Most people have dealt with unwanted hair in some form, and the more unwanted hair you have, the more of a hassle it is to stay on top of grooming. There are a lot of questions and misconceptions out there when it comes to laser hair reduction. Our team at Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare in Harrisonburg, VA, is here today to address some of them.
How Long Does Laser Hair Reduction Last?
Benefits That Last
Laser hair reduction works by targeting hair follicles in a specified area. The laser energy is able to permanently damage or completely disable the ability of these follicles to produce hair. The benefits of this treatment are considered permanent. When hair growth is experienced after treatment, the hair growth should be much thinner, slower to arrive, and easier to manage.
Your Treatment Series
While humans may look pretty bald when compared to other great apes, the truth is we have a lot of hair follicles all over our bodies. The reason we don’t look as hairy as some other animals is due to how fine a lot of our hair growth is, and to the human hair growth cycle. Multiple laser hair treatments are often necessary to produce lasting results.
Since hair tends to be more receptive to treatment when it’s actively growing, spacing out your treatments will help make sure that all the follicles in the area are treated. Your series can be customized for your needs and will range depending on the area. Patients generally find that five or more treatments can get them the lasting results they’re looking for.
Your Treatment Length
The length of your appointment depends on your needs and goals. The smaller the treatment area, the less time the treatment is expected to take. Some patients want to treat very small areas like their jawline, upper lip, or chin. Areas like that may only take a few minutes to complete. On the other hand, larger areas could take up to an hour.
No Recovery Time
Downtime isn’t required after laser hair reduction, which makes the appointments even more efficient. Many people use this opportunity to squeeze in an appointment during their lunch break. It’s easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule when you know you won’t have to give up the entire day.
Seeing Your Results
Many people can begin to enjoy their results long before their treatment series is complete. The goal of a series is to thoroughly cover the area in hopes of getting you the best results possible for the long run. That said, even one treatment is often enough to start noticing hair reduction.
Many patients notice results a week or two after their first appointment, as their hair may begin to thin out. The results from your hair reduction should continue to improve with each treatment.
What Should I Know Ahead of Time?
Consultation
Whether you’re already sure you want to get laser hair reduction, or you have lingering questions, setting up a consultation is always a good first step. You can get right to the source of information and also get evaluated to make sure this treatment is a good fit for you and your goals. A consultation is also a good time to discuss a personalized treatment series.
Technology
Treatment is delivered with a hand-held laser. You may be offered eye protection; then the laser will be gently passed over the skin you want to treat. The treatment targets pigments, so your skin will be left intact during treatment while the hair follicles absorb the laser’s energy.
Preparation
You may be tempted to touch up the area before you come in for treatment. While shaving a day or two before your appointment is usually fine, you should avoid any hair removal method that pulls hair out at the roots. That would include tweezing and waxing.
Locations
The laser technology that powers this treatment is versatile and can be used for many different areas. We can list some of the most popular areas to treat, but if you’re interested in something specific, you can also bring it up during a consultation.
Bikini Line
Many patients find this area is especially prone to ingrown hairs when it’s shaved and is too sensitive for them to want to wax regularly. If you prefer that this area remains hairless but don’t want to risk shaving it or dealing with waxing, laser removal may be the right call for you.
Legs
If you’ve ever been in the position of shaving your legs in a hurry, you know how annoying it can be. You are also probably familiar with how much time it takes, and this routine may be starting to get old.
Waxing isn’t always a walk in the park either, since applying wax incorrectly could put you at risk of burns or could simply not work right at all. Laser removal can help take the stress out of these situations.
Underarms
The underarms are another popular treatment area. In addition to freeing up time and daily effort, some patients feel cleaner and notice an improvement in body odor when this unwanted hair is taken care of.
You could even treat the hair on your arms. Some people want no hair on their arms, while others may prefer to have their arm hair thinned out rather than being removed entirely.
Back and Chest
Back and chest hair may be too sensitive to wax regularly or too thick to shave effectively. Regardless of your gender, you may find yourself dealing with unwanted hair in these areas, and laser removal can be a longer-lasting and more reliable long-term solution.
What Benefits Can I Expect?
Fix Ingrown Hairs
Chances are that anyone who’s shaved has dealt with ingrown hairs. Even waxing can cause them if the hair doesn’t manage to come out at the roots. No matter how well you exfoliate or how expertly you wax and shave, some people seem to be more prone to developing ingrown hairs than others, especially in sensitive areas. This can be uncomfortable and also tends to affect the skin’s texture and appearance.
If you are prone to ingrown hair, laser hair reduction could be a wonderful option for you. On one hand, you can use laser removal to treat your ingrown hair. It’s also a trustworthy way to remove hair without causing ingrown hairs in the first place.
Enjoy Spontaneity
Last-minute plans can become even more challenging if you have to rush through shaving before going out to dinner or hitting the beach. The problem with trying to shave in a rush is you could accidentally cut yourself or miss a whole section of hair. Having your unwanted hair already taken care of can give you a bit more wiggle room to make spontaneous plans.
Save Time
Once your series is complete, laser hair removal is expected to give patients even, lasting results. Depending on how much of your body you shave, shaving can be a significant time investment each day. Waxing, while it does last longer, can also take a while due to either having to consistently set up professional appointments or set things up at home.
Laser hair appointments are designed to be as quick and easy as possible while setting you up for lasting benefits that can save you time in the long run.
Increase Convenience
Have you ever had a moment where you wished you could pause time and catch up on everything you need to do? When things get crazy, the world keeps turning, and it can make staying on top of daily life overwhelming. Even small things like shaving and waxing can feel overwhelming if you’re already exhausted, and you’ll have to choose between wasting precious time and energy on hair removal or dealing with stubble.
This treatment can offer some extra peace of mind. No matter how crazy life gets or how much you have to deal with, it can be comforting to know that you don’t have to be constantly vigilant about your unwanted hair.
Reduce Waste
There’s a lot of plastic out there. Disposable razors may be convenient, but all that plastic has to go somewhere eventually. Usually, they’ll end up in a landfill, but they may also end up in the ocean. Plastic in water is a growing concern, especially as it starts to break down into microplastics.
By reducing dependence on disposable razors, you can reduce the amount of plastic that has to be produced and eventually thrown away.
Learn More About Our Treatment Options
We offer a range of services with the goal of helping you feel your best. If you’re interested in learning more about any of our treatments, feel free to reach out! Contact us at Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare in Harrisonburg, VA, today to schedule a consultation.