Laser hair removal is the treatment to remove unnecessary hair in the body. It is a non-invasive treatment and the benefits of treatment last longer than waxing or shaving. It is a safe treatment and most people undergo six treatments.
This treatment includes removing hair in the underarms, back or bikini area, face, and legs.
How was this treatment done?
A process called selective photothermolysis is used in laser hair removal treatment. When the laser is passed on the skin, cells that have more pigment, absorb more heat. Hair transmits this heat to the hair follicles and destroys them.
Hair follicles need to be in the growth stage for this procedure to be successful. The follicle will be in different stages every time. Hence, people undergo multiple treatments.
Eligibility for laser treatment
Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure and hence anybody can do it. This procedure enhances the appearance.
Excess hair is caused by various factors,
1. Hirsutism. In this condition, women have hair in areas where men have hair.
2. Hypertrichosis. In this condition, both men and women have excess hair growth anywhere on the body
These conditions occur due to factors like,
1. Medications include anabolic steroids
2. Hormone imbalances.
3. Tumour causing excess hormones.
4. Inherited disorders
Who should not opt for Laser hair removal?
This treatment is avoided for patients who are,
-
- Pregnant.
- Taking medications for acne treatment.
- Having or had skin cancer.
Steps to prepare for laser treatment
It is recommended to avoid the sun a week before the procedure. When the skin has tanned the effect of laser procedure will not be effective and will lead to side effects.
The area to be treated needs to be shaved two or three days before the treatment. Laser treatment does not work on areas having long hair more than the size of rice grain. Avoid waxing, tweezing, or plucking the hair once the treatment begins.
Laser Treatment Procedure
Following is the step-by-step procedure,
1. First, the area to be treated is cleaned.
2. Protective glasses or goggles are given before the procedure.
3. Then the skin is treated with laser.
This procedure takes about a few minutes to an hour depending on the size of the area to be treated. The patient might experience the smell of smoke or burning hair. This is due to the burning of hair due to the laser’s heat.
After the treatment, the skin will look red, and swollen. The patient will experience less pain. A cold compress will be helpful to treat the affected area. It is advisable not to expose the skin to natural or artificial sunlight.
Side effects of the treatment
Laser hair treatment is a safe and effective treatment. Some of the possible side effects are,
- Blisters
- Burns
- Hyperpigmentation
- Hypopigmentation
- Infections
- Scars
Benefits of laser hair removal
The benefits of laser hair removal last longer than shaving, plucking, tweezing, or waxing.
It is also cost-effective. Once a patient invests in laser hair removal treatment, then they are no longer required to invest their money in other regular methods for hair removal. It stops ingrown hair growth.
The laser hair removal method specifically points to the hair follicles. This is the fastest and most effective method for treating hair growth. The patient can experience permanent hair loss within 3 to 6 sessions of treatment.
- Less treatment.
- Less pain.
- Minimal risk of ingrown hairs.