It can seem like an endless battle against unwanted hair when it comes to shaving, plucking, or waxing. For many patients, this can make it difficult to feel comfortable in swimwear or revealing clothing if they haven’t recently taken care of dark and visible hair. This makes laser hair reduction treatments one of the best options available in achieving the body you’re looking for. Laser hair reduction uses light energy to damage hair follicles, preventing further growth over a series of treatments. We offer both Intense Pulsed Light technology and Diode laser systems for your laser hair reduction needs, and we can recommend the best option for you during your consultation.
Laser hair reduction is one of the best options for patients with unwanted hair who are looking for a long-term solution. This technique can be performed on many different areas of the body, making it a highly-versatile option. Most commonly, it’s performed on the legs, armpits, or back, but it can also be performed on the face, arms, and bikini area. These are areas that can experience dark, thick, and visible hair growth that can be exhausting to remove regularly. Most patients that pursue laser hair reduction are those looking for more permanent reduction and easier at-home removal.
Because the laser energy is absorbed by the hair shaft during laser hair removal, it’s important to provide a good set of factors for it to be effective. Firstly, laser hair removal works best on dark hair with fair skin, since this means the laser energy can be most easily absorbed. For this reason, white or gray hair doesn’t respond well to treatment. Secondly, the hair should not be plucked or shaved prior to treatment, since there should be an existing hair shaft for the treatment to be effective. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your options and recommend the best course of treatment for your goals.
Most patients tolerate treatment well, although laser hair removal can generate discomfort for some patients. It begins with ensuring your treatment area is clean and prepared. Then, protective eyewear is placed over your eyes and the laser handpiece is focused on the individual hairs, generating heat that travels to the follicle and causing damage to the skin’s hair growth mechanisms. Our laser systems include a cooling system to ensure that the surrounding skin is not damaged or burned, however. If needed, we can supply a topical numbing cream. The length of this process can vary greatly based on your treatment area. For example, small areas of the face may only take a few minutes, while the legs or entire back may take a few hours. During your consultation, we’ll make sure you know what to expect from your treatment session and any preparation you should undergo beforehand.
After your treatment, you should be sure to wear broad-spectrum sunscreen at your treatment area, since this process can cause your skin to become photosensitive, causing hyperpigmentation. You may notice an increase in the growth and thickness of the treated hair, but this is normal, and the hairs will eventually thin and cease growing. Although this procedure is sometimes called laser hair removal, it more often produces a drastic reduction in hair growth over the course of a few treatments. Because of the natural hair growth cycle, it’s necessary to treat the follicles at different stages for best results, although many patients still regularly shave or pluck the remaining hairs which can be dramatically lessened. Also, because of the body’s natural growth cycles, the treated hair may return to its normal growth rate over time without regular touchup appointments. Most patients undergo a series of three to four treatments before seeing significant results and hair reduction.
We understand that unwanted hair can cause self-consciousness when it comes to feeling confident in showing off your body. Laser hair reduction can be a long-term solution to improving your quality of life when it comes to constantly shaving, plucking, or waxing. Schedule a consultation at our St. Joseph office by calling or filling out our online form to see how laser hair reduction can benefit you.
