Is laser hair removal permanent?
The Food and Drug Administration approved laser hair removal treatments as “permanent hair reduction” rather than “permanent hair removal” treatments. Due to different follicle growth cycles, different hair and skin pigments, and other factors, laser hair removal treatments cannot guarantee 100% success in removing hair from a treated area, especially after only one session. Also, because hair tends to sprout in different areas as we age, new hair can grow in an area after the laser hair removal procedure has been performed. Some people find that having electrolysis treatment after a laser hair procedure can help to eliminate follicles that survived the original procedure.

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Are there any pre-treatment preparations I need to take?
Your doctor should discuss pre-treatment preparations with you.  Generally , you’ll be asked to shave the treatment area a few days beforehand, but waxing or other follicle removal procedures should be avoided, both before and during the series of treatments.

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What happens after the first laser hair removal treatment?
After your first treatment, your doctor will likely recommend the use of aloe vera or other skin products to help soothe the treated area.  Within the first month, you should shed most, if not all, of the treated hair . You can help hasten the process by using an exfoliant and/or a loofah on the treated area.

Once the shedding begins, the treated area should be relatively free of hair until the follicles that were resting and/or shedding when you were treated begin to generate hair (usually within 6 to 10 weeks of the original treatment). These follicles are then ready to be targeted during the next laser hair removal session. Your series of treatments will continue in this general manner until you’ve removed as much hair as possible.

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How many laser hair removal treatments are typically needed and at what intervals?
Hair generation occurs in a three-stage cycle (growing, resting and shedding), and the timing of those stages varies person to person and from follicle to follicle on your head and body. Because laser hair removal targets only those hairs in the growing stage, more than one treatment will nearly always be needed to remove unwanted hair in an area. Most people require a minimum of six treatments, and often more, to effectively reduce the amount of unwanted hair in any spot. The initial treatments are commonly spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart, although they can be spaced up to 10 weeks apart once the client’s hair begins to shed and the results start to take shape. However, individual results will vary, so these are just general timelines.

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Is laser hair removal a painful procedure?
The amount of pain you’ll feel depends your threshold for pain. While the sensation of having your hair removed via laser has been described as similar to a rubber band snapping against the skin, some parts of the body are more sensitive than others, and some people are simply more sensitive to irritation . If necessary, the doctor can apply anesthetic cream to desensitize small areas . The laser has a built-in cooling function to help reduce any pain.

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What side effects are possible with laser hair removal?
Typical side effects of laser hair treatment include itching, redness, swelling and, for some people, pain or tingling. In rare cases, some people can have scabs formed on ingrown hairs or experience infection, bruising or other skin discoloration. These side effects are usually temporary; if they persist for more than 3 days, they should be reported to the doctor who performed the treatment.

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Can anyone undergo laser hair removal treatments?
Laser hair treatment is not for everyone. The ideal candidates are light-skinned, dark-haired people, because dark pigments readily absorb the laser energy. The darker your skin, the more susceptible it is to absorbing some of the laser energy that’s intended for the dark hair follicles. Similarly, the lighter your hair, the less likely it is to absorb the growth-inhibiting energy. Also, certain medical conditions, such as herpes, present a greater risk to individuals who may want to undergo a laser hair removal procedure. Your doctor can help you determine whether you’re a viable candidate for the procedure.

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