Procedure, Results & Safety: Laser Hair Reduction Guide

The procedure to remove unwanted hair from your body is known as Laser Hair Reduction. IT is non-invasive, which implies that it doesn't require any incisions to be made on the body.

The most common areas of the body where people get laser hair reduction done are:

• Underarms.
• Bikini area
• Back.
• Legs.

What Happens During Laser Hair Reduction Treatment?

For the laser hair reduction procedure, laser energy heats up the cells that have high pigment content. Dark hair has more pigment and thus heats up more due to high energy absorption. Following this, hair transfers the heat to the hair follicles, destroying them and stopping hair growth. This process is medically referred to as selective photothermolysis.

For the procedure to be able to work and be successful, the hair follicle has to be in its growth stage. The reason why most people require multiple hair laser removal sessions is because follicles are in different stages at different times.

Who Is An Ideal Candidate For Laser Hair Reduction?

For a laser hair reduction procedure, any individual who wishes to get hair removed is eligible. It is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure. Individuals choose to undergo laser hair reduction treatment to enhance their overall appearance and self-confidence. People who do not want to get into hassles of regular shaving also get laser hair reduction done as it offers a long lasting solution for hair removal.

Please note that excessive hair growth is also caused due following conditions:

• Certain drugs - birth control pills and steroids.
• PMOS, which is a hormonal imbalance, that leads to increased testosterone or androgen levels in a female's body.
• Genetic Predisposition.
• Certain Tumors

Individuals Who Should Avoid Laser Hair Reduction?

Prior to getting laser hair reduction, get a thorough consultation to comprehensively understand the treatment. You may be recommended to abstain from the procedure by the dermatologist if you:

• Are expecting.
• Are taking certain medications
• Have genital herpes
• Are prone to cold sores
• Have raised scars
• Have history of skin cancer.

Treatment Details

How should I prepare for laser hair reduction?

Refrain from staying out of the sun as much as possible in the weeks leading up to your session. Please remember that tanned skin makes laser hair reduction comparatively less effective and can have potential repercussions.

Two to three days prior to your session, shave the area that you intend to get treated. Laser hair reduction treatment doesn't work effectively on areas where the hair is longer than the size of a grain. After the sessions have commenced, do not wax, tweeze or pluck hair from the region that has been treated.

How Is Laser Hair Reduction Procedure Performed?

For a laser hair reduction session, your dermatologist will perform the following steps:

• Gently clean the area to ensure hygiene
• Provide you with protective goggles to wear during the session. The dermatologist will also be wearing protective goggles during the session.
• The dermatologist will be treating your skin with the laser. It will most likely give you a stinging sensation. Some people describe the experience as a rubber band abrasing against their skin.

A typical laser hair reduction session takes up a few minutes to an hour's time, determined by the size of the area that requires laser hair reduction. There's a possibility of you noticing burning hair and smelling smoke, which is absolutely normal as it is the hair burning away from laser's energy.

What Precautions Do You Need To Take After Laser Hair Reduction Session?

The Dermatologist will recommend you to:

• Use a cold compress on the regions where laser hair reduction has been done.
• Not expose the procedure site to sunlight.
• Refrain from exfoliating scrubs, retinol, acids (AHA/BHA), or active serums on the treated area.

Please note: You should be able to go back to normal activities right away.

Benefits & Risks Involved

Is laser hair reduction a safe procedure?

Absolutely yes. Laser hair reduction is totally safe and effective and beneficial treatment. However, you should only get these sessions done from a qualified dermatologist.

What are the benefits of laser hair reduction?

Following are the benefits of laser hair reduction:

• Last longing results
• No hassles of frequent shaving, waxing, tweezing or plucking.
• Painless hair reduction
• Enhanced self confidence

What Does Recovery Look Like?

Will I have to undergo multiple sessions?

Somewhere six to eight laser hair reduction sessions are required for optimum results. Usually a six to eight weeks time gap is given between sessions as this much time duration is required to target more hair in different growth phases more effectively.

When can I see results from laser hair reduction procedure?

For most people, approximately 10% to 25% reduction in hair growth is visible after the first session. After getting the recommended number of sessions completed, you may not see any new hair growth for a span of several months or even years.

For How long do the results from laser hair reduction last?

Laser hair reduction does not offer permanent results. It is impossible to target all the hair at once as not all the hair are in their growth phase at the same time, which is a necessity for the procedure to be performed. Some hair will grow back, but the growth will be lighter as compared to the original growth.

A Note From Olive Aesthetics

Laser hair reduction is an absolutely safe and effective method to get rid of excessive hair on the body. The results from this non-invasive cosmetic treatment lasts much longer than plucking, tweezing or waxing.

At Olive Aesthetics, all the procedures are performed under supervision of a qualified dermatologist using US FDA-approved laser technology suitable. If you are looking forward to getting laser hair reduction done, a thorough consultation will help you understand the suitability of the procedure for your hair and skin, enabling you to make informed decisions.

Also Read: Causes, Treatment Options, and How to Prevent: Hyperpigmentation