thinner and grow at a much lower rate. As you continue undergoing laser treatment sessions, you should notice that fewer and fewer hairs grow back, until there are barely any remaining.
Laser Hair Removal Recovery Timeline
The following is what you can expect after your laser hair removal procedure:
Immediately After
Your skin may appear somewhat flushed immediately after your laser hair removal treatment. If your provider used a topical anesthetic before your treatment, you may notice some discomfort as the anesthetic wears off. Most people do not require any medication to alleviate discomfort.
First 24 Hours
Avoid things like hot showers and hot tubs for the first 24 hours after your laser hair removal. Your skin is going to be somewhat red and slightly swollen for a while. Treat it gently until your skin has fully recovered. A cold compress or ice pack can help minimize any discomfort you are having.
First Week
You may notice some red bumps on your skin during the first week after your laser hair removal. These normally resolve themselves fairly quickly, fading in two or three days. It is not unusual to experience some minor scabbing or crusting at the treatment site. Use a neutral moisturizer, like petroleum jelly, to keep the area hydrated until your skin has completely healed.
You can clean the area using a mild cleanser that will not dry or irritate your skin. Inform your provider if you experience any intense discomfort or severe scabbing.
First Month
Within two weeks, you’ll probably begin noticing hair falling out in the treated area. Avoid the temptation of interfering with this natural process by tweezing, plucking or waxing. You should also avoid prolonged sun exposure during the first few weeks to prevent damage to your sensitive skin. Wear a good sunscreen if you need to go outside for any length of time.
Two to Four Months
More than likely, you’ll need more than one follow-up treatment to achieve the results that you desire. As mentioned earlier, hair grows in phases, and you can return to catch more hairs in their growth phase when they are available to be treated. It can take as long as 12 weeks to completely recover from a laser hair removal treatment before you can have another treatment session.
