Laser hair removal is a procedure wherein unwanted body hair is removed. People often seek to get this treatment done on their back, underarms, or bikini area. This isn’t a permanent hair removal solution by any means but the results last much longer than shaving or waxing. Most of the people require about six consequent treatments to arrive at the desired result. It is generally safe, however, side effects can include burns, permanent skin discoloration, or scars.
Let’s take a look at what laser hair removal really is, how it works, its benefits and side effects, relevant costs, and other necessary information.
What is laser hair removal?
As already mentioned above, laser hair removal is a procedure by which you can remove unwanted hair from your body. It is a non-invasive treatment, which means it doesn’t require any cuts in your skin. People can get this treatment done on any part of their body. However, the most common areas to get this treatment done are:
- Face,
- Underarms,
- Legs,
- Back, and
- Bikini area, or any other areas that grow pubic hair.
How does a laser hair removal treatment actually work?
Laser hair removal employs a process known as selective photothermolysis. The heat generated by the laser effectively destroys cells that have a lot of pigment (color). Since the darker hairs have a lot of pigment, they absorb the most amount of heat from the laser. The hair strands transfer the heat to the hair follicles and destroy them, as a result, the unwanted hair stops growing.
Every hair follicle needs to be in their anagen, or growth phase, for this procedure to work its magic. Hair follicles are usually in different phases or stages at different times, hence most individuals need multiple hair laser removal treatments. If you’re considering getting such a treatment, you should book an appointment at the best laser hair removal clinic near you only after considering factors such as public reviews, cost, and other relevant things.
Who can opt for laser hair removal?
Anyone facing the issue of unwanted hair on their body can definitely opt for this non-invasive treatment. It is typically a cosmetic procedure. It seeks to improve your self-image or appearance, and provide you with your desired outcome. Most people also don’t prefer to shave or wax on a daily basis, so this treatment offers a much needed respite from those.
Sometimes, laser hair removal counters excess hair growth caused by:
- Hirsutism– This is when women grow coarse or dark hair in areas where only men tend to have hair.
- Hypertrichosis- This is when both men and women grow excess hair anywhere on their bodies.
These conditions might appear as a result of:
- Tumors that produce hormones.
- Inherited disorders, i.e., conditions passed from parents to children via genes.
- Certain medications, including birth control pills and anabolic steroids.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
- Hormonal imbalances, such as increased testosterone or androgen levels.
The procedure of laser hair removal is most effective for people with thick and dark hair, as well as light skin. The stark contrast between skin color and hair color makes it easier for the hair follicles to absorb heat from the laser. It might not work that well for people with dark skin or grey, white, blonde, or red hair.
Who shouldn’t undergo laser hair removal?
You should always talk to your healthcare provider at the laser hair removal clinic before having this procedure on you. You may need to avoid this treatment if you:
- Are taking certain medications, such as acne treatments,
- Are pregnant,
- Have keloid or raised scars,
- Have or had skin cancer,
- Are prone to cold sores, or
- Have genital herpes (HSV-2).
How does someone prepare for a laser hair removal treatment?
In the weeks leading up to this treatment, you should avoid tanning beds and stay out of the sun as much as possible. When it comes to naturally or artificially tanned skin, laser hair removal can prove to be less effective besides leading to various side effects.
You must shave the area wherein the treatment will take place two or three days prior to it. Laser hair removal treatment doesn’t work on areas where the hair is longer than a grain of rice. After your treatment commences, you should avoid waxing, plucking, or tweezing hair in the treated areas.
What happens during laser hair removal treatment?
Laser hair removal treatment involves several steps. Your healthcare provider will:
- Clean the area to be treated thoroughly.
- Give you protective glasses or goggles to wear during the treatment. He/she will also wear similar protective eyewear.
- Treat the required area(s) of your skin with the laser. It might sting or prick momentarily. Some people also describe the pain as a rubber band snapping against their skin.
This procedure might take a few minutes to upto an hour. It largely depends on the size of the area that’s being treated to remove unwanted and excess hair. You might also smell smoke and burning hair. This is quite normal as every unwanted hair follicle is going to burn away from the heat generated by the laser.
What happens after laser hair removal treatment?
Your skin might become red, swollen, and slightly painful to touch after a laser hair removal treatment. You can use a cold compress on the treated area only if your healthcare professional suggests you do so. You should never expose the treated area to natural or artificial sunlight. This way, you’ll be able to go back to your normal everyday routine right away.
When it comes to the best laser hair removal and skin clinic in Hyderabad, we at Dermiq Clinic will be your ideal solution. With Hyderabad’s best and most experienced cosmetologists and dermatologists, all board-certified to ensure your peace of mind; we make sure that you receive the most effective and personalized treatment for the amount you’re paying. The most important thing to consider when booking your appointment with us is that we don’t believe in the “one size fits all” policy. Our plans are customizable to tailor to specific needs and preferences so that you return home with a healthier and happier version of yourself!
