Is Laser Hair Removal Suitable For You?

If you are tired of having to go on an almost daily routine of shaving or tweezing to remove unwanted facial and body hair, you are not alone. Unwanted hair removal is a tedious but necessary part of personal grooming and many are looking for permanent or semi-permanent solutions such as waxing or laser hair removal.

One of the main reasons why laser hair removal is more popular than other methods of hair removal is that it is a relatively painless process with results that can last for several months. Previously, only electrolysis offered a semi permanent option for hair removal but the procedure is tedious and painful. Both methods however work on the same basis of removing hair follicles to stop hair growth.

Contrary to what many believe, laser hair removal does not give instant results with one session. Laser hair removal can be used for face, underarm and neck with several sessions required before results start to show. As much as a 50 percent reduction in hair can be achieved after 4 months with 1 treatment. A second treatment is required after about 6 months when hair starts to grow back.

Patients who have used laser hair removal reported a 70-80 percent success rate after 2 or 3 visits. Also, when hair grows back, it is usually of a finer texture and more sparse than original hair growth.

One of the earliest hair removal laser systems to be approved was the Nd:YAG. This system required that unwanted hair be removed by waxing first in order to open up follicles, allowing the laser to reach them. A light absorbing, carbon-based lotion will be applied that is heated up by the laser. The heated lotion destroys hair follicle causing them to stop hair growth.

Since then, there have been new developments in the area of laser hair removal where instead of a continuous laser beam, a pulsing light is used. This more advanced method of removing unwanted hair is less time consuming and does away with the need for waxing and application of the carbon-based lotion. The use of pulsing light allows the hair follicle to be heated up more quickly thereby exposing the skin less to potentially damaging heat.

Although laser hair removal is an effective method for removing unwanted hair, the process is fairly expensive compared to other hair removal options. This is especially so when multiple sessions are required to obtain optimal results. For some areas such as the face, removing facial hair could cost around $1,000 or more lengthy procedures such as removing hair from the back or legs can cost around $3,000 for a series of treatments.

Before you decide on parting with your hard-earned cash on laser hair removal, make sure you do a thorough research on a professional clinic with a good reputation for hair removal procedures. Do a search on the clinic and the doctor who will be carrying out the procedure and check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if there are any complaints filed against the clinic.