It’s no secret that laser hair removal is a hot topic these days. In fact, it’s become so popular that it’s one of the most commonly requested procedures in our office. The truth is that we’re seeing more clients than ever before who are looking for help with their unwanted facial hair. And I’m sure you know how frustrating it can be to be constantly shaving or waxing your face!
So if you’re like me, and you’ve been thinking about getting rid of your unwanted facial hair for a while now, but weren’t sure where to start… keep reading! You’ll learn everything you need to know about laser hair removal and what makes us different from other clinics out there.
Read on to learn more about Laser For Blonde Facial Hair, Laser Treatment For Blemishes Cost, Benefits and Risks of Laser Resurfacing
Tired of constantly plucking your chin hairs? Sick of waxing and bleaching your upper lip? Laser treatments are increasing in popularity and effectiveness for hair removal in people of varying skin tones. Take some time to learn about how laser treatments are a safe and effective alternative for removing your facial hair. Consider the procedure of laser treatment, the qualities of a good candidate for laser treatment, the recovery time, and the expected results so you can decide if laser therapy is the best option for you.
Lasers 101
Laser therapy uses a concentrated beam of light to heat up hair follicles under your skin, destroying the targeted hair and damaging the follicles so they go temporarily dormant and stop producing hair for a time. Laser treatments typically do not result in complete permanent hair loss, but multiple treatments can reduce the amount of hair that grows back and cause the hair that does grow back to be lighter and finer. The Mayo Health Clinic says that you will probably need 2-6 treatments at 4-6 week intervals in areas where hair grows back quickly, like on the upper lip. You will probably also want to schedule some follow-up maintenance appointments to ensure that the damaged hair follicles stay dormant.
Qualities of a Good Laser Therapy Candidate
The lasers target the pigment in your hair — Since darker pigments absorb more light, lasers work best to eliminate darker hair. They are not very effective for white, red, or blonde hair. You will also get better results if you have both darker hair and lighter skin. The contrast between your skin and hair allows the laser to better target and damage the hair follicle. Also there is a greater risk for damaged skin if you have darker skin that could absorb the laser light, although the Mayo Health Clinic reports that advances in laser technology are resulting in lasers that can more safely treat people with darker skin.
The Procedure
While you can find good home laser hair removal devices, you will experience the best results from a dermatological clinic. At a dermatologist’s office, the treatment for a laser treatment for small areas, like your chin or upper lip, are quick, taking only a few minutes. Your appointment will start with the provider applying a numbing gel if the area being treated is sensitive. You will also be giving eye shields to protect your eyes from the powerful laser light. Once the numbing gel has taken full effect, the laser beam will be focused on your skin. You will probably experience mild discomfort, feeling like pin pricks or a rubber band being snapped on your skin. The vaporizing of the hairs will cause small plumes of smoke and a sulfur smell. There is no downtime to laser treatments. Once the treatment is complete, you will be able to return to your daily activities. Your skin will probably be red and slightly swollen, but this won’t inhibit you continuing your day as you normally would. You can apply ice to your skin to help reduce the swelling and cool the irritated skin.
How Much Is Laser Hair Removal?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that in 2018, the average cost of laser hair removal was $285. There are many factors that will influence the cost of your treatment, including the geographic area of where your dermatologist is located, the size of the area you are having treated, the type of procedure being used and the experience of your practitioner.
Results
The American Academy of Dermatology says that you can expect a 10-25% reduction in hair after the first treatment. They report that the color of your skin, the thickness and color of your hair, the area being treated, and the type of laser used affect the results you will see. How long does laser hair removal last? With multiple treatments, you can expect the treated area to remain hair free for months or years.
Contact Vanguard Today
Because of the power of the lasers, it’s important that you get your laser treatment done by a board-certified and experienced doctor. You can find such practitioners at Vanguard Dermatology in the greater New York City area, an excellent provider of cosmetic dermatology services. Call Vanguard today to schedule a consultation and start your hair removal treatment plan.
Laser Treatment For Blemishes Cost
There are various types of lasers used in these procedures
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2017, the average cost of laser skin resurfacing was $1,114-$2,124, which was average $2,071 in 2018. In 2019, the average cost of this procedure was $1,963 for ablatives and $1,201 for non-ablative. The cost varies widely depending on the type of procedure and areas of treatment.
Because laser skin resurfacing surgeries are not life-saving surgeries, there is no insurance coverage provided by the companies, except for the surgeries that are done to remove precancerous growth or modified scars on your skin.
The average cost does not include other related expenses. Therefore, you must consult your plastic surgeon and your insurance company before the procedure about payments. Most health insurance company plans do not provide coverage for cosmetic surgery or its complications. However, most plastic surgeons offer some payment options, so meet your plastic surgeon and determine your final cost.
The cost of laser skin resurfacing will vary based on the expertise, qualification of the plastic surgeon performing the procedure, the type of procedure, the time and effort required for that treatment, and the location of the office.
