Did you know that 90% of people who get laser hair removal treatments report a permanent reduction in their hair growth? If you’re someone who has always struggled with unwanted hair and spent countless hours shaving and waxing, laser hair removal might be a great option for you. However, you may be wondering, “Is laser hair removal permanent or is it only a fad?”
Luckily, you’ve clicked on the right article to find your answer. Here, we’ll explore how laser hair removal works as well as the laser hair removal cost and more. With this information, you’ll be able to decide whether or not laser hair removal is the right option for you.
To start off, let’s take a closer look at what laser hair removal is exactly.
What Is Laser Hair Removal
When it comes to laser hair removal, a laser refers to a beam of light. This light is concentrated in a way that it becomes powerful enough to remove hair by targeting hair follicles which are small, sac-like vessels that lie beneath the surface of your skin. The laser can only target the hair follicles if there is a hair shaft within them.
This is because hair (or at least dark hair) has a dark pigment known as melanin. The light of the laser is able to pick up on this melanin and when this happens, the laser converts its light into heat. This heat is powerful enough to burn away the hair and damage the hair follicle.
When this occurs, the hair follicle that was treated will either be unable to grow new hair, or more commonly, the hair grown from that follicle will be delayed and not as thick as the previous hair before treatment. However, getting a laser hair removal treatment isn’t as easy as getting one treatment and being hair-free for life.
Because of the way hair grows on our bodies, multiple treatments are required. This is because of how hair follicles produce hair. Some hair follicles may not produce a hair for many months while others may produce hair within weeks.
Because of this, when you go in for a laser hair removal treatment, the first treatment will only treat the follicles with hairs in them. The laser will not be able to treat the follicles that have not yet grown hairs but may do so in the future. Maintenance treatments may also be needed to make sure that any hair does not grow back in case your body’s hormones fluctuate.
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
While most people find that laser hair removal permanently reduces their hair, this does not mean that the hair is permanently removed. Instead, after several treatments, the treated hair follicles will slow down their hair production. This will result in hairs taking a long time to grow back, even longer than when waxing.
After several treatments, the hair in the area should be so fine that it should not be an issue. It is important to know that no matter how many treatments you get, hair will almost always grow back from your follicles so laser hair removal is not exactly a permanent solution for removing your hair completely.
Even so, many people are happy with the results of laser hair removal. Even though the hair grows back, the hair is more like peach fuzz and is hard to notice. This is especially true if you keep coming back for maintenance treatments.
Having Accurate Expectations Helps
If you’ve never gone in to have a laser hair removal treatment done before, you may be unsure of what to expect when you go in for the first time. First, it’s important to consult with a doctor to make sure that laser hair removal is right for you. Most people are great candidates, but some people might be better off opting for a different kind of treatment.
Laser hair removal works best when there is a strong contrast between the skin and the hair. For instance, people with lighter skin and dark hair would be perfect candidates for laser hair removal. On the other hand, if have blonde, gray, or red hair, the laser may have trouble picking up on the hairs and the results may not be what you want.
During and After the Laser Hair Removal Treatment
During the treatment, the doctor will use a hand-held device to direct the laser onto your skin. The doctor may apply a cooling gel to the tip of the device in order to minimize the feeling of the heat produced by the laser. This gel can reduce the inflammation and redness that the laser will cause to your skin and it can also reduce the chances of side effects.
You may feel discomfort once the laser is turned on, but it shouldn’t be any more intense than a flick. If the discomfort is too much, you can ask the doctor to apply a numbing cream to your skin. Depending on the area, the treatment could last from a few minutes to an hour.
Larger areas could cost as much as $600 such as the legs or back while smaller areas like the upper lip may be a couple hundred or less. After the treatment, it is important to stay out of the sun since the laser will have made your skin very sensitive. You should always use sunscreen when going outside as well.
Is Laser Hair Removal Right For You?
So, is laser hair removal permanent? Well, no. But, it can offer a substantial reduction in noticeable hair growth and lasts a long time. Now that you know more about the process and expectations for results you’re ready for treatment.
To learn more, contact us here.