Laser For Hair Removal Treatment Time

Laser hair removal treatment time is a tricky thing. You want to make sure you get the best results possible, but you also don’t want to spend forever in the chair. Here’s what you need to know about laser hair removal treatment times and why they vary from person to person:

Laser hair removal treatment times can vary from person to person based on their skin type, the amount of hair being removed, and how much pain tolerance they have for the procedure. The more hair being removed and how dark it is will increase the number of treatments that are needed. The pain tolerance of a patient will also change how long each session lasts as well as affect how many sessions are needed in total. The most important thing when considering laser hair removal treatment times is making sure that your provider knows what they’re doing so that they can give you an accurate estimate of what these numbers will be for your specific situation before starting any treatments!

You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing laser hair removal side effects and laser hair removal cost

There’s nothing better during spring and summer than spending time in the outdoors and feeling the warmth of sunlight on your skin. But if you are living with unwanted hair, baring your skin can bring complicated feelings. If you’ve thought about getting laser hair removal, now is the perfect time to get rid of that unwanted hair and feel more comfortable in the skin you’re in. Chetco Medical & Aesthetics in Brookings, OR is here to care for all your hair removal needs.

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

To remove unwanted hair, lasers generate a high amount of heat in a small package. After the laser treatment, you may feel some discomfort for a short time. Some of the most common negative effects include irritation and changes in skin color.

The onset of redness and irritation
Laser hair removal occasionally results in mild discomfort. Slight irritation and swelling at the treated site are also possible side effects. But even so, these results are negligible. The after-effects are similar to those of other hair removal methods, such as waxing.

To lessen the likelihood of these side effects, your dermatologist may apply a topical anesthetic prior to the procedure.

In most cases, irritation caused by the procedure should subside within a few hours. Applying ice packs may help alleviate some of the pain and swelling. In the event that your symptoms worsen or expand beyond mild irritation, you should seek medical attention.

Adaptations in Pigmentation
Skin can become noticeably lighter or darker after laser treatment. Darker spots are more noticeable after laser hair removal on people with lighter skin. People with dark skin may end up with lighter spots as a result of the procedure. These alterations, like skin irritation, are short-lived and usually aren’t anything to worry about.

If you’re interested in learning more about how to deal with and avoid ingrown pubic hair, click here.

Serious adverse effects are unusual.
Extreme adverse reactions to laser hair removal are uncommon but can occur. If you use a home laser kit or go to someone who isn’t trained and certified, you put yourself at risk.

Laser hair removal occasionally causes the following side effects:

Excessive hair growth in the treated area, which is sometimes misunderstood as hair loss.
Overall skin texture changes: tanning may put you at risk.
Scarring: Those who scar easily are the most likely to experience this.
Intense sun exposure immediately following a medical procedure has been linked to the development of blisters and crusting of the skin.
Talk to your doctor about these possible negative effects. Although they are extremely rare, awareness of them is still prudent. If you experience any of these after laser hair removal, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Laser Hair Removal Cost

The final cost of your laser hair removal procedure will depend on numerous aspects of your individual case. In 2020, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that the average cost of laser hair removal performed by a plastic surgeon was $389. This, however, is not the final cost of the operation. Costs for individual sessions of treatment may range from $200 to $1,600.

The sum you’ll spend will depend on things like:

Payment to the surgeon
Where the expert is located geographically
To write a prescription for medication
Desired Treatment Area(s)
Used laser class (diode, alexandrite, etc.)
Determine the size of the target area on your body.
To alleviate pain, an anesthetic cream is applied.
Instruments specific to the operation or rehabilitation
Things like sunscreen and pain relievers to use afterward
How many sessions are required to achieve a hair-free appearance
Inflation price increases must also be factored in. The annual increase in January 2022 of 7.5% in the consumer price index was nearly a 40-year high. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that annual inflation reached 8.6% in May.

It’s likely that the price of laser hair removal has gone up in comparison to the previous year. To get an up-to-date price list, you should consult with a qualified laser hair removal specialist.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Sessions Do You Need for Laser Hair Removal?

Everyone’s body is different, and different biological factors can impact how many sessions you need in order to fully remove your unwanted hair. Generally, clients need about two to six laser treatments in order to completely get rid of hair.

You can expect to see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after your first treatment. As you continue your treatments, more and more hair will fall out, and you’ll notice that it continues to grow back more slowly.

How Often Can You Have a Hair Removal Treatment?

Is laser hair removal permanent? If not, how long do you need to wait between laser treatments? It depends on several factors, and your doctor will let you know how long you should wait between treatments. Generally, clients can have hair removal every four to eight weeks.

One factor to keep in mind in regards to future treatments is that hair does not grow at the same rate on different parts of the body. If you are having treatments on an area where hair grows quickly, such as your upper lip, you might have laser treatments every four weeks. If you’re having treatments done on a part of the body where hair grows slowly, like the back, you might only have treatments every 10 to 15 weeks.

Is there a permanent hair removal?

After having your full set of laser treatments, you will be hair-free for months or even years. If you grow hair again in the treated area, you will notice that it’s far thinner and less noticeable than your hair was prior to treatment. You may require occasional maintenance treatments in order to remain hair-free.

Can Laser Removal Help With Other Issues?

One great benefit of laser removal is that it helps with ingrown hairs. This is a miracle for people who tend to get ingrown hairs from shaving their legs or bikini area. Switching to laser removal won’t just get rid of the hair more effectively and permanently, but it will also give you clearer, smoother skin with less irritation.

Is There Any Downtime?

There is no downtime for this treatment. You should be able to go about the rest of your day normally without discomfort.

How Long Does It Take for Your Hair to Fall Out?

