Laser hair removal is a permanent hair reduction treatment that works by using a laser light to destroy the pigment in your unwanted hair and prevent future hair growth. The laser destroys the hair follicle without damaging your skin or tissue around it. Laser treatments are fast and comfortable. Depending on the area, a single session can last up to an hour. Your doctor will recommend a series of sessions and a maintenance regimen for your best results.
The procedure is FDA-approved and considered safe for most patients, but it can have some side effects. The most common is redness of the skin. This can last for a few hours to a few days, but regular applications of an ice pack may help reduce this effect. Other side effects include changes in pigmentation (hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation) and blisters.
It’s important to talk to your doctor about your skin and hair color before you undergo laser treatment. You should also avoid tanning in the weeks before your appointment because it can interfere with how your skin reacts to the laser’s light.
During the treatment, you’ll wear goggles to protect laser hair removal Memphis TN your eyes. Then, the doctor will press a hand-held device against your skin and trigger it to emit the laser’s light. The device might use a cooling gel or a cooling tip to protect the surface of your skin and reduce pain. The sensation is usually similar to the feeling of an elastic band snapping against your skin.
Before your treatment, it’s important to trim or shave the area you want treated. This is because hair needs to be dark against the light in order for the laser to detect it and target it. It’s also important to avoid sun exposure before and after your treatment because sunlight can cause burns.
You can expect to see a noticeable reduction in hair after your first treatment, but it will take several sessions to achieve a significant improvement. The reason for this is that not all hair follicles grow in the same phase at the time of your treatment. In order to effectively treat them all, your dermatologist will perform the treatments at various times during the growth cycle of the hair in the treatment area.
For example, your facial hair grows faster than the hair on your arms or legs. This means that the hair on your face might need to be treated every four to eight weeks, while your armpits or legs may need to be treated every six to twelve weeks.
After you’ve completed the recommended course of laser hair removal treatments, you will enjoy permanently reduced or even completely eliminated hair growth in your desired area. However, it’s important to note that some hair will still regrow, but it will be much finer and lighter in color than the original strands. Most people remain hair free for months or years after their final treatment. In cases of hormonal imbalance, this can be prolonged by taking birth control pills or Spironolactone.