Trend Watch Get the Procedure 411 on Laser Hair Removal from Cosmetic Town

One of the most frustrating grooming techniques a person can perform on a regular basis is waxing and shaving. Trying to remove hair from various parts of the body can be a time consuming procedure as well as difficult to manage as some areas of the body can be hard to reach. One of the most popular methods to get rid of hard to remove body hair is laser hair removal.  

Cosmetic Town TV recently took a closer look at the process of laser hair removal.

As the name of the procedure suggests, laser hair removal is a technique that uses a laser to remove unwanted hair that is located on various parts of the body. The procedure uses a highly concentrated light beam that is produced by a laser device. The energy that is produced by the light beam passes through the skin of the patient and is absorbed by melanin (a pigment that is located in the hair and skin). The energy of the laser beam is focused on the targeted hair follicles so they will absorb the energy from the light. By absorbing the light energy, the hair that is targeted is burned off and destroyed.

Laser Hair Removal Candidates and Cost

The process of laser hair removal is especially useful for female patients who have issues with unwanted hair that is located in the tummy and facial areas as well as the arms, legs and bikini line. Ideal patients also have fair skin and dark hair.

In addition, male patients that often suffer from beard rash after they shave can benefit from laser hair removal. The treatment can be used to eliminate some of the hair that they need to shave on a regular basis. It is also a good treatment for male patients that have hair that is very thick on their chest and backs.

Finally, it is a good option to remove hair that has grown through a scar following a surgical procedure.

The total cost of laser hair removal can vary as the final price depends on a number of factors. These variables include:

• The amount of hair that is treated by the doctor
• The size of the areas on the body that are treated
• The number of treatments necessary to achieve the desired results
• The area of the country where it is performed
• Any fees charged by the surgeon or the medical facility

Overall, doctors charge by the hour or by the number of zones/areas being treated. The total cost often runs anywhere from $50-$2500.

Are There any Laser Hair Removal Limitations?

Since the light that is emitted by the laser only targets areas that are rich in pigment, the device often does not work on hair that is lacking in melanin. In addition, it doesn’t work well on hair that is gray or blonde.

The procedure can produce limited results on dark skin because the skin will heat up as the laser attempts to burn the hair follicle. Since dark skin has a good amount of melanin, it will absorb the energy and heat up before the laser even reaches the hair follicle.

Patients with fair skin, as well as a tan, have a greater risk of developing burns or irritation from the treatment. This is also true for anyone with a disease that causes the skin to become hypersensitive and this includes anyone suffering from lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

If a patient has areas of the skin with a large number of dormant follicles that need to be treated, the person is advised that the targeted area must not be touched.  All of the treated hair must be in the active phase so it often requires several treatments to achieve the desired results. The time between treatments is normally around 6 weeks so the follicles that are dormant have time to become active and produce new hair.

Patients are also advised to not pluck their hair because this process puts the hair follicles into a dormant state. If a hair follicle is dormant, it won’t generate a lot of melanin which means the laser won’t be able to target that certain hair follicle.

In order to avoid any of these limitations or any other complications, patient should undergo a thorough examination before having laser hair removal.

MA