The Facts About Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a medical process to remove unwanted hair with the use of lasers that target the hair follicles to inhibit hair growth. There is no guarantee of permanent hair removal with this process and some areas of hair may be resistant to treatment in some patients. Although laser hair removal can not permanently remove hair, it can slow hair growth and cause the hair that does return to be lighter, finer and less obvious.

This is a procedure that should be performed either by a trained medical professional such as a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon or a medical assistant who is closely supervised by a physician. This procedure is offered in salons and spas but it is not recommended that you allow someone who is not a trained medical professional to perform the procedure since this is a medical process, not simply a cosmetic one.

Your doctor should go over your medical history with you and discuss the procedure including the possible side effects as well as benefits. Your doctor should also make up a treatment plan with you that includes targeting your problem areas and planning your laser treatment schedule and maintenance time line.

Not everyone is a good candidate for laser hair removal. The procedure generally is more successful with people who have light skin and dark hair. People with dark skin have a greater chance of skin pigmentation damage and people with white, blonde or gray hair are not generally good candidates for hair removal.

Common side effects include skin tingling that may last a day or two after the procedure and a change in skin pigmentation that is usually temporary. Less common side effects include blistering of the skin that resembles a bad sun burn or scarring.

If you are considering laser hair removal, you should prepare by staying out of the sun and tanning beds. If you are already tanned, you will need to let your tan fade for the treatment process to work properly. It is highly recommended that patients avoid any activity that will disturb the hair follicles, such as waxing, plucking or electrolysis. Shaving, however, has been shown to be beneficial in the success of laser hair removal, and your doctor may even recommend that you shave the area you want to target.

Your doctor will start the procedure by applying a topical anesthetic and using a cooling gel as the laser targets the affected area. It is normal for the physical procedure to sting slightly, and the area will generally be red and swollen for a few days. The treated area may also be crusty for a few days, which is normal and to be expected.

Your expected recovery time is brief and your only limitations will be to avoid the sun and tanning beds for a short time to let your skin heal.