If you have unwanted hair anywhere on your body or face, you’ve likely shaved it off or tweezed it to leave your skin looking and feeling smooth. Unfortunately, shaving requires frequent maintenance; depending on the area of the body, you may even have to shave daily. While this can be a convenient fix for hair that you’d like gone, there are many drawbacks to shaving. First, shaving takes time each day, and it requires that you have a razor, shaving cream, and any other products or tools that are part of your shaving routine. Many people suffer from “razor burn” and small cuts, and shaving can be irritating to the skin.
If you are tired of shaving, there are other options. While waxing will leave your skin smooth for longer than shaving (weeks as opposed to days), it also requires regular maintenance. Fortunately, laser hair removal offers a permanent solution for your unwanted hair. Get rid of your razor forever with a series of fast and effective laser treatments.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
The laser that is used for laser hair removal targets the hair follicles with a precise wavelength of light energy. This wavelength is chosen because it is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle but not the other parts of your skin. The energy is transferred from the laser to the hair follicle, heating it and killing it without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Hairs on your body are in different phases of their grow cycles at different times. The amount of time that hairs spend in their grow and rest phases varies by location. The laser energy will kill hairs that are actively growing, causing them to fall out and never return. However, as other hairs are resting at that time, they will begin growing during their growth phase. The laser must be applied again at a later time to target those hairs. This is why several sessions of laser treatment are required to get rid of all hairs in the location; most hair can be permanently removed with an average of about six laser treatment sessions. Most people experience slight redness, swelling, or stinging on the face, but a wet, cool cloth quickly diminishes it. In a recent post, we explain more about how to treat your skin after laser treatments.
An ice pack or cool wet cloth can be applied on the skin to relieve these side effects. An over-the-counter pain reliever can be useful to reduce swelling and alleviate more severe pain
Am I a Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is appropriate for treatment of any unwanted dark hairs on the face or body. This is because the pigment in the hair follicle that allows it to absorb the energy from the laser that ultimately destroys it. Many of our patients choose removal of hair in the armpits, face, bikini area, back, or really anywhere they’d like! This approach to hair removal can be used in any area of the body.
Our versatile, state-of-the art Lumenis laser also allows for use of different wavelengths to treat all skin types, light to dark. The laser has built-in features to enhance your comfort during treatment, and our patients describe it as much more comfortable than they expected, and well worth it! Lumenis laser hair removal is a safe and effective approach to permanently rid yourself of any unwanted hair. After only a few short treatment sessions, get rid of your razor or frequent waxing sessions and experience smooth, hairless skin.
Laser hair removal will allow you to break up with your razor for good and experience smooth skin with very little to no maintenance. Call Connecticut Facial Plastic Surgery at 860.676.2473 or send us a note through our website form to ask your questions about laser hair removal or schedule a consultation.