Laser hair removal is a long-term (almost permanent) solution to get rid of hair for good.
This procedure gives you freedom like never before. People with unibrows, hairy patches, and unwanted facial hair will find new confidence after this procedure.
It can free you from hundreds of hours of routine shaving, waxing, and plucking sessions, saving you lots of money in the process.
Who Should Opt for Laser Hair Removal?
People decide to get laser hair removal for a variety of reasons, such as:
- Ingrown hair that irritates their skin
- Nature of their job
- Unwanted patches of body hair
- Body image issues
- Rashes on the skin caused by friction with clothes
- Hygiene and cleanliness
The minimum age for laser hair removal is 15, and there’s no upper age limit. Both men and women can undergo this procedure to get rid of hair on any area of the body (including the genital area).
It’s suitable for most healthy adults, but be cautious if you have these conditions:
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Bleeding disorder
- Suntan
- Tattoos
- Lesions
- Recent waxing/plucking
- Depilatory creams
- Epilepsy
- Vitiligo
In the majority of cases, people on medication won’t experience any side effects. However, you should consult one of our specialists to be sure.
Individuals with light skin and dark hair get the best results from this procedure. The more contrast your skin and hair color has, the better results you can expect.
Thus, it is recommended you don’t tan prior to the procedure.
Winters are the best season to schedule a consultation since you don’t have to worry as much about being outside and exposed to as much sun.
What Results Can You Expect?
The laser destroys hair follicles, making hair re-growth impossible. But not all follicles are destroyed – only damaged. Once the damaged hair follicles heal, you will see re-growth.
In addition, the laser doesn’t destroy dormant hair follicles. So when the dormant hair follicles become active (thanks to the hair growth cycle), new hair will sprout up. At any given time, 8-10% of the total hair follicles of all hair follicles are dormant (telogen phase).
The hair regrowing in the treated area will be finer and weaker. With 5-6 treatments over several weeks or months, you will see a 70-80% reduction in hair count.
Depending on how fast your hair grows, you will need a few touch-ups (maintenance sessions), but it will be nothing compared to your initial sessions.
If you decide to stop the treatment, vellus hair will grow back. Hormonal changes can also trigger some hair regrowth. However, the hair quality and quantity will be far less compared to the post-procedure.
Routinely shaving the hair is a huge time and money commitment for many. Getting rid of the hair in the long term will also get rid of the nagging feeling of being self-conscious of the hair growth and maintenance of waxing, tweezing or shaving.
Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?
It depends on who you ask since we all have different pain tolerances. Yes, a laser causes discomfort. People compare the feeling of being repeatedly snapped by a rubber band. Sensitive areas like the face and genital regions or armpits hurt more than the legs and stomach.
However, the pain of laser hair removal is much more tolerable than the pain of getting waxed. People with a low pain tolerance can ask the medical professional performing the procedure for the use of an anesthetic or numbing cream.
The total time taken by the procedure depends on the size of the area being treated. The upper lip area can be treated in 10 minutes while the legs or stomach can take up to an hour. You can ask your technician for breaks during the treatment if needed.
Side Effects of Laser Hair Removal
Possible short-term, temporary side effects may include:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Redness
- Skin irritation
The redness should go away within a few hours, while the other side effects should subside within 2-3 days.
Rare side-effects:
- Blistering
- Scarring
- Crusting
- Excessive hair growth around treated areas
- Pigment changes
Aftercare and Recovery
Laser hair removal has no downtime. So, you don’t need to worry about regular sessions disrupting your lifestyle.
A cold compress will help with any swelling and redness, should it appear. You can apply aloe vera gel to soothe the skin after the treatment.
Your skin will shed out the dead hair just like dead cells in 5-20 days. After a couple of days, you can exfoliate using a loofah, shower exfoliate, or shower sponge to speed up the process.
Do not apply makeup, lotion, moisturizer, or perfume, and do not pick on the skin. Let it breathe and heal. In some cases, the laser can cause micro-tears, and covering the treated area may lead to infection.
Don’t go out in the sun for at least 48 hours and apply sunscreen to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation.
Cost of Laser Hair Removal
The average session costs $287. The total cost for you will depend on where you are getting the procedure, the type of treatment, etc. We already have an article explaining the factors that affect the pricing of laser hair removal and how you can get a discount.
Get Laser Hair Removal in Layton
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure. Find an experienced and professional specialist who can deliver the best results to you.
Look for a specialist that has access to an up-to-date, high-quality machine, checks their medical background, and sets clear expectations about the results.
At Transcend Rejuvenation, we use the Candela GentleMax Pro which uses a combination of the 755nm Alexandrite Laser (suitable for light-toned skin) and 1064nm Nd:YAG laser (suitable for dark-toned skin). The wavelength emitted by this device can be customized to suit every kind of skin tone.
You can consult our specialists to learn more about laser hair removal in Layton. Click here to schedule an appointment.
You may also call us directly at: (385) 249-5785.