Laser hair removal treatment uses pulses of high-energy light to produce long-term hair reduction. Various types of lasers are used depending on the patient’s skin and hair color; and the difficult part of hair removal is in targeting the melanin pigment contained within the hair shaft without damaging the melanin pigment in the surface of the skin. For this reason, results can depend on experience, and you should be careful when choosing the right practitioner, preferably a trained physician. Do your research and ask the right questions prior to receiving any laser hair removal treatment.
Laser Hair Removal Treatment Considerations
Laser hair removal is typically achieved through multiple sessions done on a monthly or every other month basis. In between these laser hair removal treatments, some hair will re-grow. The number of treatments needed, as well as the intervals of treatment, depends on the location of the hair and the individual. While you can achieve a significant amount of permanent hair reduction, maintenance treatments are always required. Maintenance treatments may eventually only be required on a yearly basis or longer, and will also depend on the area being treated, as well as the individual.
Laser hair removal treatment can be expensive; but most patients find the long term effects and reduced hair growth to be well worth the investment. The cost of treatment depends on the area being treated and the number of treatments needed, as well as the practitioner performing the treatment. Everyone has their own unique pattern of hair growth, and it may be difficult to estimate the number of treatments needed, but many practitioners will offer discounts through packages consisting of multiple treatment sessions.
When choosing the right practitioner, again preferably a physician, it is important they know about skin and understand the technology. They should be board certified and have performed laser hair removal treatments for a reasonable amount of time. To determine whether or not a physician is board certified, you can check with the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). Also of importance is whether or not they own their own laser(s), and if so, the number of different lasers that they own. Dark or light skin in addition to thick or thin hair can all make a difference in the type of laser required and the resulting effect. An excellent resource for information on laser hair removal is the Hair Removal Journal, through which you can also find a qualified physician in your area.
There are permanent methods of hair removal that can be found on the market today, both professionally and also at home versions that each work to remove unwanted hair on a permanent basis. Laser and electrolysis hair removal are the two common versions that are used in each situation. When examining at home versions of these two systems, individuals should carefully read all reviews, including those reviews of individuals who have used the product that are posted on a site that is independent from the product site. This will help the user to see what types of problems other users have had with a particular product so that he or she can make a wise purchase.
Making a Laser and Electrolysis Hair Removal Choice
Laser and electrolysis hair removal systems both kill the hair roots so that it never grows back out of a particular hair follicle. Although they are similar in this way, laser and electrolysis hair removal systems are different in the way they achieve this effect. Laser hair removal is the most recent to the market of permanent hair removal. It uses light from lasers to heat the hair root and kill it so that it will not grow anymore. Laser hair removal is usually faster than electrolysis because it can treat hundreds of hair follicles at a time rather than treating each hair follicle individually. Laser hair removal costs about five hundred dollars per treatment, with an average person requiring at least three treatments and normally not more than four. This is quite expensive, but many people who have struggled with unwanted hair on faces and backs which has caused them low self-esteem in public find the price worth it for a permanent solution to their problem.
Unlike lasers, electrolysis hair removal uses electricity instead of light waves to kill the hair roots. Electrolysis hair removal requires each hair follicle to be treated separately since the tiny metal needle has to be inserted into each one in order for the electric current to pass into the follicle down to the root of the hair. The current is usually not enough to cause much more than a mild discomfort for the individual being treated, but it depends on the sensitivity of the area and the pain tolerance of the individual. Unlike lasers, electrolysis hair removal is paid by the hour rather than by the session. This can either be good news or bad news for the individual paying for the treatment. If the area is small with few hairs in it, then the price will be significantly less than laser treatment. If the area is large, then it can be very expensive, since the price can run up to one hundred dollars per hour.
