Looking to get rid of unwanted body hair? Laser hair removal is one nonsurgical option to consider.
Laser hair removal is touted as a convenient way to permanently reduce unwanted facial hair or body hair. Note: “reduce” not “remove”. Keep in mind that you have a LOT of hair follicles on your body. We are, after all, mammals. The hairs that disappear at one session may be gone forever, but they may also be replaced by hairs growing from follicles nearby.
A laser hair removal treatment may take just a few minutes or may last several hours, depending on how much of the body is involved. A low energy laser is used on the patient’s skin; the pigment in the hair follicles absorbs the energy of the laser, and the hair follicles are permanently disabled. Not all hair follicles will absorb the energy and become inert.
The pros of laser hair removal:
- The treatment is not excessively painful, and no anesthesia is necessary.
- Effective for treating large areas of the body because it removes more than one hair at a time. (Electrolysis removes only one hair at a time.)
- You can return immediately to normal activities.
- No more acrobatics in the shower when you shave!
Other things you should know:
- You may need multiple laser hair removal sessions to completely remove hair from a section of the body.
- You may experience reddening of the skin or slight swelling after a treatment.
- Patients with darker pigmentation may not respond well to laser hair removal treatments.
- Patients with extremely fair hair (blonde, grey, or white) may not respond well to laser hair removal treatments.
- You may need to be careful about sun exposure after treatments.
- Your skin care professional may recommend special skin care products or a new skin care routine.