Are You A Candidate For Laser Hair Removal?

It seems like an endless battle. You shave only to have hair come back the very next day — not to mention the inevitable razor burn and occasional cut. Waxing, on the other hand, hurts, and you have to let your hair grow out before you’re even able to wax it away. Unwanted hair along with painful or frustrating hair removal doesn’t have to be a fact of life. Laser hair removal offers an effective solution.

HOW DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL WORK?

You might be wondering whether laser hair removal is the right choice for you. After all, doesn’t the laser treatment hurt? The answer is a resounding “no.”

This procedure uses concentrated beams of laser light that target hair follicles. The light, which converts to heat, is absorbed by the hair’s dark pigment, damaging the follicle and preventing it from any future growth.

The procedure is relatively quick, depending on what area is being treated. It takes less than a minute to treat small areas such as your upper lip, and large areas like your back or legs usually take up to an hour.

But is laser hair removal safe? The Food and Drug Administration believes so. Laser hair removal has been FDA-approved since 1964.

At The Beauty Medics, we’ve put together some common questions and answers about laser hair removal.

IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL PAINFUL?

Laser hair removal is considered uncomfortable, but not unbearable. The sensations are typically described as being snapped by a rubber band. Keep in mind that the pain tolerance also depends on you as an individual and what area of your body we’re treating with the laser. Sensitive areas, such as the bikini line or underarms, are prone to more discomfort.

At The Beauty Medics, we use the GentleMax Pro®, which is equipped with a cooling device to help protect your top layer of skin and reduce discomfort. We can also offer to perform a test patch on your skin to see how it will react.

If you need to, you may feel free to take an over-the-counter painkiller before your appointment.

HOW MUCH DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL COST?

Cost depends on the size of the area we’re treating and the time involved. The color of your hair and skin is also a factor. Dark hair on lighter skin is the easiest to treat and, therefore, less expensive.

HOW MANY OFFICE VISITS ARE NEEDED?

Every person is unique and requires a different number of sessions. The equipment used along with your skin and hair type also play a huge role in how many courses of treatment you need.

Hair removal often requires a minimum of six sessions to target all of the hair follicles, weakening them and preventing any future hair growth.

DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL WORK ON ALL SKIN TYPES?

Generally, the darker your hair is, the easier it is to treat. Darker skin tones are more difficult to treat, but not impossible. In order to avoid pigment discoloration, you should always speak to a physician before deciding to try laser hair removal.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY APPOINTMENT?

Stay out of the sun. We cannot perform the procedure if your skin is sunburned. Even a slight tan could affect the procedure.

Avoid waxing or plucking hair. The laser beam targets hair follicles, so there needs to be something there for the beam to hit.

ARE THE RESULTS PERMANENT?

This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the short answer is “no.” But laser hair removal drastically reduces any hair that grows back. The heat from the laser places your hair follicles in a state of dormancy, meaning that if hair grows back, it will be finer and fewer.

If you’re still unsure if laser hair removal is right for you and you live in Southern California, our team would be delighted to answer any questions you might have. If you are ready to say goodbye to the discomfort of shaving, waxing, and plucking, give us a call today or contact us using the online form on this website.