Generally, laser skin resurfacing procedure costs may include the following:
- Hospital facility cost for surgery
- Anesthesia fees
- Medication prescription
Satisfaction involves more than a fee. Therefore, while choosing a plastic surgeon for this procedure, you must assure the surgeon’s experience and your comfort, which are the most important aspects as much as the cost.
What is skin resurfacing?
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that removes layers of the skin and improves its appearance or treats minor facial flaws such as blemishes or acne scars by using lasers.
There are various types of lasers used in these procedures such as:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2): This type of laser is used to treat wrinkles, scars, and warts on your skin.
- Erbium: It is used to remove superficial or moderately deep lines and wrinkles on your face, hands, neck, and chest. It has fewer side effects than CO2 lasers.
- Pulsed-dye laser: These are non-ablative lasers that heat the skin and absorb pigments to reduce redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and enlargement of facial blood vessels, giving rosacea (flushed appearance).
- Fractional laser: It treats only the fraction of the skin in the area by breaking laser energy into thousands of tiny beams. It can be used in ablative or non-ablative procedures. It can be used to treat age-related blemishes.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL): This treatment does not use a laser but uses a broad spectrum of light wavelength to treat pigmentations of the skin.
When should you have laser skin resurfacing?
You can ask for this procedure to a plastic surgeon if you have the following:
- Acne scars
- Age spots
- Crow’s feet (wrinkle at the outer corner of your eye)
- Sagged skin
- Scars
- Signs of sun damage to the skin
- Wrinkles
What are the possible risks of laser skin resurfacing?
Risks include:
- Pain
- Reactivation of herpes sores over lips
- Burning sensation
- Burns
- Itching
- Swelling
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Scarring
- Increased risk of sun damage
- Crusting of your skin
- Pigmentation or discoloration of the skin
- Bumps due to obstruction of the sweat glands
Laser treatment for face
If aging, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, scars, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may help your skin look younger and healthier.
Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface. The procedure can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgeries on the face.
Preparing for Laser Resurfacing
Start by consulting a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to find out if you’re a good candidate.
Tell your doctor if you get cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth. Laser skin resurfacing can trigger breakouts in people who are at risk.
If you decide to go ahead with laser skin resurfacing, your doctor will ask you to not take any medications or supplements — such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E — that can affect clotting for 10 days before surgery.
If you smoke, you should stop for two weeks before and after the procedure. Smoking can prolong healing.
Your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic medication beforehand to prevent bacterial infections and also an antiviral medication if you are prone to cold sores or fever blisters.
What to Expect During and After the Procedure
Laser resurfacing is done by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. It’s an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll not have to stay overnight.
The doctor may treat wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, or forehead individually or treat your entire face. For small areas, the doctor will numb the areas to be treated with a local anesthetic and may also sedate you. You may require general anesthesia if your whole face is being treated.
Treating just parts of the face takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A full-face treatment takes up to two hours.
Following the laser procedure, the doctor will bandage the treated areas. After 24 hours, you will need to clean the treated areas four to five times a day and then apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly to prevent scabs from forming.
Swelling after laser skin resurfacing is normal. Your doctor may prescribe steroids to manage swelling around your eyes. Sleeping on an extra pillow at night can also ease swelling.
You may feel itching or stinging for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure. Five to seven days after laser resurfacing, your skin will become dry and peel.
Depending on the problem that was treated, healing typically takes 10 to 21 days. Once the skin heals, you can wear oil-free makeup to minimize redness, which usually fades in two to three months.
You will also probably notice that your skin is lighter for a while after surgery. It is particularly important that you use a “broad-spectrum” sunscreen, which screens ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A rays, to protect your skin during that time. When selecting a sunscreen, look for one specially formulated for use on the face with a 7% (or higher) zinc oxide content and a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.Reapply your sunscreen every two hours when you are out, and more often if you are sweating or swimming.
It is also important to keep your new skin well moisturized. If you use Retin A or glycolic acid products, you should be able to start using them again after about six weeks or when the doctor says you can.
Benefits and Risks of Laser Resurfacing
Although skin resurfacing cannot produce perfect skin, it can improve the appearance of your skin. Potential risks of the procedure include:
- Burns or other injuries from the laser’s heat
- Scarring
- Changes in the skin’s pigmentation, including areas of darker or lighter skin
- Reactivating herpes cold sores
- Bacterial infection
Cost of Laser Skin Resurfacing
The average cost for laser skin resurfacing was about $2509 for ablative and $1445 for non-ablative laser skin resurfacing in 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, costs vary widely depending on where the procedure is being done.
Because laser skin resurfacing is considered a cosmetic procedure, most medical insurance companies will not cover it. There may be an exception if you get the procedure to modify scars or remove precancerous growths on your skin.
Talk with your doctor and your insurance company before the procedure about what the costs will be and what, if anything, insurance will pay for. Most doctors offer financing options.