Laser Hair Removal - All The Essential Information

Laser hair removal is one of the best ways to get rid of unwanted body hair on a permanent basis. But as this is a relatively new technique, most people don't know much about it. For example, what does laser hair removal involve, what areas can it treat, how good is it, where can you get it done, how much does it cost?

So here's a short guide to everything you need to know about laser hair removal.

1) What Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal uses laser light to permanently remove unwanted body hair. A short, intense burst of laser light is applied to the hair follicles which damages the hair root causing it to fall out and stop growing. During the process, the medical practitioner will hold a laser light to the area of your skin that's being treated. This will give out ultra short flashes of brilliant light which will heat up the hair follicles and make them redundant.

2) Where Is It Available?

Once you decide to go ahead with laser hair removal, the first step is to consult a dermatologist who is qualified to carry out this process. The dermatologist will examine your skin and look at your general medical history to ensure that laser hair removal is suitable for you. They will explain the procedure in more detail, including the various risks and benefits. This is also your chance to ask any questions about the process to make sure that you know exactly what's involved.

Before you leave, an appointment will be made for the treatment and the dermatologist will ask you to carry out certain preparations. For example, if you have a skin tan, they may ask you to wait until the tan fades completely before undergoing the treatment. They will also advice you to stop taking certain medications prior to the hair removal process. And finally, they will ask you to shave the area to be treated two or three days prior to the treatment, as laser hair removal is only effective on short hair that is visible above the surface of the skin.

3) How Effective Is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is a highly effective method of permanently removing unwanted hair from most parts of the body, including arms, underarms, legs, chest, back, neck and parts of the face. However, one limitation is that the hair to be removed must be darker than the surrounding skin. So the technique may not work on people with extremely light colored hair.

One procedure can cover thousands of hairs allowing large areas to be treated in a short space of time. However, as the laser light only works on hairs that are in a period of active growth (as a rough guide, one third of the hairs on your body will be in an active growth phase at any time), a number of treatments will be necessary to achieve permanent hair removal.

However, it's important to bear in mind that as it's impossible to state how each individual will respond to the treatment, most reputable clinics won't guarantee the effectiveness of the process.

The technique is also extremely safe and many lasers are fitted with cooling devices to minimize the risk of minor damage that may occur to the skin during the process.

4) How Much Does It Cost?

The cost of laser hair removal treatment depends upon the area where you live, the size of area that you want treated and the number of sessions that you need to achieve permanent hair removal. That means the overall cost can vary dramatically.

So the best idea is to get a personal consultation with a laser hair removal expert. Most consultations are free and they'll be able to provide you with an accurate assessment of the overall cost for your circumstances.

But as a rough guide laser hair removal costs approximately $500 per session. And to achieve permanent hair removal most people will require 3 to 4 sessions. So laser hair removal is not cheap and as most insurance companies view it as a cosmetic procedure, you will have to bear the cost personally.

However, it is permanent, so when you compare the initial high expense against the ongoing time and expense of the alternatives such as shaving, waxing, electrolysis etc, it evens out over the long term. And there are various ways to reduce the overall cost of your laser hair removal treatment.

a) Shop around. Costs can vary substantially from place to place so do your homework and select the clinic that offers the most professional service for the best price. And to make sure that you choose a reputable business, make sure that the dermatologist is properly qualified and ask to see before and after pictures of their work.

b) Enquire whether there are any special offers available.

c) Offer to pay upfront for the whole course of treatment in exchange for a discount. For example, some clinics offer a package of 6 treatment sessions for the price of five. Or they may offer half price treatment after the fifth session etc.

d) Ask for a discount in return for referring a friend who wants laser hair removal treatment.

And once you get a quote, make sure it is in writing and specifically states the area to be treated and the agreed price.