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Talksurgery adheres to the Health On the Net Foundation's Code of Conduct
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Body hair reduction
Laser Hair Reduction
In this procedure, lasers, working on a principle called Selective Photothermolysis, zap the hair follicle underneath the skin, thereby slowly down future hair growth.
For the consumer, it is important to note that the key word is reduction, not removal. This means that although laser treatments with these devices will permanently reduce the total number of body hairs, they will not result in a permanent removal of all hair. To date, the FDA has not given permission for any manufacturer to claim that lasers can cause "permanent removal" of hair, nor that laser hair removal is painless, but has allowed for them to claim "permanent reduction".
Although the landscape in lasers in changing rapidly, laser hair reduction started off originally with four types of lasers:
- Neodymium: YAG laser (ND:YAG Laser)
- Diode laser
- Ruby laser
- Alexandrite laser.
ND: YAG Laser was one of the first lasers to be used in hair reduction, but the technology has been quickly improved with the diode, ruby and alexandrite lasers. In general, the diode was discovered to be good for long-term removal of thick, coarse hair, while the ruby laser gives better short-term growth delay, especially for patients with light hair.
Results for laser hair removal in general seem to vary widely, often depending on the patient's complexion. In the early days of hair reduction, lasers seemed to work best on those with dark hair and light skin. But now, new lasers are being created to work on darker colored skin.
What does it cost?
A session can cost anywhere from $200-$500, depending on where you live and whether a doctor performs it.
What happens during the procedure?
Technically, the laser is pulsed (turned on) for a millisecond, emitting a beam of light on to the skin. The light energy passes harmlessly through the skin, but is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle and hair shaft. By absorbing this laser energy, the hair follicles are disabled, impairing their ability to grow. The laser works by disabling hair in the active growth stage (anagen) at the time of treatment.
During a procedure, safety eyewear must be worn to protect your eyes from the intense laser light. A small hand piece will be used with a pointer that touches the skin to deliver the laser light. A light spray of coolant onto the skin will be felt just before each laser pulse.
Most patients describe the procedure as a little uncomfortable, with a tingling, stinging sensation during treatment. The degree of discomfort varies with each person, depending on your individual pain threshold. Because some areas of the body are more sensitive, you may want a topical anesthetic prescribed. Be sure to discuss this with your physician in advance of the laser treatment.
The procedure can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the area being treated. Because not all hairs are not in a growth phase during treatment, however, additional treatments will be necessary to disable all the hair follicles in the area being treated. Treatments are usually given at intervals of 4-6 weeks, or when new hair growth is noticed.
Are there risks or potential side effects?
Some side effects can be expected whenever a laser is used to treat the skin, but are generally temporary. These can include:
- Itching or numbness during treatment
- Redness, caused by heating the tissue
- Hypo or hyper pigmentation (darkening of light skin or lightening of dark skin)
- Scarring in some patients
- Crusting/scab formation (on ingrown hairs)
- Bruising
- Purpura (purple coloring of the skin) on tanned areas
- Infection
What to expect post-procedure?
Immediately after the procedure, you may notice some side effects like edema (swelling). Also, the skin may become pink or red. Patients have described it as mild sunburn, but this is a reaction that usually subsides within a day or so. The doctor may prescribe a topical cream to apply to the treated areas. You can go back to work and resume regular activities right after the treatment
Are you a good candidate?
While laser hair reduction can improve a person’s body image and self-esteem, it does not remedy pre-existing psychological and personal problems. As with all elective surgery, good health and realistic expectations are prerequisites, but if you are thinking of a more permanent solution to unwanted hair you should:
- Talk to your doctor about the various kinds of lasers and which may be best suited to your skin and hair type.
- Tell your surgeon about any and all medical conditions and any allergies you may have and whether you are a smoker as well as any medications, herbal supplements or natural supplements you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription).
How to prepare for this procedure?
- You must avoid the sun for 4-6 weeks before and after treatment or until your physician allows it.
- You MUST avoid bleaching, plucking or waxing hair for 6 weeks prior to treatment.
- If you have had a history of perioral herpes, prophylactic antiviral therapy may be prescribed.
- If you have a tan or have a naturally darker skin, then a bleaching cream may be started 4-6 weeks before treatment in order to decrease the amount of pigment in the upper layer of the skin.
Locate a certified physician with our Doctor Locator.
To view Personal Stories about this procedure contributed by our members, Click Here.
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