LASER HAIR REDUCTION

FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved, laser hair reduction has been proven a safe, effective way to rid various areas of the body of unwanted hair. The laser can be used on delicate facial skin, sensitive bikini areas, and legs of women as well as the more rough skin areas of a man like the back and under arms.   

What areas can be treated? 

Almost any area on the body can be treated.  Any area adjacent to eye is the only area that can’t receive treatment.  The most popular areas to be treated are the abdomen, back, bikini line, chest, face, legs, periareolar, and underarms.  

  
How does the procedure work?  

A laser beam is directed at the hair follicles of the area to be treated. The darker pigments in the hair follicle absorbs the laser light energy from the laser beam until the follicle dies and can no longer grow hair. The more treatments the patient receives, the more permanent the hair reduction becomes. 

What are the results? 

It is impossible to guarantee an exact result from the laser hair reduction treatment.  Since there is no guaranteed outcome, how many  treatments that will be needed overall can not be predicted and is completely dependant upon how well the laser treatment responds to each patient.  

Skin and hair pigment does highly influence the outcome of laser hair reduction. Light skin, dark haired patients generally have the best outcomes. They need fewer treatments and the results are the most optimal and less time consuming. This does not mean that patients with darker skin pigment cannot be treated, though results are slower, more sessions are required, and greater expertise is needed on the doctor’s part for the best outcome. Darker hair responds best to laser treatment and coarse dark hair absorbs more laser energy. Those with blonde and red hair have a slower response to treatment because their hair usually contains pheomelanin, which doesn’t absorb laser energy as well as eumelanin that is present in black and darker shaded hair.


What are the side effects? 

Occasionally, pigmentary change of the skin can occur. Pigmentary changes are typically temporary and begin to improve immediately and will last no longer than a few months.  Blisters and burns rarely occur, but are possible. Patients with darker skin have a higher probability of burning because darker skin absorbs the laser energy more than lighter skin.  

Who should not receive treatment?  

Laser reduction is effective for most patients when properly performed, though there are certain circumstances that should be noted. Patients with darkly tanned skin and lighter pigmented hair may not find laser hair reduction very beneficial. Patients with blonde hair and red hair with a dark  tan should especially be precautious of treatment. Also, those that cannot afford multiple treatments are not good candidates because one treatment is rarely enough.