Laser Hair Removal

LASER HAIR REMOVAL 101

What Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is ditching the razor, once and for all.

It’s permanent removal of unwanted hair that literally kills the hair at the follicle, preventing hair from ever growing back!

Like anything in life, it’s not 100% perfect, 100% of the time, but the good news is, even if we don’t completely zap the follicle into oblivion, the hair that does grow back will take longer to grow, be finer in color, and lighter in thickness – it’s pretty much a win/win/win.

Starting out, you’ll need more than a couple treatments – anything worthwhile takes time and laser hair removal is no exception. Although laser hair removal works best for those with dark hair and light skin, it can also be used on any skin type.

Why, you ask?

We’ll talk about contrast in a minute and why it’s so important – more to follow.

Most people get laser hair removal on their legs, but other common areas to get rid of hair permanently are the arm pits, upper lips, chin, bikini line, chest, and back.

You could technically get rid of unwanted hair from almost anywhere, but let’s be realistic – you probably want to avoid the eyelids and surrounding areas (the eyes). Also, don’t try to remove hair from tattooed areas unless your technician says it’s okay.

Coming back to contrast, the success of laser hair removal often comes down to the color of your hair and your skin type.

Why?

Well, the easiest way to understand is this – the way the laser is “supposed” to work is by zapping the beam into the pigment of your hair , not your skin. This means your hair gets burnt, not your skin.

When there’s contrast between your hair and your skin, it’s easy for the laser to zap the right stuff (hair) and not the wrong stuff (skin) – when there’s no contrast (aka dark skin and dark hair or light skin and light hair, it’s tougher to get the laser to zap only the hair…aka you might end up with more skin irritation and less effective hair removal).

Does that mean no laser hair removal for people with less contrast between skin and hair?

Heavens, no! However, if you’re one of those less-contrasted people, definitely start with a small, out-of-sight area to test how it works for you before you sign up for a huge area. Also, it is important to note that laser hair removal is not as effective for hair colors that absorb light poorly, such as gray, red, blonde, and white.

How long does hair removal last?

Every person is different, so it’s hard to say (it’s true, even if it sounds like a pat answer).

If we zap the hair follicle, hair removal will be permanent. If we only wound it, hair removal will usually lasts months to years, depending on how quickly your hair grows.

What are the benefits of laser hair removal?

Well obviously, the lack of unwanted hair!

But other than that, there’s also a lack of scars, an end to waxing and shaving (thank you Jesus!), and often your skin will be softer than it was before (BONUS!).

It also helps avoid ingrown hairs and their unsightly bumps.

What are the risks?

Side effects will vary based based on your personal traits – aka your skin type and hair color; the skill of the person performing the laser hair removal (we’ve got that on lock, no worries!), and how well you follow the treatment plan (hey, nothing amazing ever comes easy!).

Overall, here’s the worst you could suffer (to keep the lawyers happy I even used legalese):

• Skin irritation. Laser hair removal can cause temporary discomfort, redness, and swelling, though most of this disappears just a few hours after the session.
• Pigment can change. Laser hair removal can lighten or darken the skin (usually seen in people with a lack of contrast between hair and skin, causing the skin to absorb more of the laser than necessary). Most of these changes are temporary. Those with darker skin and those who aren’t able to avoid the sun before or after treatment are far more likely to experience skin lightening (i.e. follow your treatment plan!).
• Very rarely, laser hair removal causes skin changes such as blistering, crusting or scarring.
• Even more rarely, laser hair removal can result in excessive hair growth or graying around treated areas, especially on darker skin.
• As with anything, test a small, non-visible area and consult a knowledgeable provider before committing to a full-scale laser hair removal, especially if you find yourself in the higher-risk categories listed above.

How many sessions will I need?

Everyone is different (I know, I know, we keep repeating it – but it’s TRUE!) but most people will need about a half-dozen treatments, though you’ll start seeing results in just the first few. It’s important to try and completely annihilate the hair follicle, as that produces the most permanent results, so your technician will work with you and monitor results to ensure that you reach that point as quickly as possible.

How do I prepare for laser hair removal?

To determine if laser hair removal is right for you, consult your doctor, so he or she can:

• Examine your medical history.
• Discuss the risks, benefits, and expectations of laser hair removal.

After that, head over to our spa, where we’ll discuss the costs and treatment plan during your consultation.

(NOTE: Laser hair removal is typically not covered by insurance.)

We’ll give you specific instructions on how to prepare for laser hair reduction, both before and after the treatment. These instructions will include:

• Avoiding the sun. For sun protection, consult your doctor before and after treatment. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF30 every time you go outside. This is necessary to ensure the skin doesn’t lighten or darken immediately after treatments.
• Lightening your skin. Avoid using sunless creams that cause skin to darken. If you have darker skin or a recent tan, your doctor may recommend a skin bleaching product. Your technician can help you decide what steps to take as well.
• Other hair removal methods should be avoided. Hair follicles can be damaged by electrolysis, waxing, and plucked. Avoid these activities at least 4 weeks before you start treatment
  • (You’ve still got shaving! At least we’re not asking you to give up *ALL* your hair-trimming for a month, Heaven forbid!)
• Avoid taking blood-thinning medication. Before the procedure, ask your doctor about which medications, if any, you should avoid.
• Area for shaving. Before laser treatment, it is recommended to trim and shave.
  • Shaving helps do two things.
    • One, it minimizes skin burning from the longer hairs being lased.
    • Two, it helps the laser locate the follicles.
  • Always use a clean, new razor to minimize any bacteria that could cause dermatitis following your laser treatment.

What to expect

Six to eight treatments may be required for laser hair removal, depending on the area being treated, the individual’s skin type, and the efficacy of the laser technician.

Depending on your schedule and the hair re-growth timeline, the interval between treatments may vary from a few weeks to a few months

You’ll wear special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beams during each treatment and sometimes, we may apply a topical anesthetic on your skin to minimize the discomfort.

During the procedure

The technician uses a handheld laser device to effectively treat the hair follicles. When the laser is activated, the laser beam passes right through the skin and zaps the hair’s follicles. The intense heat of the laser beam causes damage to the hair follicles and inhibits hair growth. Some people say it feels like a rubber band snapping on the skin while others describe no feeling at all. To treat a small area, the whole process may take less than ten minutes, while an area such as the back may take a bit longer.

Following the procedure

After laser hair removal, you might feel some redness or swelling in the first few hours.

Ice can be applied to the area to reduce discomfort. The doctor may apply steroid cream to any skin reactions that occur immediately following laser hair removal.

Avoid sunlight for six weeks after laser hair removal or between scheduled treatments. You should use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF30 every day.

Results

Hairs don’t fall out instantly, but you are losing hair over time (before and after photos help immensely in seeing the difference!) Repeated treatments may be necessary as hair loss and growth continue to occur until the hair follicles are completely destroyed. Laser treatment works best for hair follicles at the new-growth stage (another very important reason to shave the day before the treatment, like we mentioned earlier).

The majority of people experience hair loss that lasts for several months; however, some find that it lasts for many years. For long-term hair loss, some people may need maintenance laser treatments.

Laser hair removal is available at our Odessa location!