Shaving and waxing are not the only solutions to eliminating unwanted hair on different parts of your body such as the legs, bikini line, and underarms. Actually, these methods might be expensive and time intensive. Moreover, they may leave you with side effects such as red skin and irritation. Fortunately, you can opt for a better option, laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal is one of the most popular procedures performed on people who want long-lasting hair removal solutions. When looking for hair removal services, it is advisable that you consider the various options available before settling on any specific method. Removal of hair using lasers will come in handy for people who don’t want to settle for a choice that will have their hair growing back in a couple of days.
Laser hair removal is a treatment that relies on a concentrated beam of light to get rid of body hair. During the procedure, the laser produces a light, which gets absorbed by pigments into the hair follicles. The beam destroys the hair follicles, thus restricting hair growth for an extended period.
When you opt for this procedure, it is imperative for you to know that it’s a temporary hair removal procedure. It only inhibits hair growth for considerably longer period, which is quite effective. To enjoy optimal results, you need to undergo several treatment sessions during your first hair removal. Moreover, you will also need maintenance treatment procedures for the treatment to be effective.
Medical professionals recommend this hair removal procedure for people who have dark hair and light skin because it works most effectively for individuals with such characteristics.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Laser treatments are recommended because they have many benefits when it comes to hair removal. Here are some of the most notable advantages of this medical procedure.
1. Precision
One of the significant benefits of laser treatment is that it is quite precise. As a result, doctors prefer this procedure over other methods such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL). This is because the procedure targets your hairs down at the follicles. The precision delivered by this treatment also ensures that you will receive your results much faster. Additionally, the treatment targets the hairs without damaging the surrounding skin.
2. Minimal Side Effects
Intriguingly, this procedure has very few minor side effects. Some of the effects that appear after the procedure, for instance, will not even cause significant damage to your skin. Moreover, they only last a couple of days.
3. Lack of Ingrown Hairs
Another notable benefit about this procedure is that it leaves no ingrown hairs. If you choose other hair removal options such as epilating and waxing, you will definitely have to tolerate painful ingrown hairs. However, this is something that you cannot experience with laser treatments. Actually, the procedure could improve ingrown hairs.
4. Cost Effective
One of the most impressive benefits that might motivate you to opt for laser hair removal is its cost-effectiveness. You see, other treatments such as waxing, razors, and creams cost much more. You also have to carry them out regularly, and this means that you’ll spend more money than you would for a laser treatment.
Laser treatment is friendly on your pocket because you only need to do it a few times to enjoy long-lasting outcomes. Although you might pay a significant amount of cash during the initial treatment, you will end up saving a lot of money in the long run. Moreover, you will end up saving a lot of time because the procedure doesn’t need to be carried out as often as other methods.
5. Effective
This treatment is also very effective. In fact, the majority of the patients who undergo it revealed that they were able to achieve permanent hair loss after three to seven sessions. This goes to show how successful the procedure is at hair removal.
6. Fast
The treatment period during each session is relatively short. However, the time you spend at your doctor’s office during this treatment depends on the size of the area you want the hair removed. Most patients see results within the first couple of weeks of the treatment.
You need to know that an average treatment session takes about 15 to 20 minutes. The lasers work by targeting multiple hair follicles in a particular area simultaneously. Every pulse takes less than a second for each follicle. If the hair that is being removed is around a small area like on your upper lip section, you will be in and out of the doctor’s office in no time.
7. You Don’t Have to Wait for the Hair to Grow
Shaving and waxing require you to wait for your hair to grow before you trim and wax it. However, this is not the case with laser treatment. In fact, doctors recommend that you shave before your treatment session because it prevents scorching of surface hair. If you prefer, you can even shave in between every session.
Is the Procedure Safe?
Laser hair removal has been proven a safe procedure. Those who have undergone the procedure do so successfully. The treatment also doesn’t have any long-term health problems associated with it.
However, there are those who claim to experience minor side effects, which are nothing serious. To establish if your skin will react to the procedure, you should consult a dermatologist, who will test a small area on your skin. If your skin doesn’t react to the procedure, the doctor will then proceed to do it on a larger area of your skin.
Is There Any Pain Associated with the Procedure?
