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What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is a treatment that uses lasers to target the roots of hair beneath the surface of the skin. There’s a variety of lasers on the market, some more effective than others on certain skin tones, hair colors, and treatment areas.

Laser Hair Removal treatment uses a cosmetic laser that has settings adjusted to both your skin and hair type. The laser fires a concentrated beam of light that’s directed at the pigment in your hair follicles. This kills the follicle at its root, preventing those suckers from growing back.

Deciding on Laser Hair Removal

Shaving is more of an annoyance than anything. That uncomfortable prickle when you haven’t shaved and are wearing jeans? If you’re looking for a more permanent solution for your unwanted hair woes, laser hair removal could be the best service for you.

At  least  four weeks before, to be exact. You can’t receive this treatment if you’re sunburned — or even if you have a tan. Summer might not be the best time to start laser hair removal if you’re a fan of the outdoors. A lot of people start treatments in the fall or winter in order to have stubble-free skin by summer.

Do NOT proceed to come in with your hairy self. This isn’t like waxing, and you don’t need to grow your unwanted hair out beforehand.

On that note, you can’t come in for laser hair removal if you’ve had a wax recently. Remember: The laser targets the PIGMENT of your hair follicle, and the follicle actually has to be there in order for this to work.

The best thing you can do is shave a day before your appointment. If you don’t, your physician will most likely provide you with a razor so you can get ‘er done

Don’t think you can get away with this, either. If you’re for reals about this, queue up some Netflix shows and embrace the indoors for a while!

The sad truth is that not everyone’s skin will react well to cosmetic laser treatments. Pigment problems, discoloration, and scarring can occur with some skin types, which is why it’s important to allow your physician to conduct a small test patch first.

It all depends on the area you’re having treated. Underarms and bikini lines tend to be quick treatments, but other areas like the legs or back can take a little longer.

Your hair follicles are on their own growth cycle. People who see the best results typically go in for treatment every four to six weeks in order to maximize the potential of zappin’ the most follicles. This time frame allows the dead hair shafts to fall out on their own.

Although laser hair removal is an outpatient treatment with few side effects, there is some degree of risk with any cosmetic laser procedure, including the potential for skin damage from the laser. Choosing the right laser hair removal clinic increases the odds of success for your hair removal treatment.

There are many types of lasers used for cosmetic procedures today. Ask if the clinic you choose uses an FDA-approved tool specifically designed for laser hair removal.

A visit to the clinic or doctor’s office provides the opportunity to ask the laser hair removal provider questions in person, visit with the office staff and receive and overview of the specific procedure you are requesting. Consultations are typically free of charge at most reputable laser clinics today.

When you go in for your initial consultation, take a list of questions that include the experience of the technician, the treatment you would receive, and how to prepare for the procedure. Beware of any clinic that promises “permanent” hair removal results. While this procedure does significantly reduce unwanted hair, it is not considered a permanent hair removal procedure by the FDA and subsequent sessions may be required to maintain results.

All companies who perform laser hair removal are not created equal.  Like most products and services, price (while certainly important) shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when choosing a company. After all, you do get what you pay for.

Benefits Of Laser Hair Removal

Benefits of laser hair removal include:

Precision. Lasers can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.

Speed. Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute, and large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour.

Treatments are quick. Laser hair removal treatments are quicker than you might expect. For example, it only takes 20 minutes to perform a treatment on the underarm and Brazilian area.

You will save money in the long run. With the permanent reduction of hair, you no longer need to purchase endless razors, shaving cream, depilatory creams, and you will no longer need to have monthly waxing appointments. The cost of laser hair removal has decreased as the cost of waxing has increased. The results are far superior to waxing and the cost, over time, is much less.

Predictability. Most patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to seven sessions.

You can eliminate and prevent ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal is simply the best option and the only solution to prevent and eliminate ingrown hairs. It is also a great option for those who have sensitive skin and experience skin irritation from shaving and waxing.

You will save time. Laser hair removal eliminates the need to shave daily. Add that up over a lifetime and just think how many weeks you spend with a razor in hand!

No need to grow hair between treatments. Unlike waxing, you can shave between treatments. Say goodbye to the days of having to grow your hair out; with laser hair removal, you can shave as much as you like between sessions. The benefits of laser versus other forms of hair removal are abundantly clear. As the costs of treatment decrease, we no longer need to deliberate the pros and cons of this solution.