The hair in the treated area doesn’t fall out immediately, but it will shed over a period of time: usually days to weeks. Hair growth happens in cycles, and the repeated treatments work best when they target the follicles in the new-growth stage.

As you continue having treatments, your hair will continue to fall out and thin until it’s gone. You might need maintenance laser treatments to keep your hair gone long-term.

What Body Parts Can Undergo This Treatment?

The most common locations to have laser removal treatment for unwanted hair are the legs, armpits, upper lip, chin, and bikini line. That being said, you can basically have this treatment done anywhere on your body except on your eyelids and the surrounding areas.

What About Home Lasers?

There are home hair removal lasers available on the market, and it can be tempting to go for an at-home device rather than go in for treatments. But these devices tend to not be effective, especially in the long-term.

Furthermore, the FDA considers them to be cosmetic, not medical. meaning that they are not inspected with the level of scrutiny that they should be. Overall, these devices are dangerous and ineffective. If you’re going to invest in laser hair removal, it should be with a trusted doctor otherwise you would have laser hair removal side effects. 

Is Laser Removal the Only Way to Get Rid of Unwanted Hair?

Definitely not, but it is the most effective and the most popular. Let’s take a look at the alternatives to see why.

Shaving

This is perhaps the most popular way to get rid of unwanted hair, because it’s easy, fast, and cheap. But, there are plenty of downsides. Because you are only cutting the hair off at the skin rather than removing or damaging the follicle, the hair grows back much faster. Plus, when you shave hair consistently, it has a tendency to come back thicker and darker.

Waxing

Waxing involves covering your unwanted hair with wax, then ripping it off. This has the benefit of pulling out the follicle in addition to the hair and means that the results last for a much longer time because the follicle has to regrow. This also means that when the hair does grow back, it tends to be softer and thinner. However, this method tends to be more than just a little painful, which is why so many individuals don’t choose to wax.

Depilatory

Depilatories are creams that basically burn your hair off. Some depilatories work on the hair above the surface of the skin, while others can penetrate through the skin to the follicle. The effectiveness of these creams varies depending on the thickness and color of the hair. Of course, this method also has some major downsides. Because depilatories are chemicals, they can irritate or even burn the skin.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is similar to laser removal because it involves sending energy into the hair follicle. Electrolysis, however, sends electrical energy directly into the follicle, whereas laser removal involves using light energy that is converted into heat energy.

Using electricity is a more effective way to get rid of the follicle, meaning that electrolysis is more likely than laser removal to permanently remove hair.

That being said, electrolysis involves literally sending an electrical pulse into your follicle. Because of that, the treatment tends to be very painful. Another reason people do not tend to choose electrolysis over laser removal is that you can typically only have this treatment done on small areas, like the eyebrows and face.

All About Laser Hair Removal 

This medical treatment utilizes a laser to remove unwanted hair. During the treatment, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, called melanin. This light energy is converted to heat and travels through the hair to the follicle within the skin. The heat energy damages the follicles to inhibit or delay future hair growth.

A Closer Look

The basic principle of hair removal with lasers is that the pigment of the hair, but not of the skin, should absorb the light energy. This allows the skin to remain unharmed while the unwanted hair absorbs the energy so the follicle can be damaged. This means that the treatment works best when there is a contrast between hair and skin color.

In the early days of this treatment, it was difficult to effectively perform it on individuals who did not have a high contrast between their skin and hair colors, meaning light skin with dark hair. However, technological advances have been made that allow for effective hair removal for individuals with dark skin using long-pulsed NDYAG lasers.

How to Prepare

Your first step towards getting rid of your unwanted hair is to schedule a consultation with Chetco Medical & Aesthetics. At your consultation, your doctor will ask you about what you’re looking for with laser hair removal. They will ask you about your medical history and any medications you take, both prescriptions and over-the-counter.

Make sure you include any supplements or herbs you take as these can impact the treatment. Your doctor will also take photos of the areas of your body where you are having hair removed for before-and-after assessments. Your doctor will also provide you with specific instructions to prepare for the treatment.

Stay Out of the Sun

Your doctor will advise you to stay out of the sun as much as possible before treatment. When you can’t avoid being in the sun, wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30.

Lighten Your Skin

The treatment is most successful when the pigment of your skin is lighter than the hair. It’s important that you avoid any sunless tanning creams that darken your skin. It’s also possible that your doctor will prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a recent tan.

Avoid Some Methods of Hair Removal 

It’s important that the hair follicle remains intact for the laser treatment to be effective. Your doctor will ask you to avoid plucking and waxing for at least four weeks before the procedure as any of these can disturb the follicle.

Avoid Blood-Thinning Medications

When you are having your consultation with your doctor, they will advise you about which medications are not safe to take before this treatment. Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs can have the side effect of being blood-thinning and must be avoided prior to treatment.

Shave Treatment Area

Trim or shave the treatment area the day before you come in for your laser treatment. This removes hair above the surface but leaves the follicle intact below the skin. It also ensures that the hair doesn’t burn your skin during treatment.

The Treatment

During the treatment, you will be given special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser. If your hair is still too long on the area being treated, an assistant may shave the site again. Your doctor will apply a topical anesthetic to your skin so you don’t feel anything at all during the treatment.

The doctor will use a handheld laser instrument to treat the skin area. The light will pass through your skin and damage the follicles beneath the surface. Treating a small area will only take a short period of time, while a larger area requires more time to treat.

Aftercare

After each laser treatment, avoid sunlight as much as possible. Don’t use a tanning bed for at least six weeks and make sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF30 daily.

Get Rid of the Hair

It’s time to free yourself from the burden of unwanted hair. Laser hair removal is an easy and effective way to achieve long-term hair reduction so you can not only look your best but feel your best, too.