Unwanted body or facial hair can be a source of discomfort and low self-esteem. But it doesn’t have to be so, not when you can take advantage of laser hair removal. Shaving and waxing, which are common ways to safely remove hair, have their perks but a major downside is that it usually grows back, sometimes quicker than expected.
Besides, waxing can be unbelievably painful and can cause infection if not done correctly. But with laser, the results are much better and regrowth, if at all, is usually much slower when done by a trained professional. You can check out Blue Divine laser hair removal for examples. The best part is that it requires minimal maintenance with massive results. Let’s explain this procedure and possible risks.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
This is a non-invasive method of removing unwanted facial and body hair. It uses light energy, tuned to specific wavelengths, to focus on the treatment areas and destroy the follicles. The result is the reduction of growth in the treated area; sometimes, it never grows back. It can be used on various parts of the body, including the face.
The recipient must undergo several sessions of the procedure within a specified time, not on the same day, before there’s a recognizable result of reduced growth. People choose this method for several reasons, but the commonest one is to eliminate the need for constant shaving or waxing.
Apart from not having to undergo the pain of waxing or the fear of ingrown hair that might cause infection, laser removal saves time and is convenient. When done properly, the results are usually amazing and satisfactory. The targeted areas where this procedure is usually done include the back, legs, chin, chest, underarms, upper lip, arms and chin.
How Does the Procedure Work?
The first step in getting laser hair removal is preparation. Start by finding the right clinic with the expertise and experience to handle it. It must have a track record of successfully performing the procedure and have a way of proving it.
It’s best to ask for recommendations or referrals from friends, loved ones and colleagues to get a reliable list. Narrow the list by consulting with the specialists. Ask them about the treatment restrictions before and after the procedure, the device they plan to use and whether or not they will test a spot on the body before going all in.
Their responses should help you decide which is best for you. After this initial consultation and picking one clinic, the next step is to get a list of what to do before the procedure. There are important to do to prepare, including:
- Avoiding the sun a few weeks before and after. Typically, it should be at least two weeks before. If you’re prone to be out in the sun, you may want to cut down exposure or wait for a cooler season. Laser hair removal burns the skin and may be dangerous on tanned skin. If you must step out into the sun, use sunscreen with SPF of at least 30 weeks before the day.
- Not waxing, shaving or plucking hair from the areas where the removal is to be performed. Doing any of these makes the area sensitive and the heat of the light might damage the skin or cause a painless procedure to become painful.
- Not using sunless tanners because they may make the skin sensitive to the light and cause burning. They could also make it less effective because the tanners will awaken melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin darkening, and will likely cause hyperpigmentation. Click here for more information about how to prepare.
At the start of the procedure, a nurse or physician cleans the area where the hair is to be removed. While it’s mostly painless, some people have sensitive skin and will need numbing gel to keep the pain away. Once ready or the numbing gel begins to work, the specialist will focus the light on the area.
If the treatment is to cover a large area of skin, the specialist will take it portion by portion, one after the other. That means the procedure will take a longer time to complete. For example, if the removal is on the chin, it should take not more than a few minutes.
But if it’s on both legs or the back, it might take about one hour. The light is high energy and everyone in the room must use protective eyewear to prevent damage. The feeling of the high-energy beam on the skin is reported to feel like a rubber band snapping on the skin or pinpricks.
For many, the procedure is usually painless, especially if the right laser for your skin type is used. That’s another reason consultation before the procedure is crucial; the specialist can determine your skin type and decide what works for you. Afterward, the specialist should schedule for more appointments, sometimes as many as six, to complete the procedure.
Experts say each procedure in the treatment is five weeks apart because that’s how long it takes for the growth cycle to come around. It’s important to note that laser hair removal doesn’t work on light hair.
The laser is drawn to the pigment in the hair, which means it works best on people with dark hair on light skin. It might also work on those with dark hair on dark skin but that would require a special laser that can detect it against the dark background.
Possible Risks of Laser Hair Removal
It is rare to find side effects of this procedure. The risks are also minimal. Still, a few people react to the procedure in different ways, including skin irritation, redness and swelling. These might also happen with waxing, tweezing or shaving, and the skin typically gets better after a few days.
More serious risks of undergoing this procedure include infections, blisters, scars, burns and permanent hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation, among others. A very rare one is having an increased growth instead of decreased growth, especially in women who have Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or South Asian heritage.
These are even rarer than the first ones; your doctor should explore every possible risk and side effect with you to help you make an informed decision. This resource has more details about laser removal: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/.
Conclusion
The procedure is a healthy and effective way to remove facial and bodily hair in a non-invasive and painless way, especially when you want to reduce the need for shaving and waxing. The procedure is simple and there’s usually no downtime after the procedure.
It takes several sessions to complete a treatment to ensure there are lasting results and in some cases, you may need annual touch-ups. Remember to carefully select the clinic and specialist to perform the procedure and prepare according to the specialist’s list to get the best results.
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