Introduction:
Unwanted hair can be removed by many temporary methods, such as waxing, shaving, and tweezing. But all these methods are not long-lasting. Laser hair removal is comparatively a better treatment option for unwanted hair removal, which lasts longer and gives effective results.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
This is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that uses lasers to remove unwanted hair from the body. The pigment (color) of the unwanted hair absorbs the laser light and damages the hair follicle, and hair growth is delayed. This procedure does not give immediate results like shaving and waxing. The results take a few weeks to appear with multiple sittings. However, the results are longer lasting than the latter.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal works on the hair follicle. Hair follicles are the small sac or cavities on the skin surface from which hair comes or grows. In this procedure, the melanin pigment in the hair shaft absorbs the laser light. This light energy gets converted into heat energy in the hair follicle and damages it. As the hair follicles get damaged, hair growth also gets inhibited, and thus, future hair growth gets delayed. This is the mechanism of action of laser hair removal.
What Are the Limitations of Laser Hair Removal?
Though laser hair removal is an effective method for hair removal, it has some limitations too. These are:
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This procedure cannot permanently remove the hair but delays hair growth.
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From this procedure, the number of unwanted hair can be reduced, and the new hair grows fine, light, and less in number. So they are less visible.
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Multiple sittings are required to get the desired results, as this procedure only works on the hair follicles which are actively growing.
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Further sittings are required to maintain the results. So, this is a long procedure.
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It works best on dark hair. However, it gives good results on all skin types.
What Are the Target Areas of Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal can be done for the following areas:
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Armpits.
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Face.
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Upper lips.
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Chin area.
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Back.
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Chest.
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Pubic area.
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Legs.
However, eyelids and the surrounding areas and tattooed skin cannot be treated by this procedure.
How to Prepare for Laser Hair Removal?
As this is a medical procedure and not a regular salon procedure, a thorough medical evaluation is required before this procedure. The evaluation includes:
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Current medications.
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Drug allergies.
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History of any surgical procedures done in the past.
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Alcohol and tobacco use.
In addition, there are some instructions given to the patients before this procedure. These are:
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Avoid plucking of hair before the procedure as this procedure works on the hair follicle, and plucking of hair (waxing) can damage the hair follicle reducing the efficacy of the treatment.
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Avoid sun exposure or protect the skin with sunscreen.
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Consult the doctor before taking any medication on the day or before the procedure.
How Is Laser Hair Removal Done?
Below are the procedure steps of laser hair removal:
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The hair on the target area is trimmed first.
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Topical anesthesia is applied to numb the target area.
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The laser machine is set according to the skin color, location, thickness, and color of the hair in the target area.
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Protective eyewear is given to the patient for eye protection from laser beams.
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The laser machine is activated, and laser beams are directed to the hair follicle of the target area.
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The heat generated by the laser beam damages the hair follicle of the target area and results in delayed hair growth.
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Slight discomfort might be experienced during the procedure.
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After the procedure, anti-inflammatory medicines, lotions, and ice packs are given.
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There might be a gap of six weeks between the first and second sitting of the procedure.
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Procedure duration depends on the target area. For small areas like upper lips, the duration is usually a few minutes.
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For larger areas like the leg, back, etc., it takes around one hour or more.
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The patient is scheduled for the next sitting.
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On average, three to four sittings are required to achieve the desired results.
What to Expect After the Procedure?
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After the procedure, initially, redness and swelling will occur in the target area, which lasts for a few hours.
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Temporary skin irritation may occur, which can change the skin texture and can cause scarring and crusting of the skin.
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Patients with darker skin color may experience pigment changes, but these are temporary.
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The patient will be instructed to avoid going out in the sun after the procedure and is advised to wear sunscreen every day.
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Some allergic reactions may occur in very few patients, which can be managed by medications. Therefore, it is advisable to contact the concerned doctor in these cases.
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Some patients might develop blisters, but this is very rare.
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The skin may give the appearance of sunburn, which lasts for one to two days.
When Can One Start Seeing the Results?
The results are not visible immediately. After a few weeks of the procedure, the hair on the target area falls out. There is a periodic cycle for hair loss and growth, and this procedure works effectively on new hair follicles. Due to this reason, the procedure requires multiple sittings.
Results vary from person to person. It may last from months to years. Once the patient gets desirable results, additional sitting is required to maintain the results. However, it cannot remove unwanted hair permanently.
Conclusion:
A laser hair removal procedure is a very common procedure for the removal of unwanted hair. This is a safe and effective procedure with minimum side effects. Both men and women can undergo this procedure. It has long-lasting effects as it works directly on the unwanted hair follicle by laser beam and damages it to slow down the new hair growth. It is the best alternative to traditional waxing and plucking procedures.
