Laser Hair Removal

Before the procedure, the hair to be treated may be trimmed, the skin will be sterilized, and a numbing gel applied. Pulses of light are directed at hair follicles in the treatment area, and the pigment (or colouring) in the follicles absorbs the light, destroying the hair. There is mild discomfort for a few seconds. People with grey or white hair may not have enough pigment to target to be a candidate for laser hair removal.

The duration of a laser hair removal procedure depends on the size and location of the treatment area. Still, treatment times typically last from a few minutes to one hour. As hair grows in cycles, it takes at least three to four laser hair removal treatments to provide significant hair reduction.

Afterwards, your skin may be red or irritated for a short time. A topical cream may be used to protect your skin as it heals. It is important to use sunscreen for a few weeks following the procedure. You should not use products that may irritate your skin, and you should avoid plucking or waxing the treatment area.

During the treatment, a laser emits a filtered light. This light is then absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. This light energy is converted to heat. This heat damages the tube-shaped sacs and the capillaries that supply the hair with oxygen and nutrients. This damage inhibits future hair growth

Because the laser light is directed toward hair pigment, this procedure is most effective for people with light skin and dark hair. However, laser technology advances have made laser hair removal an option for most people. As not all hairs are actively growing at the same time, a single procedure will not treat all of the hair follicles in the area. You may notice some hair growth in the region as follicles that were not actively growing during your procedure return to the growth phase. This is why many treatments are usually required to treat a single area completely. Although the number of treatments varies, most individuals receive approximately six to eight treatments, spaced four to eight weeks apart. It is important to realize that laser hair removal likely will not prevent hair from growing completely, but this procedure can reduce hair growth significantly over time.

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After the first treatment, you can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair. To remove the hair, most patients need 6 to 8 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it.

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