Laser hair removal information

For centuries people have struggled with attempts to remove hair from their bodies. They have used razors to shave it off, hot wax to rip it off and painful electric needles to zap it off. But now lasers are a new modality for the rapid, gentle removal of unwanted hair. It is supposed to be relatively painless and long lasting.

There are different types of laser treatment. The ruby coloured laser is designed to selectively heat up the cells that produce the hair and disable them so that hair can't grow back. A red criss-cross pattern is stamped on the patient to make sure that no area is done twice. And to ensure it is pain free, an anesthetic cream is applied to the skin an hour beforehand. Afterwards the area treated may feel like a sunburn for a few hours or half a day. Because of the intensity of the light, everyone has to wear safety goggles.

Laser hair removal is not for everyone. The absolute requirement is that one's hair must be darker than the surrounding skin. Additionally very darkly pigmented people absorb too much laser energy in their skin and are not candidates. Tanned patients with light hair are not candidates. Tanned patients with dark hair must wait until their tan fades before they can be treated. Lastly the treatment cost should be within reach of the patient. Laser hair removal, although much less expensive than electrolysis, requires multiple treatments. Experienced laser centers, which have developed expertise in laser hair removal, generally average about $400 - $500 per treatment session, with an average of four treatment sessions. Individual consultation with the laser center is necessary to obtain exact pricing. Negotiate about the price! Ask for special offers or offer to pay for all treatments upfront in exchange for a discount. Do they give a discount for referring a friend?

Permanent hair removal or permanent reduction?

Although laser hair removal doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal, it does extend the "hair-free" period, which can vary from several months to several years. With multiple treatments, long-term hair removal is possible.
Hair color and skin type are the key factors that influence the success of laser hair removal. It's most successful on people with dark hair (brown or black) and light skin. However, it can also be used on people with darker skin types.
Several of the newer lasers have clearly documented that there is permanent hair reduction after each treatment. But the long term effectiveness of any laser treatment for hair removal has not been proven. Documents filed with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claim only three months effectiveness. Manufacturers may not claim that laser hair removal is permanent unless the FDA determines that there are sufficient data to demonstrate such results. Several manufacturers received FDA permission to claim, "permanent reduction," NOT "permanent removal" for their lasers. This means that although laser treatments with these devices will permanently reduce the total number of body hairs, they will not result in a permanent removal of all hair. So a permanent hair reduction does not necessarily imply the elimination of all hairs in the treatment area. The FDA has approved a few lasers for permanent hair reduction. The results tend to be additive, i.e. more treatments lead to greater degrees of permanent hair reduction.To learn if a specific manufacturer has received FDA clearance, you can check FDA's Website. You will need to know the manufacturer or device name of the laser

Laser Hair Removal Treatment Areas

There are a lot of surface area that can be treated: legs, back and shoulders, arms, chest, upper lip, between brows, buttocks, pubic area, stomach, face, neck, breasts, feet, toes, hands, fingers, nostrils, ears, hairline... Laser hair removal can’t be performed under the eyebrows.

Ingrown hair

Hair removal lasers are also a very effective treatment for ingrown hairs. Laser Hair removal can not only get rid of the infected follicle, but can also reduce swelling and irritation, which can be a painful problem. But because laser hair removal targets hair at the follicle, it's getting to the root of the problem.

Laser hair removal for men

Men do not need to be shy about laser hair removal treatments, Men are allowed!Male hair removal has traditionally been associated with athletes who feel that body hair can hinder their performance. Now, men from all walks of life are enjoying the benefits of laser hair removal. The reason for pursuing male laser hair removal can be as simple as sex appeal. The bottom line is many women don’t find body hair attractive; laser hair removal might bring a certain level of increased sexual confidence.