LASER HAIR REMOVAL

Imagine having a life free of the hassles of shaving, tweezing, waxing or electrolysis. It would be so easy to no longer have to worry about unwanted hair. Luckily, this doesn't have to just be a "what if." The fantasy of having a hair-free and hassle-free life can be realized with laser hair removal.

Both men and women have to deal with unwanted hair in all sorts of different body areas. While some people notice the growth of excess hair from the point of puberty, others notice the problem developing with age, or because of hormonal changes like pregnancy or menopause.

Laser hair removal can be performed on just about every area of the body. Some of the most common areas for women include the upper lip or other facial areas, underarms, bikini area, legs, abdomen, and arms. There is some overlapping with the men, who also often have treatments done on the face and genital area, chest, back, shoulders, and neck. Many also pursue incomplete packages of laser hair removal as a way to reduce the amount of hair in any area, rather than to completely remove it.

The Process:
The procedure, which actually involves a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart, begins with the hair above the surface of the skin being trimmed down to create a smooth surface on which to work. Depending on the patient's needs and area being treated, a topical numbing cream may be applied before the treatment. The light is then directed at the area of treatment and absorbed by the hair follicles under the surface of the skin. This absorption has a heating effect on the hair, destroying the follicles' regrowth ability.

The ideal laser hair removal candidate will have fair skin and darker hair. However, most hair with at least some pigmentation can be treated. Patients with darker skin might require treatments performed at a lower laser setting, which usually means more total treatments.

Recovery:
Most patients, immediately after treatment, experience some mild redness and sometimes swelling. This usually goes away within several hours, and any other redness that does persist should disappear in a day or so. Skin pigmentation can also be temporarily effected, but will return to its original coloring. It's mandatory that patients avoid stay out of the sun before and after treatments. The required amount of time that should be given to this limited sun exposure should be discussed with your doctor or technician.

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