You’ll be glad to know that the entire process does not involve pain. The majority of patients who have undergone the procedure liken the sensation they get when undergoing the procedure to that of a sunburn. You may experience some redness of the skin, but the procedure is completely painless.
Myths About Laser Hair Removal
Like any other medical procedure, people also come up with unfounded statements related to laser hair treatment. Here are some of the myths surrounding the procedure.
Myth: The treatment causes cancer
You might have heard some people say that going for laser hair treatment predisposes you to cancer. Well, you will be glad to know that this myth is unfounded. Although the lasers produce some amount of radiation, this procedure only targets hair follicles. However, there is no evidence that these lasers might be harmful or cause skin cancer.
Myth: Home kits might be as effective as visiting a professional
There are others who think that a home laser removal kit is as effective as visiting a dermatologist to carry out the procedure. Well, they are wrong. Home kits can deliver results, but you cannot compare their effectiveness to that of the devices used by a highly skilled medical practitioner.
Myth: The procedure causes infertility
Laser hair treatment does not cause infertility. There is no evidence supporting this myth. The beam of light from the laser only penetrates your skin and does not reach other body organs. Medical practitioners can use it on sensitive parts of your body such as the groin without worrying about making you infertile.
Is the Procedure Safe for the Face?
Laser hair removal is safe when used on the face. However, you must know that the treatment only targets different parts of the face, particularly those below the cheek line such as the chin and the upper lip.
The procedure is not meant to be done around sensitive areas of the face like around your eyes. Therefore, you cannot use the procedure on your eyebrows. You will notice that when the member of our team is carrying out the treatment, he or she will provide you with eye protection gear to ensure that you don’t stare into the beam.
Laser Hair Removal for Pregnant Women
When a woman is pregnant, there are plenty of hormonal changes that occur. As a result, hair may grow in unwanted places, and you might want to get rid of it because it makes you uncomfortable.
However, experts advise against laser hair removal during pregnancy. The major reason behind this is because scientists haven’t undertaken enough studies to do the procedure on pregnant women. It is best to wait after pregnancy to undergo the procedure.
How to Prepare for the Procedure
Before you choose to go for this procedure, you first need to find a certified medical professional, such as one of the team members at MacMed Spa, who has some experience with the procedure. After deciding to undergo the procedure, you must schedule a consultation to establish if the treatment is right for you.
During the consultation, the medical professional will review your medical history, history of skin disorders and other hair removal procedures, and any medication that you’re currently taking. Additionally, the specialist will discuss the benefits and expectations of the procedure, as well as the potential risks. The doctor should also take photos to use as a reference for your treatment progress.
Before your initial treatment session, the doctor will provide some specific instructions that will ensure the procedure is entirely successful. Some of the things you’re expected to do are:
- Stay out of the sun for about six weeks before treatment.
- You should lighten your skin and keep off creams that might darken your skin.
- Do not go for other hair removal options such as electrolysis and waxing four weeks before the procedure.
- Avoid medications that might compromise the procedure such as blood-thinning medication.
- Shave a day before the treatment.
What Can You Expect?
Laser hair treatment needs typically between 2 to 6 procedures to achieve results. The interval between these procedures will vary according to the area being treated. Areas where hair grows faster, for instance, will need repeat treatments sooner than areas that experience slower hair growth.
What Happens During the Procedure?
The treatment is undertaken using a hand-held laser device that is pressed against your skin. There are different types of lasers, and others require the use of a cooling gel or cooling device, which help to make the procedure more comfortable.
When the doctor activates the device, a laser beam passes through your skin to reach the hair follicles so that it can damage them to prevent hair growth.
What Happens After the Procedure?
When the medical practitioner is done with the treatment, some people experience some redness or swelling, but it only lasts for the first couple of hours. The doctor can apply a steroid cream if you have a reaction, and you could also place some ice to minimize discomfort. After the procedure and between treatment sessions, you are advised to avoid sun exposure for at least six weeks.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal is an effective medical procedure that is undertaken by those who would like unwanted hair removed from particular parts of their body. It’s mostly done on the arm, underarm, legs, bikini line, face, and other regions. As indicated above, the procedure comes with many benefits. If you’re considering this procedure, feel free to contact the professionals at MacMed Spa in Milford, Framingham, and Hopedale to learn more. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!
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