Laser hair removal
Are your attempts to remove unwanted hair continually leaving you with bumps, nicks, and burns? Are you crazy about the aggravation of shaving, tweezing, or repeated waxing? If so, this may be an option worth considering.
What is laser hair removal?
A medical procedure that uses a laser to remove unwanted hair. It has become one of the most common cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, in most major cities such as Las Vegas Nevada.
How does it work?
It uses highly concentrated rays of light to selectively penetrate hair follicles. The light is then absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicles, destroying the hair within the follicle which inhibits future hair growth.
Although the treatment effectively slows hair growth, it does not guarantee permanent hair removal. Generally, several treatments are needed to alleviate unwanted hair. Periodic maintenance treatments may also be necessary.
Various types of lasers have been developed and are used. The most common are alexandrite, diode, neodymium YAG, and intense pulsed light sources.
It is safe?
It is mainly used to remove unwanted hair from the face, legs, armpits, upper lip, chin, and bikini line. Lasers can selectively target hair with great precision without damaging the surrounding skin. Each laser pulse takes only a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time.
Although unwanted hair can be treated in almost any area, laser hårfjerning (laser hair removal) for the eyelid or the surrounding area is not recommended due to the potential for serious eye injury.
Preparation for treatment
As with any medical procedure, this treatment must be performed by qualified personnel, such as a physician or physician's assistant. Beware of spas, salons, or other facilities that allow non-medical personnel to perform this treatment.
Hair color and skin type influence the success of laser hair removal.
For example, this is most effective for people who have fair skin and dark hair because the laser beam targets the pigment (melanin) in the hair. However, advances in technology have made laser hair removal safe and effective for patients with darker skin and people of color.
What to expect during the procedure
Before laser hair removal, any hair in the treatment area will be trimmed and the laser equipment will be adjusted according to the color, thickness, and location of the hair being treated, as well as the color of your skin. The area to be treated must be clean and dry.
Proper eye protection is necessary to protect your eyes from the laser. During the procedure, a handheld laser will be pressed against your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cold gel can be used to protect your skin. A topical anesthetic can also be applied to the skin to reduce any discomfort during treatment.
Next, a laser pulse will be delivered to the treatment area and the area will be observed for several minutes, checking for any adverse reactions and ensuring optimal settings are being used before proceeding.
Once the doctor activates the laser, the beam is aimed at the follicles where hair growth originates. The intense heat from the laser beam damages hair follicles, inhibiting hair growth.
Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, may take just a few minutes. A larger area, such as the back, can take several hours.
Results
Results vary greatly from person to person. Since hair may still grow back, multiple treatments may be necessary to prolong the duration of hair loss. For best results, you may need four to six treatments separated by several weeks.