Getting rid of unwanted hair can be particularly difficult, especially on more sensitive areas of the body. Shaving can cut you and leave you with dry, irritated skin. Tweezing is a slow and painful process. Waxing and electrolysis can discolor your skin and can be painful. However, unwanted body hair can be embarrassing and irritating, and can damage your self-esteem.
Laser hair removal can provide the solution to unwanted hair on your arms, legs, back, or other regions of your body. In fact, it can get rid of unwanted body hair for many years, unlike other methods of hair removal where the hair continues to grow back very quickly.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a noninvasive procedure that works by firing a controlled pulse of laser light over a select area of the body. The laser’s light is absorbed by the melanin—or the pigment that produces hair color—in the follicles where the hairs grow. As the follicles absorb the light, the melanin heats up and destroys the unwanted body hair, while leaving the rest of the skin tissue unharmed.
Laser hair removal has been available since the 1990’s and is now available in multiple forms to cater to many different skin tones and hair colors, broadening the range of successful candidates for the procedure. A typical session only takes about 15 minutes, and it usually takes around 6 sessions to get rid of the unwanted hair, but could be more or less depending on your desired results.
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
After a few sessions of treatment, 90% of patients report body hair loss that lasts.
Despite the name, this does not mean the unwanted body hair is gone forever, but it does mean that it will be years before the hair returns, and when it eventually does return, it will be thinner and lighter than ever before.
Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?
The procedure can cause some mild discomfort, but it can be difficult to tell beforehand how much it will bother you. Part of it relies on your own pain tolerance—some people report minor irritation through the procedure, whereas others may experience more discomfort.
Additionally, laser hair removal on more sensitive areas of the body can be more uncomfortable than on other parts of the body. Patients may experience slight swelling or redness in the areas where unwanted body hair is removed, but this typically lasts just a few hours.
Almost all patients are able to go through a full session without interruption despite minor discomfort, and after every session the procedure becomes easier as there is less hair to remove. At the Elizabeth Roche MD MedSpa, you’ll be assisted by our fully trained nurse or physician assistant, who will do everything possible to make reducing unwanted body hair as comfortable as it can be.
Is Laser Hair Removal Right for Me?
At the Elizabeth Roche MD MedSpa, our medical professionals consult with you on your goals for removing unwanted body hair and help you determine if laser hair removal is right for you.
Contact us today to set up an appointment to learn more about laser hair removal, what to expect during a procedure, and how to reduce unwanted body hair and start embracing a more confident you.