Laser Hair Removal: How Long Do Treatments Take?
We humans have hair all over our bodies. But unwanted body hair may leave you feeling unhappy with your appearance. At Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, MI, our laser hair removal treatments can give you the lasting results you want.
Laser Hair Removal: How Long Do Treatments Take?
Unwanted body hair can cause a lot of anxiety about your appearance. You may feel uncomfortable about your body when you’re in certain situations, or perhaps you can’t wear the clothes you want because you’re too self-conscious about your unwanted body hair. Whatever the reason, it can make a significant impact on your life.
Laser hair removal is a fantastic way to get rid of unwanted body hair, leaving you with smooth and hairless skin that you can feel confident in. You will most likely require several sessions to see the results you’re looking for, and each treatment session is generally very fast. Depending on the size of the area you’re treating, your session may take anywhere between a few minutes to an hour.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
The word “laser” may look a little intimidating at first. But don’t worry—this is an FDA-approved method of hair removal that is safe and extremely effective. It uses a laser to target the unwanted hairs on your body without damaging the skin.
If you’re thinking about getting this hair removal treatment, then the most important thing is to find a reputable clinic like ours where you will be safe and get the long-lasting results you’re looking for.
How Does the Laser Work?
The laser used for this hair removal method is color-sensitive. That means that it’s attracted to darker pigmentation. When it’s used on your unwanted hairs, the laser avoids the lighter color of your skin and instead focuses on the darker pigmentation of your hair.
As the light reaches your hair, that light is converted into heat. The laser targets the root of your hair, warming it up and damaging the follicle. After you leave your sessions, you’ll notice your hair beginning to fall out. After a few weeks, the follicle will regrow its hair. However, after several sessions, your hair follicles will be unable to produce new hairs.
What Areas Can Be Treated?
Essentially, any area where you have hair can be treated with this hair removal method. Some of the most common places where people have hair removed include:
• Arms
• Legs
• Upper lip
• Chin
• Bikini line
• Back
• Underarms
• Neck
• Shoulders
What Is Getting Treatment Like?
Want to know what you can expect from your treatment process? At our clinic, we will do everything we can to make sure that your experience is safe, comfortable, and that you get the results you want.
During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss what areas you’d like to target with your treatment. We’ll also talk about how you should prepare for your sessions.
Preparing for Your Appointment
This method of hair removal is non-invasive, and there is little you’ll need to do beforehand to prepare. That said, there are still a few things you’ll need to be aware of before your appointment comes if you want it to be as safe and effective as possible.
Remember that this treatment should not be performed on tanned skin. Avoid spending time in direct sunlight, and don’t go to the tanning salon. This treatment is best performed on shaved hair, so shaving before your appointment will help make the treatment more effective. However, you should avoid anything that removes the root of the hair, like plucking or waxing, since the laser targets the root.
Your Appointment
When you arrive at our clinic, we will be happy to welcome you to our safe and comfortable environment. Before we begin applying the laser to your desired areas, we’ll carefully clean your skin. We may also apply a small amount of topical numbing cream to the targeted areas.
Once your skin is ready, we’ll start using the laser. The treatment process should be painless, and you might feel a slight snapping sensation. If you feel any pain or discomfort, don’t hesitate to notify us right away. Because this is non-invasive, you’ll be able to leave the clinic as soon as your appointment is complete.
Recovery
There is very little recovery time necessary after your treatment. However, you should be aware that your skin will be more sensitive and therefore there are some things you’ll need to be mindful of in the days following your appointment.
Continue to avoid spending time in direct sunlight and don’t go to your local tanning salon for the next few days. You should also make sure to apply sunscreen with at least 30 SPF every few hours to keep your skin protected.
How Many Sessions Are Needed?
This is a highly effective and long-lasting way of getting rid of your unwanted body hair. But to see the full results you’re looking for, you’ll likely need several sessions.
The specific number of sessions you’ll need will depend on a few factors. But most people need somewhere between 6 to 8 sessions spaced several weeks apart according to their hair growth cycle. You may need a few more or a few less depending on the following factors.
The Results You Want
One of the main things that goes into determining how many sessions you’ll need is the results you’re looking for specifically. What does that mean, exactly? Well, not everyone seeking out this hair removal method is looking to get rid of hair entirely.
Some people simply want to thin the hair out on a certain area of their bodies. One great example is a man looking to thin out his facial hair to make shaving more manageable while still keeping the ability to grow a beard. This man will require fewer sessions than someone looking to completely remove arm hair, for example.
Your Hair Type
Another thing that plays a huge role in how many treatment sessions you’ll need is your hair type. The laser is attracted to darker pigmentation, so if you have darker hair your treatments will be more effective than on someone with lighter hair, and you may require fewer.
However, if you have especially thick hair, then it’s likely that you’ll need more sessions to completely get rid of hair than someone with finer hair.
Your Targeted Areas
Everyone has a different hair type. But the hair types on different parts of your body will differ from each other too. So, for example, a woman looking to remove hair on her upper lip only will probably need fewer sessions total than someone trying to get rid of leg hair.
The size of the area itself will determine how long each individual session will take. Because it’s a small area, removing your upper lip hair could take just a few minutes while targeting a larger part of the body could take up to an hour.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
You know how this hair removal works now, but what are the benefits of getting it?
Avoid Irritation
There are lots of hair removal methods like shaving, waxing, or plucking. But if you’ve ever had razor burn, then you know how uncomfortable shaving can be.
Waxing and plucking can have their own issues if they’re not done correctly. Going with this hair removal method instead will help you avoid skin irritation associated with other methods of hair removal.
Save Time
Shaving or waxing may feel quick. After all, all you need is a few minutes in the shower to shave your legs, right? Well, think about how often you need to shave your legs or other areas of your body. All of that time adds up!
Opting to go with this hair removal method instead will provide you with long-lasting results. And you won’t need to worry about spending time shaving or lengthy waxing appointments.
Gain Confidence
One of the best things about this hair removal method is how much more confident you’ll feel. Unwanted body hair can make you feel very self-conscious about your appearance. The lasting results you get from this hair removal method will help you feel confident and happy about your appearance.
Book Your Appointment Today
At our clinic, we’ll be more than happy to help you get the lasting results you want from your laser hair removal treatment. To make an appointment, get in touch with us at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, MI.
