Best Laser Hair Removal Langley is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in the States. It is considered a safer and less painful alternative to shaving or waxing.
The treatment can be uncomfortable, especially in sensitive areas like the bikini area or face. However, it’s a quick treatment that gets progressively less painful with each session.
Unwanted hair on the face and body is a common concern that can make individuals feel self-conscious. Traditional methods of removing it, such as shaving, plucking and waxing are time-consuming and only produce short-lived results. Laser hair removal is one of the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedures due to its effectiveness and long-lasting, permanent results.
The procedure works by targeting the melanin found within the hair follicle. This melanin is what gives hair its color, and is targeted by the laser as it passes through the skin, only affecting the target. The melanin absorbs the energy/heat from the laser, killing the hair follicle and leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. After a series of treatments, the hair follicle is permanently damaged and no longer produces new hair.
Before treatment begins, the laser technician will examine your skin tone and type and will determine the best course of action. Patients with darker skin tones are more susceptible to hyperpigmentation and laser burns, so it is important that the right laser and treatment settings are used for your unique skin type. Choosing an in-office laser specialist rather than an at-home device will help minimize these risks.
During the actual laser process, you will be provided with protective eyewear to shield your eyes from the light coming off of the laser. The treatment may cause a slight discomfort, but this is minimal and has been described as feeling like a warm pinprick or a rubber band snapping against the skin. This is most noticeable during the first treatment, but will be less of a factor with subsequent treatments.
It is important that you do not have a sunburn or tan before your treatment, as the skin will be more sensitive to the lasers. It is also recommended that you stay out of the sun and use sunscreen (which is always a good idea) before your laser session.
After treatment, your skin will be red and swollen, and you may notice some hairs shedding in the days following your appointment. While this may seem worrying, it is not a sign that the treatment has not worked. Instead, it is an indication that the melanin in the hair follicles has been destroyed, and this is why your hairs start to fall out. Once the hairs that are shed have reached the end of their growth cycle, they will begin to regrow, but will be finer and lighter in color.
Preparation
If you are a candidate for laser hair removal, you’ll be asked to remove any unwanted hair from the treatment area in the days leading up to your appointment. Shaving is fine, but plucking and waxing are off-limits because they can damage the root of the hair, which can lead to hair growth later on. You’ll also need to avoid tanning for weeks before your appointment because the sun increases the pigmentation of the skin and can affect how effectively the laser targets the hair follicles.
It’s important to cleanse the treatment area and apply aloe vera or another cooling gel before your appointment to prevent any irritation. You’ll also need to wear loose, breathable clothing to keep the treated skin from rubbing against other fabrics that could cause discomfort. It’s crucial that you let us know about any medications or supplements you are taking because some can interfere with the results of your treatment or make your skin more sensitive to light.
During your appointment, the technician will put on protective eyewear and apply a cool gel or device to protect the outer layer of skin from the laser light. Then, they will use the hand-held laser device to pulse light into the skin where the hair follicles are located. The light heats the follicle, which damages it and inhibits the growth of new hair. You might feel some temporary discomfort, but most people compare it to the feeling of a warm pinprick and say that it is much less painful than other hair removal methods.
The number of treatment sessions will vary depending on the location of the hair follicles and your hair color, but most patients see an average of a 10 to 25 percent reduction in hair growth immediately after their treatment. You’ll need to commit to a series of treatment sessions at 4 to 10 week intervals in order to achieve your desired results.
After the initial treatment, you’ll need touch-up sessions once or twice a year to maintain your results. While laser hair removal is effective for most men and women, it can be less effective for those with blond or red hair because these hair colors absorb light differently. For the best results, it’s essential to have a consultation with an expert before beginning your treatment to ensure that you’re a good candidate for laser hair removal.
Treatment
Laser hair removal is a quick and effective way to remove unwanted hair. The light emitted from the laser’s tip is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, and converted to heat which destroys the hair follicle. This prevents or delays future hair growth. It typically takes 4-6 treatment sessions to see permanent results.
The laser technician will clean the treatment area and apply a topical numbing cream to reduce discomfort. Then, he or she will hold the hand-held device against your skin and press down. This will cause a series of stings that can feel similar to a rubber band snapping against your skin or a sunburn-like sting. During the procedure, you will wear protective goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam.
The technician will adjust the spot size and fluence (energy density) of the laser according to the color, thickness, and location of the hair you are removing and your skin type. This is important because people with darker skin need a higher fluence to effectively treat the deeper hair follicles.
It is also crucial that the patient avoid any tanning or sunless tanning creams in the weeks leading up to the treatment. This is because the treatment area should be completely untanned, as tanned skin can interfere with the results of laser hair removal. Plucking or waxing the hair follicles also needs to be avoided because these are temporary hair removal methods that interfere with the growth cycle of the hair follicles.
After the treatment, you may experience redness, swelling and itching around the hair follicles. This is due to the destruction of the follicles and usually lasts for a few hours or days. You can use cold compresses on the affected areas to help relieve these symptoms.
Once the damaged follicle is destroyed, the hair will not grow back from that same site. However, it might regrow from another follicle that hasn’t been damaged by the laser yet. This is why it’s important to come in for multiple treatments, about a month apart. In addition, touch-up sessions yearly are recommended to maintain the best possible results.
Post-Procedure Care
During your first laser treatment, the medical specialist cleans the area and might apply a topical anesthetic. Then they’ll put on protective eyewear and then direct a beam of high-energy light at the target area. The light emitted by the laser is converted to heat and damages the hair follicles so that they can no longer produce new hairs. For this reason, it’s important to avoid waxing and plucking the areas that will be treated for at least six weeks before your session. This is because it disrupts the hair follicles’ roots, which the laser targets during treatment. However, shaving is acceptable, as it trims the hair above the skin’s surface and leaves follicles intact below.
Depending on the location and area being treated, laser treatment might take as little as a few minutes or as long as an hour. During the process, you might feel a slight sensation of discomfort that’s often described as a feeling like a series of stings or rubber bands snapping against your skin. The pain usually subsides after a few seconds, although you might experience redness and swelling on the treated area.
Once the procedure is finished, you’ll be free to go home, though you may need a cold compress or steroid cream for some time afterward. It’s also important to keep the treatment area out of sunlight, as sun exposure makes any complications from the treatment more likely. In addition, any scabs or blisters that form should be left alone until they’re completely healed.
Most people see a significant decrease in the number of hairs growing on the treated area after their first two or three sessions. However, it might take up to eight sessions for permanent results. After that, you might need touch-up sessions a few times a year to maintain your results. It’s important to discuss your expectations with a specialist before you choose to undergo laser hair removal. This will help you determine if the procedure is right for your needs.