Laser Hair Removal FAQ
Top 10 Laser Hair Removal Questions
- Am I a candidate for laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is not for everyone. The absolute requirement is that one’s hair must be darker than the surrounding skin. Additionally very darkly pigmented people absorb too much laser energy in their skin and are not candidates for most lasers. These dark skinned patients require the use of highly specialized lasers that are only available at selected laser hair removal centers, such as Sensitive Touch. Tanned patients with light hair are not candidates. Tanned patients with dark hair cannot be treated with the usual hair removal lasers, also requiring treatment with a specialized laser, such as the kind invented at the Institute of Laser Medicine in Los Angeles (see U.S. Patent 6,595,585). Lastly the treatment cost should be within reach of the patient. Laser hair removal, although much less expensive than electrolysis, requires multiple treatments, and generally costs over $1000 in total for most anatomic areas.
- What will it cost for laser hair removal?
Treatment cost varies with the size of the area treated. Experienced laser centers, which have developed expertise in laser hair removal, generally average between $75 and $800 per treatment session, with an average of four treatment sessions initially recommended. Large areas, such as the entire back, or the entire legs, cost considerably more than this. Small areas, such as the upper lip, can be less. Individual consultation with the laser center is necessary to obtain exact pricing.
- Influence of skin color on laser hair removal.
Light skin makes laser hair removal easier to perform. Fewer treatments are required, and better, faster results are obtained. People with darker skin can be treated, but results are slower, more sessions are required, and greater expertise is required on the part of the laser center. Laser hair removal must be individualized for each patient.
- Influence of hair color on laser hair removal.
Dark hair absorbs more laser energy and is easier to treat. Coarse dark hair responds the best to laser treatment. Light hair is more difficult to treat. Dark blonde or red hair is very difficult to treat. Multiple treatment sessions are required, and results are variable. Dark blonde or red hair usually contains pheomelanin, which absorbs laser energy less avidly than the eumelanin pigment that is present in black or brown hair.
- How many laser hair removal treatments required?
Although one laser session can produce long-term hair removal, as a rule multiple treatment sessions are necessary to obtain optimal results. In large part this is due to the fact that laser hair removal is most effective for hair that is in the anagen phase. Anagen is the growth phase of hair. Since hair grows in cycles, not all of the hairs are in anagen at any given time. Additional sessions are necessary to catch all of the hairs when they are in anagen.
It typically takes 4-6 laser hair removal sessions spaced 4 to six weeks apart to see 70-80 percent reduction in hair growth. For best results, we suggest getting maintenance treatments done once a year for a couple years at least.
- What areas can be treated?
Any area, except adjacent to the eye, where there is excess hair. The most common areas requested are the face, upper lip, neck, chest, periareolar, underarms, back, abdomen, bikini line, and legs.
- Does hair grow back?
Waxing, shaving, and plucking all produce hair removal that is temporary. Several of the newer lasers have clearly documented that there is permanent hair reduction after each treatment. The FDA has approved several lasers for permanent hair reduction, and more results with additional lasers are pending. The results tend to be additive, i.e. more treatments lead to greater degrees of permanent hair reduction. For any given patient results cannot be precisely predicted. Results can be variable, even with the best lasers.
Hair falls out within 10-14 days. Use a mild sugar scrub in the shower on the 10th day to help exfoliate the skin and remove hair.
- Guarantees in laser hair removal.
It is impossible to predict the exact result a patient will achieve with laser hair removal, especially with regard to how many sessions a given individual will require. Many of the hair removal clinics that guaranteed results have gone out of business. Like most reputable medical practices, the most established laser hair removal practices do not guarantee results.
- Does laser hair removal cause scaring?
According to HairRemovalJournal.org any laser procedure can cause scarring, and this is included as a risk on most consent forms you will sign prior to laser treatment. However, the risk of scarring from laser hair removal is rather small and is a function of many things including:
- The experience, skill, knowledge and training of the laser operator
- Your particular ability to heal
- The amount of melanin pigment in your skin with greater risk for darker skin types
- Type of laser used
Although the risk of scarring from a laser procedure is quite small, you can minimize your risk by selecting an experienced operator to perform your laser treatment who is supervised by an on-site physician.
- Does laser hair removal hurt?
Because the laser energy is absorbed in the hair follicle producing heat, there is some sensation when performing laser hair removal. Certain areas of the body hurt more than others during laser hair removal. In addition, patients with very thick, dark hair may experience more discomfort than those with thin hair. This is because the thicker, darker hair will absorb more of the laser light during any given treatment. Generally, the hair becomes thinner and less dense after each subsequent treatment. Therefore, the most discomfort is usually experienced during the first treatment.
Of the patients surveyed by HairRemovlJournal.org, 3% said there was no pain, 51% said it was mild, 43% said it was moderate and 3% said it was severe pain.
In order to limit any discomfort during procedure, most Medical Spas offer numbing creams that can be applied to the treated area. There is usually a small additional cost added to the final bill for the cream and client is required to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the treatment time in order for the area to be numbed properly.
