Laser hair removal is becoming the procedure of choice for those who want clean, smooth, hair free skin. This is no surprise, as it is one of the safest and most effective ways to get rid of unwanted body hair, as compared to other options like creams, shaving, waxing, threading, tweezing and electrolysis. It’s not just women we are talking about, but men too want to look better groomed, and this is why we see scores of men and women in Melbourne flocking to laser clinics on a daily basis today.
For those of you who haven’t tried it yet, we’re sure you might have a lot of questions or clarifications about this procedure. And in this post, we’re going to try and shed light on all the important things about laser hair removal that we think you must know!
How does laser hair removal work?
There are different types of lasers, and each of them works slightly differently. However, the basic principle followed in laser hair removal is common for all – damaging the hair follicle to reduce growth of hair. The laser is targeted at the melanin present in the hair follicle. The light and heat energy in the laser is absorbed by the hair follicle, and this damages the hair follicle so that the rate of new hair growth is affected. Over a number of sessions, the hair that appears also becomes thinner, and eventually, the hair follicle stops producing new hair.
How long has laser been around, and how safe is it?
Laser for hair removal was first used around 1960, by Theodore H. Maiman. While this succeeded in slowing down hair growth, it also ended up burning the skin around. But we’ve come a long way since, and laser technology today is able to precisely target hair follicles, without any damage or burns to the surrounding skin area. After all, 58 years is a long time indeed, and the fact that it continues becoming more popular is testimony to the fact that it’s the best option for hair removal today.
Is it painful?
There is a small degree of pain involved in this procedure, depending on the type of laser and the settings used. While it is not as intense as waxing or electrolysis, laser hair removal will likely give you a slight prickly sensation as the light is passed. But most advanced clinics, like Victoria Laser & Skin Clinic, use lasers with a cooling mechanism to offer more comfort to the clients taking this procedure.
Are the results permanent?
Yes, laser is one of the few methods that can give permanent results. However, there is no guarantee that everyone will get permanent results. But what it definitely does however, is that it greatly reduces the rate of growth to such an extent that you will not feel the need to shave or wax for a long, long time to come. And even if you do get new hair growth in laser treated areas, they will be thinner and lighter than regular hair, if at all.
How long does it take for the results to show?
This depends on a lot of factors – like what part of the hair growth cycle the hair are at, the area of the skin treated, genetics and more. But on an average, it takes around 2-3 treatments to start seeing some change, and depending on the area and intensity of hair, around 8-10 treatments to achieve around 80% hair removal. Women with PCOS might take a longer time to see results. However, it is imperative that you stick to all your appointments, so that you can get results, quicker.
What are the most popular areas for laser hair removal?
In the case of women, we get the maximum requests for treatment on facial hair, bikini line and underarms. In the case of men, the back and chest areas are popular areas of treatment.
Are there any risks involved?
Laser is considered to be pretty safe and harmless for the most part. It is usually a short procedure, that doesn’t require any recovery or downtime. However, some people might experience swelling, redness and pigmentation changes. And in rare cases, laser treatment triggers thicker and longer hair growth for certain types of hair. If you choose to undergo this procedure with us, then our therapists will explain all the possible risks to you, and let you know if you are a suitable candidate for this procedure before you sign on for it.
Laser is a wonderful procedure for hair reduction and removal, and can be a huge relief on all fronts – time, money and beauty. However, if done by an untrained or non-certified technician, this procedure can leave burns or scars on the skin. Beware of spurious skin or laser centres which offer deals too good to be true, and always check the certification of the clinic where you decide to get your laser hair removal treatment done.
