LASER HAIR REMOVAL
HOW LASER HAIR REMOVAL WORKS
Laser hair removal is the use of laser energy to produce long-term hair reduction. This is accomplished by producing heat in the hair. The heat is then transferred to the hair follicle, which in turn produces inflammation. This inflammation sends a signal to the hair follicle to go into the resting phase.
The process of laser hair removal works by directing the laser onto the skin. The laser’s high energy light becomes absorbed by melanin located in the hair follicles. Once absorbed, the light is transferred to heat, thus destroying the entire part of the follicle that is responsible for growth of new hair.
Melanin serves as a dark pigment. This pigment is visible in human hair and is the primary determinant of human skin color. Due to the fact that a laser targets melanin, the more melanin an individual has in his or her hair the better and therefore the more effective the treatment will be.
WHAT AREAS CAN BE TREATED WITH LASER
Any area where there is excess hair can be treated with laser. The only exception is adjacent to the eye. The most common areas are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line, and legs.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The length of a laser session may range from a few minutes to an hour or more. How long the procedure takes depends on the size of the area being treated. A small area such as the lip may take a few minutes, where the back area could take several hours. Since laser tends to treat hair follicles that are in an active growth phase and since hair grows in different phases, more than one treatment may be required.
Laser treatment may cause a slight tingling sensation. Most patients tolerate the procedure well, although some areas of the body are more sensitive than others; topical anesthesia can be an option. The appearance of the treated area can vary from patient to patient depending on the extent of treatment. Immediate after-effects, if any, are minor. You may experience redness and swelling, which will disappear in a short time. Most people return to normal activity right away.
