The laser hair removal market has seen huge growth in the last few years with an estimated revenue forecast of $3.6 billion in the coming years. With the wide availability of clinics and treatment centers around the country, it's no wonder laser hair removal has created a foothold as an eminent esthetic treatment.
But how does it work and are there benefits to the procedure? Keep reading to find out more as we explore how laser hair removal works and the advantages to this procedure!
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Your first question might be what exactly is laser hair removal? Laser hair removal is a noninvasive procedure to remove unwanted hair from the body.
During the treatment, small pulses of laser light target the follicles of hair on your body to destroy it. The process itself is known as selective photothermolysis.
Cells that have a lot of pigmented color get destroyed from the heat generated by the laser. Dark hair follicles have plenty of pigment, thus absorbing the heat generated from the laser. The heat gets transferred to the follicles, resulting in a destroyed strand of hair.
Multiple laser treatments are typically required as hair follicles must be in a growth stage for the procedure to take hold.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Removing unwanted hair from the body is an entirely personal decision. However, this popular alternative does have some convenient benefits:
Hair removal is a long-term solution
Side effects are minimal
Sessions are usually quite short
Less painful than waxing or tweezing
Eliminates ingrown hairs
Saves money in the long run
Helps reduce irritating ingrown hairs
Not to mention, one of the most straightforward advantages of laser hair removal is that it saves you time that would be otherwise spent waxing, shaving, threading, or tweezing.
Prep for Laser Hair Removal
If you have your mind set on starting this procedure, there are a few steps to keep in mind before you see your technician. Avoid using tanning beds or tanning products prior to the procedure. Avoid getting too much sunlight in the days leading up to treatment. Laser hair removal is less effective on skin that has been artificially or naturally tanned.
Additionally, you'll want to make sure the hair getting removed is the right length: no longer than a grain of rice. Shave your hair a few days before treatment but don't tweeze or wax the area!
So, you've prepped and gotten ready for your treatment and it's the big day. What can you expect during the procedure?
During Treatment
Your treatment provider will typically follow several steps such as cleaning the area and giving you protective eye-wear to wear during the treatment. From there, it's on to the procedure!
There are a few different laser systems used by the various treatment centers. Different lasers are equipped to provide results on different skin types and tones. Whichever laser system gets used, your provider will press the laser to your skin in order for the beam to reach the hair follicles.
From there, the procedure itself won't take more than a few minutes for smaller areas like the upper lip. Larger areas like back or bikini area will generally take a little bit longer. You'll be wearing goggles during the treatment to protect your eyes.
After Treatment
Your provider will give you thorough post-treatment instructions. These generally include reminders such as avoiding the gym for at least 24 hours after treatment and avoiding direct sun exposure as much as possible.
Certain skincare products should also be avoided both before and after treatment as they can be irritating or cause extra sensitivity to the skin. Laser treatments can dry the skin out, so be sure to add extra hydration when you can.
For any redness or uncomfortable swelling, ice or certain steroid creams can be applied to reduce discomfort. Additionally, be sure to use your sunscreen regularly to protect the delicate skin.
Number of Sessions
Laser hair treatments are used on a variety of hair types and skin tones, but recall that lasers target pigment. The more pigment a hair follicle has, the easier it is for the laser to reach and destroy it. While it can still be done, blonde or lighter colored hair can be more difficult to remove during treatments.
There are varying levels of coarseness to the hair follicles on a body. Each body is different, therefore, the number of sessions needed will vary from person to person. Your technician will be able to confirm how many sessions you'll need to remove hair from the area.
However, many patients tend to see significant results within just a couple of visits. Treatments are spaced out from there determined by subsequent hair growth. As mentioned above, hair must be in the growth stage for the procedure to work.
Each person's hair growth cycle will be different and sessions will be spaced out accordingly.
Book a Treatment Today
We hope this guide to laser hair removal has been helpful for you. If you're looking to start your laser hair removal treatment journey, Laser Spot has you covered. From wrinkle reductions to laser hair removal and beyond, we offer a number of treatments to meet all your beauty-related needs.
Tired of constantly shaving, tweezing, and waxing your body? Book a free consultation with us today or simply call our office with any questions before getting started. We'll help you schedule the perfect treatment for you.
We look forward to helping you feel the best in your own skin!