Laser hair removal is not a permanent treatment to remove hairs. There is no difference between the body area treated to how long it will last, but more hormonal areas like the face can require additional treatments. However, it will help permanently reduce hair by up to 80%. The treatment works by targeting the laser toward the hair follicles to heat them and destroy them at the root. This makes the hair follicles dormant for a more extended time than a normal hair growth cycle from shaving or waxing. Only after the first treatment will the hairs grow back as usual; two weeks following the first treatment, the hairs will begin to fall out. As each treatment passes, the hairs will grow back, more refined, lighter, and in sparse areas. You can expect a course of 8 treatments to typically take place over 9-12 months with no interruptions to the treatment plan.
Following your recommended treatment plan, you can expect top-up treatments that vary from person to person and depend on your hair-free requirements. These maintenance treatments help ensure that the hair follicles are not regenerating; treatment can be carried out once or twice a year, depending on your hair growth. A hormonal imbalance can affect hair growth cycles and increase hair growth after laser hair removal treatments. Women with hirsutism can expect to have more than the average course of treatments, but it has been known to help those reduce hair massively. The treatment itself is a quick process that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the size of the area. Those with darker hair and light skin tones are the best candidates, but the laser can be treated on all skin types and hair colours except for grey, blonde, and red, as the laser cannot differentiate the colour of the hair pigment from the skin.
Laser hair removal on the pubic area is one of the most common areas to treat, but with suitable technology and experienced practitioners, clinics can also treat the following areas:
- Face
- Neck
- Chest
- Back
- Underarms
- Full arms
- Full legs
- Stomach
When you have your consultation practitioner assess the hairs, it is essential to try and have some hairs on the area so the practitioner can determine this to create a treatment plan for you. In some cases, if the hair is are too fine, or with peach fuzz, the practitioner cannot treat the area as it could lead to further hair stimulation. As with all aesthetic and medical treatments, it is essential to ensure you do your research and have a consultation with your chosen provider before starting any treatments. This is to ensure you have a safe and effective treatment.
Although laser hair removal is not a permanent form of hair removal, it is the most advanced and effective on the market compared to shaving, waxing, and tweezing. There are at-home laser hair removal devices, but these are not deemed medical devices, so they have not been proven effective results compared to in-clinic laser hair removal technology.
