Laser Hair Removal

In this new society of beauty and appearance more men and women are taking necessary measures to rid of unwanted hair but some of these hair removal techniques can be a daily or weakly inconvenience and are becoming a painful chore. Waxing, plucking and shaving are not only painful but can sometimes leave behind dark shadows, scarring, allergic reactions, rashes, ingrown hairs, only provide temporary relief, and may actually stimulate hair growth. Electrolysis, while effective, often requires years of ongoing and frequently painful treatments. Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment inside the hair follicle without damaging delicate pores and structures of the skin. The procedure is very quick and is virtually painless compared to waxing, plucking and electrolysis.

Before/After Laser Hair Removal

The Procedure

The patient is asked to wear eye protection consisting of an opaque covering or goggles. The area to be treated is then shaved. A small handpiece, or “wand” is placed against the skin and a burst of coolant is applied as the laser is activated. The handpiece is repositioned and the laser is activated again. The size or the area treated will determine the number of laser activations, or “pulses”, required. The laser procedure takes anywhere from 10 mins to 1 hour depending on the areas treated. Generally no anesthesia is used.

What To Expect After

There will be redness and bumps around the area treated. This should resolve quickly. You can resume normal activities immediately.

Laser Hair Removal vs. Waxing, Shaving, & Plucking

In order to achieve results the patient must let their hair grow out about one quarter of an inch (approximately 3-4 weeks of hair growth). With laser hair removal the patient can shave daily but waxing must not performed within 3 weeks prior to treatment. Shaving is recommended before the procedure.

Shaving, waxing and plucking can keep an area hair-free for up to 6 weeks at the most and will likely be back sooner than 2 weeks. These hair removal techniques tend to stimulate hair growth and cause hairs to grow back darker and thicker whereas with laser hair removal we can expect that somewhere between 60 and 95 percent of the treated hair will be gone.

Cost

Studies show that on average women can save $7,000 by receiving laser hair removal on the areas of the body they typically shave and $20,000 with laser vs. waxing.