If you’re like most people, you devote a significant amount of time and energy to shaving, waxing, plucking, or otherwise getting rid of unwanted hair. At best, DIY hair removal is tedious; at worst, it can be truly exhausting.
It’s not surprising that laser hair removal has become one of the most popular aesthetic services in the United States — after all, why would anyone keep buying expensive razors or scheduling intimate Brazilian wax appointments when a few noninvasive laser treatments are all it takes to get rid of unwanted hair for good?
Here at Bayview General Medicine & Aesthetics in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, we’ve helped hundreds of men and women permanently eliminate undesirable facial or body hair, and we can help you, too.
Whether you’re a woman who’s tired of plucking undesirable facial hair or a man who’s had enough of waxing away back hair, laser hair removal can help you permanently reduce or eliminate unwanted hair safely and effectively.
As a highly customizable treatment, laser hair removal can be used to prevent unwanted hair growth on virtually any area of your body. No matter your hair or skin type, laser hair removal can help you attain smooth, hair-free skin on your upper lip and chin, along the side of your face or neck, on your toes and fingers, in your bikini area, or on your legs, chest, back, arms, or shoulders.
The only part of your body that can’t be treated with laser hair removal is the area around your eyes.
Laser hair removal works by sending pulses of precision laser energy directly into active-growth hair follicles. As the pigments in the follicle absorb this energy, it destroys the follicle’s ability to regrow hair.
It’s easier to permanently eliminate darker hair because it contains a higher concentration of pigment, which means it absorbs a broader spectrum of light energy compared to lighter hair, which contains fewer pigment cells.
In practice, this means it’s much easier to eliminate dark underarm hair, for example, than it is to get rid of light forearm hair. While laser hair removal can significantly reduce the amount of light-colored hair growing in any area, it can’t always eliminate it completely.
While you can expect to see slower growth and a significant reduction in hair after your first laser hair removal session, you’ll need multiple treatments, spaced several weeks apart, to completely remove the unwanted hair.
The laser hair removal process takes a few months to complete because your hair grows in cycles and the laser only targets active-growth hair follicles. Multiple treatments increase the likelihood of treating each follicle when it’s active.
Most people see complete, permanent results after a series of 3-6 laser hair removal treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart.
You already know that laser hair removal targets active-growth follicles, but it can only target these follicles if there’s still some amount of hair in the follicle itself. Laser hair removal won’t work on areas that have been waxed, plucked, or cleared with depilatory cream, as these removal methods pull hair out at the root, leaving no way for the laser to focus its energy into the follicle.
The best way to prepare for laser hair removal is by shaving the treatment area either the day before or the morning of your treatment session. When your remaining stubble is as close to the surface of your skin as possible, virtually all of the laser’s energy will be directed down its short length and into the follicle.
It’s also important to avoid extreme sun exposure throughout the laser hair removal process. Undergoing laser hair removal when your skin is tan or darker than normal increases the risk of inaccurate laser settings. You’ll want to stay out of the sun for several days following each session, too, as the treatment can make your skin more sensitive and susceptible to damaging ultraviolet light.
If you’re ready to ditch your razor for good, aesthetic specialist Dr. Richard Blanchar and his top-notch team are always ready to help! Call the office or schedule your appointment online today.
