I had laser hair removal over five years ago on my lower legs. In short- I love it, it worked and I am still virtually hair free. I had about 95% hair loss and the other 5 % remains baby fine. It really is complete freedom to not be beholden to shaving or waxing. For people considering it- here are some Frequently Asked Questions.
1. Does the procedure hurt?
Yes. The procedure does require using a topical numbing cream about an hour before the procedure. Some areas are more ‘sensitive’- like the bikini area. It also depends on your pain tolerance. For women, it does help if you are not pre-menstrual and everyone should avoid caffeine the day of the procedure. Some laser systems also seem to hurt more but this should not be a deciding factor for selecting which laser to use (this is based on skin type and colour of the hair). For my legs, I actually did not feel most of the treatment except along the shin bone. People describe the sensation has being akin to snapping an elastic band against your skin- unpleasant but manageable.
2. How many treatments will I need?
It obviously depends but most people will require 3-5 treatments. Some lasers literally vaporize the hair and those patients will have complete temporary hair loss. Other lasers cause the hair follicle to be shed gradually over a couple of weeks before having complete temporary hair loss. In both cases, less hair should grow back each time until you get the desired amount of permanent hair removal and you should notice lighter and finer hair growth as well.
3. At what intervals should I have the treatment?
There is a lot of confusion about this question as many spas or clinics will offer unlimited hair removal for one month or will book appointments very close together. This is important, you require a minimum of 3 months between each appointment. The 3 month period allows the hair follicles to go through their complete growth cycle, which includes a resting phase, growing phase, and a falling out phase. Hair will only respond to lasers during the growing stage so the timing of treatments is crucial. Closely spaced appointments will mean that you could be treating hairs that are in the resting phase and are ineffectual and a waste of money.
4. Can any skin type benefit from it?
Yes. Even darker skin can be treated safely but requires using a different type of lasers than someone with fair skin. However, people with a tan should delay treatment until they are at their fairest. It is a bit counterintuitive but you should keep out of the sun any areas that you want treated for several months (depending on how long you keep a tan). You can use a Glycolic acid or lactic acid based product to help fade your tan. Also, avoid using any self-tanner before the treatment as well.
5.Is laser hair removal a medical procedure?
Ok, so this technically is not a FAQ but it should be. These are things to keep in mind:
1. If you have any moles in the area to be treated, you should be mole checked. Laser hair removal can remove moles at the same time. This is could be dangerous if the mole is in any way malignant because any cancer will still continue to exist but will be less detectable.
2.If you are a woman and have what would be considered an abnormal amount of hair especially on the face or chest, you should exclude any hormonal causes before undergoing treatment. It is actually quite common for women to have excess testosterone or an underlying condition that will prevent hair loss. Consult a physician and they can do blood work for endocrinal issues.
3. There is a possibility of getting hyperpigmentation in the area treated (which is normally temporary) or at worst even scarring (permanent). The person performing the procedure (ideally a nurse at least) should be able to recognize if they are using energy levels that are making the skin too hot or even burning it. Complications can happen in any case so you also want to be able to trust that the person can help manage any adverse effects. The technology has been around since the 1990’s so how much experience does the person have? What is their training? Is there any supervision or medical oversight? Who is accountable if there are complications? Are you comfortable with the post-op instructions and care given?
I’m of the camp that believes this is a medical procedure not an aesthetic one like waxing or electrolysis. It is an issue of trust and comfort level so choose where you go based on those feelings. It is a technology that works beautifully- you just need to make sure it is done properly.
Finally, here is a picture of a good result. For a better quality image,
click here. Thanks.
All the Beauty Best,
Sara Dudley
Labels: Laser Hair Removal
