Have you tried plucking, waxing, or shaving your body hair and got unsatisfactory results? Are you now bracing up for your first laser hair removal session?
Given that the average human hair grows around six inches a year, you would want a permanent solution. This is when you turn to the laser technique of hair removal. Considering its effectiveness, you might perceive it as a solution for the permanent removal of unwanted body and facial hair.
Before you are lured by false promises, have a look at the efficiency of this solution. Many people have a common question: whether or not laser hair removal is permanent. To address this, the professionals have come up with the answers to the common queries.
Here, you will come across a comprehensive guide to assess if this solution is permanent, along with its possible side effects.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a relatively permanent treatment to remove body/facial hair. Due to its effectiveness, people all over the globe try out this technique.
It involves the deployment of a concentrated light beam directed toward the hair follicles. The process generates heat, which eventually burns down these follicles. In the process, the area does not experience any further hair growth.
Besides, the laser light affects the pigment known as melanin. Therefore, the color intensity of the remaining hair gets reduced. With a professional approach, laser hair removal is a more permanent and viable option than traditional methods like waxing or shaving.
For people having thicker and darker hair, this process proves to be the most effective. However, several sittings are required to ensure precise and consistent hair removal.
What Makes Laser Hair Removal More Effective?
The hair follicles targeted by laser rays are located under your skin’s superficial layer. These follicles keep producing new hair strands throughout your lifetime. The laser technology destroys these follicles, temporarily disabling the growth of new hair.
If you have tried waxing, shaving, or tweezing, you might already know that these processes target the exterior layer of your skin. Therefore, they are not effective in destroying the follicles.
Here are a few common areas where the laser treatment proves to be most effective:
- Shoulders
- Chest
- Armpits
- Back
- Face, apart from the eyes
- Thighs and legs
An effectively used laser treatment results in as much as 90% hair removal in the targeted areas.
Is Laser Hair Removal a Permanent Solution?
To give you a brief answer, laser hair removal is not permanent.
However, with annual follow-ups, the treatment can be as good as permanent.
On first session, you will notice an instant reduction in the number of hairs in the targeted area. Besides, a significant number of strands will fall off within the next couple of days.
However, not all the follicles respond to the laser treatment with the same intensity. Therefore, you might notice increased hair growth in the specific area between 2 to 8 weeks of receiving the 1st treatment.
To achieve permanent hair removal in the area, you might require three to eight sessions. On average, you need to leave a space of six weeks between two consecutive sessions. Besides, the experts at Afya recommend scheduling a touch-up session annually.
This indicates that after the initial treatment, 1 touch-up/year would be enough. Hair regrowth depends largely on the body attributes, varying in different persons. Some people do not even notice any regrowth for several years after the treatment.
Interestingly, even if the hair grows, you will notice a lighter density and color than the previous stages.
How to Get the Best Results Through Laser Hair Removal?
Experts recommend following up at the scheduled time to make the best of this technology. Ignoring the follow-ups might result in regrowth of your hair. With each session, you would notice a lesser number of hairs.
The occasional follow-ups take care of the follicles, ensuring that they do not regenerate. The frequency of follow-ups depends on the individual. However, at the most, it would be twice a year.
The treatment time depends on the body area you are targeting. While some individuals touch up a few parts of their body, like the face or shoulders, others go for the entire back or chest. Depending on your individual requirements, you need to schedule the follow-ups.
Side-Effects of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is effective, although it might come with some discomfiture.
Particularly, when you undergo treatment, you might experience a stinging or burning sensation. This explains why professional practitioners apply a cream to numb the target. However, you may experience skin irritation or allergic reactions in response to this cream.
Have a look at the possible side-effects of laser hair removal:
- Redness in the skin
- Crusting of the skin
- Appearance of blisters in the area
- Changes in skin color
At times, damaged skin may develop infections, and under rare situations, may spread enough to be life-threatening. Therefore, you need to provide a detailed medical record to the practitioner before undergoing the treatment.
Experienced professionals deploy the right tactics to mitigate serious risks.
After you undergo this treatment, avoid direct exposure to the sun. This might result in skin irritations, leading to scars and blisters. If you experience fever, skin damage (crusting or blisters), or infection, make sure to seek medical attention.
Winding Up
Laser hair removal appears to be the best process considering the cost, effectiveness, and technology involved. Even though you need to attend annual follow-up sessions, it is a comprehensive and permanent solution.
No wonder people across the world are embracing this new-age technology. And threading, shaving, tweezing, and waxing procedures are quickly becoming obsolete!
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