Are you tired of plucking, waxing, or daily shaving? Do you long for soft, stubble-free skin without razor bumps or acne-like breakouts after personal hair removal attempts? If so, laser hair removal may be the solution to your problem. During treatments, dermatologists employ lasers to safely and effectively remove unwanted facial and body hair. Due to recent advances in technology, most people can safely have laser hair removal treatments. While some patients report success after just one treatment, removing unwanted hair may take multiple visits. The key to success with laser hair removal is finding a reputable local center for treatment. The following are the most common questions asked about the process of hair removal, which will help you be an educated patient when looking for a local hair removal clinic.
While just about any body part is a candidate for hair removal, the most-sought laser hair removal treatments involved the bikini area, upper thighs and legs, the back, shoulders, chest, and the face, especially the upper lip and chin.
Before your treatment, the dermatologist will clean the area to be treated, and possibly apply a numbing gel if your skin is particularly sensitive. After the numbing gel begins to work, the skin is held firmly taut and then treated with the laser. The laser removes hair through vaporization. Many patients state that the laser pulses feel like a rubber band snapping on their skin, or like warm pinpricks.
Proper aftercare is for hair removal success important. To avoid possible side effects, avoid being exposed to direct sunlight and wear an SPF sunscreen. Do not use a sunlamp, tanning bed, or any other tanning equipment. Follow your dermatologist’s after-care instructions carefully.
No, most patients report no real downtime after a laser hair removal treatment. While your skin may be red and swollen immediately after having laser hair removal, most people are able to return to their everyday activities on the same day.
Most people report seeing good results immediately after treatment, though they may vary from patient to patient. You can expect to see a 10 percent to 25 percent reduction in hair after your first treatment. The area treated, original color and thickness of your hair, the color of your skin, and type of laser used all affect the results.
To remove hair completely, most patients will require 2 to 6 laser treatments. After the treatments are finished, patients typically do not see hair in the treated areas for several months up to several years. If or when the hair does regrow, there tends to be less of it and they are generally finer and lighter in color.
While most patients remain hair free for months or years after completing a laser hair removal program, if or when some of the hair regrows, it will generally be less noticeable. In order to keep the area hair-free, you may need additional maintenance laser treatments down the road.
Finding a reputable clinic can be the difference between experiencing unpleasant side effects such as burning, rashes, and other skin ailments, a failure to remove hair completely, or the hair growing back in soon, and between getting the result you want – soft, smooth, hair-free skin. When it comes to locating the best center, word of mouth from locals is your first line of inquiry. Check out Yelp and other online review sites for ratings by previous clients. Ask your friends and family for referrals. Check the company to see how long they have been in business and what their BBB rating is.