Looking good has always been important to a majority of people. In the modern age that we live in today, the process has also become more advanced. There was a time, when the only method for hair removal was either shaving or waxing, and both meant that hair would grow back again, in a matter of days or at the most weeks. Most people, especially women, started looking for more permanent solutions to avoid the hassle of having to go to salons regularly or did not want to face the nicks and cuts that are often associated with shaving.
This is when laser hair removal appeared on the scene. While initially, there was a certain amount of skepticism about the methodology, today, a growing number of people are looking at it as the best way to get rid of body hair on a more permanent basis. There were a lot of people who thought that allowing a hot laser to penetrate the skin was nothing more than a modern method of torturing oneself, in order to look better. However, today a growing number of people are actually choosing laser hair removal, because not only is it highly effective, but also a more cost effective method.
In this article, we will look at the following important aspects of laser hair removal:
What is laser hair removal?
For milliseconds at a time, a specialized laser beam is directed on the skin. The beam of light gets converted into heat as it passes through the skin, causing no harm whatsoever to the skin. The heat is then absorbed by the pigment known as melanin, which is present in the hair follicle as well as shaft. This prevents new growth of hair and there is a permanent reduction in the number of hairs on multiple sittings. This is why, laser hair removal has become a popular method to remove hair from the face and pubic region.
Who are the most suitable candidates?
There might be people who will think that laser hair removal is meant for everyone, but the fact of the matter is that it is not. There are certain specific types of people who will prove to be more ideal candidates for laser hair removal than the others.
- For starters, people who have coarse hair, which is darker in colour, but have lighter skin will prove most ideal candidates.
- People who have white or grey hair will not be able to benefit because there is a lack of melanin, which in turn will make the hair removal process a tad bit difficult.
- Similarly, blonde and red hair are also difficult to remove.
- People who have hair that is lighter than the skin colour will not be ideal candidates as will people who have blonde hair and have undergone tanning procedures.
Which all parts of the body can laser hair removal work for?
Laser hair removal can actually work quite effectively for any part of the body, because the light beam being used is very minute and accurate. The only body hair that laser hair removal cannot remove is the eyelashes. There are certain clinics, which will not use laser hair removal for the eyebrows, because the hair is too close to each other.
Laser hair removal is often most effective on body parts such as chin, neck, face, upper lip, legs, underarms and the bikini area. If people have tanning on their body, natural or artificial, they will have to wait for the same to fade out, because otherwise there could be blistering or discoloration of the skin.
What will happen before, during and after the laser hair removal procedure?
Laser hair removal proves to be most effective on hair that is short, yet visible. This is why, your doctor will ask you to shave your hair a few days before. This will allow the stubble to grow and make the task of hair removal easier. You will be asked not to wax or pluck your hair, because these tend to remove the hair from the follicle and your hair will not grow back fast enough, leading to a delay in the laser hair removal procedure.
If you are someone who does not have a high level of resistance towards pain, you can ask the doctor for anaesthesia. An ointment that contains lidocaine will be applied generously over your skin and within about 30 to 45 minutes, your skin should become numb.
The skin will be pulled to make it taut and then the laser beam will be directed, to initiate the hair removal process. In about half an hour, the area where the treatment has been done will become pink or red and there will be sensitivity. This is normal and will subside in some time. You could also smell your hair burning, which is yet again normal. The swelling and tenderness will subside over the course of time and your doctor might prescribe a lotion or ointment to be used.
In about a week or 10 days’ time, you will notice hair sprouting again, but this is not regrowth; rather it is hair that has been treated and is in the process of falling out.
How painful will the process be?
There are different descriptions of how a laser hair removal process actually feels like. The current laser hair removal methods and devices offer a virtually painless procedure.
How many sessions will be required?
The hair growth and removal will be a staggered process, which is why you will need multiple sessions. Anywhere between four to ten sessions might be required for proper hair removal and each session could last between a few minutes to hours, depending on the size of the area that needs to be cleaned.