What are the benefits of laser hair removal treatment?
Laser hair removal is typically safe and effective for most people around the world. The results obtained from a laser hair removal treatment last much longer than shaving, plucking, waxing, or tweezing. Some people even prefer this treatment over electrolysis. In electrolysis, a thin wire is used to destroy the unwanted hair follicles with an electric current. Some of the benefits of laser hair removal over electrolysis include:
- Fewer treatments
- Reduced risk of ingrown hairs
- Less pain during treatment
Some of the other remarkable advantages of laser hair removal are as follows:
Precision
Lasers can selectively target coarse, dark hairs while allowing the surrounding skin to remain unaffected and undamaged.
Speed
Each pulse of the laser only takes a fraction of a second to distribute heat effectively on the hair follicles and can treat many strands of unwanted hair at the same time. The lasers can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter per second. Small areas, such as the upper lip, can be efficiently treated in less than a minute. When it comes to larger areas, such as the back or the legs, it may take up to an hour or so to complete the entire procedure.
Predictability
Most patients experience permanent hair loss after about three to six laser hair removal sessions.
What are the side effects of laser hair removal?
Possible side effects of laser hair removal are as follows:
- Burns
- Blisters,
- Herpes outbreaks,
- Scars,
- Infections,
- Hyperpigmentation, which results in some areas of your skin being darker than the surrounding skin,
- Hypopigmentation, which results in some areas of your skin being lighter than the surrounding skin.
Blisters are rare in general. However, some people with darker complexions can experience them. Another rare side effect of this non-invasive treatment is that the treated hair may turn grey, or more hair may grow out around the treated areas. Extremely rare side effects include permanent scarring of the treated area(s) and changes in skin color.
You should ensure that you’re not getting this cosmetic treatment done by an unlicensed technician. It is always recommended to go to someone you can trust. Before getting laser hair removal, you should seek to check the credentials of the doctor or the healthcare professional who’s going to be performing the procedure on you.
Laser hair removal VS electrolysis
Electrolysis is another type of unwanted hair removal, but it is considered to be more permanent. A probe gets inserted into each individual hair follicle, and an electric current is delivered to kill hair growth. Unlike laser hair removal, this procedure works on all types and textures of hair, and skin colours, but does take longer and can prove to be quite expensive.
How can you prepare for laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal isn’t simply “zapping” unwanted hair from your body. It is a non-invasive medical procedure that requires substantial amounts of training to perform, and poses potential risks if done in a wrong way.
If you’re planning to undergo laser hair removal, you should avoid tweezing, plucking, waxing, and electrolysis for at least 6 weeks before your treatment. This is solely because lasers target the roots of the hairs, which do get temporarily removed when you wax or pluck.
You also need to avoid sun exposure for 6 weeks before and after your treatment, as Sun exposure seeks to make laser hair removal less effective, thereby making complications post-treatment more likely.
Moreover, you should avoid taking any blood thinning medications, such as aspirin, before the treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider regarding the medicines that you need to stop if you’re on any anti-inflammatories or regularly consume aspirin.
If you are someone with a darker complexion, your doctor may prescribe skin-bleaching cream. You shouldn’t use any sunless creams to darken your skin. It is essential to ensure that your skin is as light as possible for the laser hair removal procedure.
What can you expect during a laser hair removal treatment?
During the procedure, the pigment present in your hair strands will absorb a beam of light from the laser. The light will then be converted to heat and damage that particular hair follicle from its very root. Because of the damage incurred, the hair will stop growing. This is usually done over two to six sessions.
Laser hair removal aftercare
The area treated by lasers will look and feel sunburned for 1-2 days post treatment. You can employ moisturisers and cold compressions in order to temporarily reduce pain and discomfort. However, you should only use these if your doctor has given his/her green light.
Costs of laser hair removal
As per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of laser hair removal was around $389 per session in 2020. In India, full-body laser hair removal treatment can cost about INR 15,600 per session. The cost varies widely depending on various factors such as:
- Number of treatments/sessions required.
- Whether a doctor or someone else is performing the procedure.
- Size of the area being treated,
- Time required for the completion of the treatment.
- The part of the country where you’re having the procedure.
You should research every available laser hair removal clinic around you, and visit their website or talk to them directly in order to check whether their prescribed cost fits within your budget or not.
Final Words
Laser hair removal is an effective and non-invasive cosmetic treatment to remove unwanted hair from your body using heat from the laser to damage the hair follicles. It is a relatively fast process with decent enough recovery time. When done by a trusted healthcare professional, it can guarantee long-term results with very minimal side effects. It works best on those having contrasting skin and hair colors, for instance, light skin and dark hair. It is also crucial to keep the treated areas of your skin out of direct exposure to sun or any artificial lighting and stay away from indoor tanning equipment.
