If you’re tired of shaving, plucking or waxing, laser hair removal might be the answer. It’s permanent and can eliminate the need for daily maintenance. Most patients need six treatment sessions, scheduled four to eight weeks apart for each area of the body. You’ll also need yearly touch-ups to maintain your results.
Best Laser Hair Removal Langley is a safe, minimally invasive treatment that uses laser technology to remove unwanted hair. The laser targets pigment in the hair follicle and converts it to heat. This damages the follicle and stops it from growing hair. It takes a few treatments for the laser to destroy all of the hair follicles in an area, but the results are permanent. Unlike shaving and waxing, which remove the hair at the surface of the skin, laser treatments target the melanin in the hair follicles. The result is a hair reduction that is much more effective and permanent than other options.
To get the best results from laser hair removal, it is important to visit an experienced cosmetic dermatologist like Dr. Michele Green at her private practice in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. She has been using advanced laser technologies for decades to provide her patients with the best results possible from their hair removal treatment. She will be able to customize a treatment plan that is tailored to your specific goals and skin type.
During a laser hair removal session, the technician will trim any hair that is a few millimeters above the skin’s surface. They will then apply a topical anesthetic to the area for comfort. They will then pass the laser over the entire treatment area. This process is repeated over two to six sessions. After the final treatment, you will be able to enjoy smooth and hair-free skin for years to come.
Before you start your laser treatment, it’s important to avoid plucking or waxing the area. This is because the laser needs the hair to be present to target it. You should also avoid sun exposure before and after the procedure. This will help prevent any potential complications.
While laser hair removal can be used to treat both men and women, it is most popular for removing unwanted hair in the face. This includes the chin and neck. In addition to eliminating the need for shaving, it can also help reduce ingrown hairs that are often associated with this area.
What Are the Side Effects?
Laser hair removal is safe, effective and painless for most patients. However, it can cause side effects, including minimal redness and swelling. These are usually temporary and can be minimized with the use of topical numbing cream before treatment. In more severe cases, side effects can include skin darkening or lightening, cold sore outbreaks, blistering and scarring. These risks are rare when the procedure is performed by an experienced, board certified dermatologist in a clinic. They can increase when at-home laser kits or other untrained providers are used.
It’s important to discuss your medical history with your dermatologist before scheduling a laser hair removal appointment. He or she will determine whether this treatment is right for you and will review any medications you’re taking, especially blood thinners. This medication might make the skin more sensitive to damage from laser treatments, and may require a longer recovery period.
Your doctor will also recommend avoiding tanning beds and sun exposure prior to your session, as this can interfere with the treatment’s effectiveness. It is also recommended that you avoid shaving, waxing or plucking the area where you’ll be treated, as this will disturb the hair follicles. It is important to note that you will need multiple treatment sessions to see the best results.
During the actual procedure, the dermatologist will put on protective glasses or goggles to shield your eyes from the laser’s light beam. They will then apply a numbing cream to the area that’ll be treated, and trim the hair so it is a few millimeters above the skin surface. They will then use the laser to target the pigment in your hair, which will absorb the light and convert it into heat, effectively destroying that hair follicle.
This will produce small plumes of smoke with a sulfur-like smell, but the sensation should only last a minute or two. Once the pulses are over, your dermatologist will apply cool compresses to reduce any swelling that may occur. Afterwards, you’ll be free to go about your day. Your dermatologist will tell you to avoid direct sunlight, and not use a sun bed or sun lamp, and follow after-care instructions.
What Are the Costs?
Laser hair removal offers the promise of a permanent solution to unwanted hair, freeing you from the time and expense of shaving, waxing, and other temporary methods. But the initial cost is a significant investment, and the number of sessions required will also play a role in your long-term costs. The good news is that it’s possible to reduce your upfront expenses by investing in a package of treatments. Purchasing laser hair removal packages can save you up to $20 per session, depending on the body area you’re treating and your personal long-term goals for permanent results.
The price of laser hair removal will depend on the body area you want to treat, your healthcare professional’s fees, and the geographic location where you live. Larger areas of the body typically require more treatments than smaller areas, and this can increase your overall treatment cost. In addition, your hair and skin color will affect the effectiveness of the procedure and may require more sessions.
Because the original lasers used for hair removal relied on contrast to target the hair follicles, they worked best on people with light skin and dark hair. This combination makes it easier for the laser to identify the follicles and destroy them. As the technology has evolved, so have the available lasers for hair removal, and more options are now available to those with lighter skin or darker hair.
Your lifestyle and daily grooming habits will also influence how many treatments you need, as will your goals for permanent hair reduction. For example, you’ll likely need more sessions if you regularly shave or shave very short, as this allows the hair to grow back into the follicles and cause irritation. On the other hand, you may need fewer sessions if you grow your hair out for an extended period of time before you have a laser treatment.
Because most laser hair removal services are considered cosmetic, they aren’t covered by health insurance. However, it’s worth talking to your provider about your eligibility for a flexible spending account or HSA (health savings account), which can be a great way to help offset the cost of cosmetic procedures.
Where Can I Get It?
Laser Hair Removal can remove unwanted hair anywhere on the face or body. Women often choose to reduce unwanted hair on their arms, legs and bikini area, while men can easily get rid of unwanted hair on their backs, chests or shoulders. Unlike alternative hair removal methods such as shaving or waxing, laser treatments target the pigment in your hair and skin, which is why they work so well on people with dark hair.
The treatment is noninvasive and virtually painless. Your technician will apply a topical anesthetic to your skin before starting the procedure, which should help to reduce any discomfort that you might experience during the treatment. Then, they will place a protective gel or a cooling device on the surface of your skin to protect it from the heat of the laser beam. Then, they will put on a pair of tinted goggles to protect your eyes from the laser light.
Your specialist will then take the hand-held laser device and place it on the area where they want to treat your hair follicles. They will use the controls to adjust the laser’s strength and wavelength depending on your hair color, thickness and where it is growing on your body. For the best results, you should avoid plucking and waxing for six weeks before a session. You should also limit sun exposure and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily for six weeks before and after your sessions.
You will feel a slight sensation when the laser hits your skin, but it isn’t painful. Some people liken it to a warm pinprick. After the procedure, you might experience some redness or swelling in the treated area for a few hours. However, this should subside shortly after the treatment.
While you may notice a reduction in the amount of hair in your skin immediately after treatment, you will need multiple treatments for lasting results. Most patients require at least two to six treatments, with the interval between each treatment based on how quickly your hair grows in the area. For example, if you want to eliminate hair from your chin or upper lip, then you might need to come in for treatments every four to eight weeks.
