Facial Laser Hair Removal – Before and After
Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that uses a powerful laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) to remove unwanted hair. This light source heats and destroys hair follicles in the skin, which disrupts hair growth. Common areas to treat are the face, chest, legs, arms, underarms and bikini line.
Did you know that there are over 1,000,000 U.S. based online searches for laser hair removal services each month?
During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.
Although laser hair removal effectively delays hair growth for long periods, it usually doesn’t result in permanent hair removal. Multiple laser hair removal treatments are needed for initial hair removal, and maintenance treatments might be needed as well. Laser hair removal is most effective for people who have light skin and dark hair, but it can be successfully used on all skin types.
Usually women reach out for laser facial hair removal to get rid of hair on upper lip, chin or sidelock, and to have smooth facial skin.
However due to increased demand of grooming in corporate industry even men have started trying permanent hair removal techniques to get rid of excess facial hair, and have well defined moustache or bearded look.
Laser facial hair removal can show long lasting results and reduce the hassle to frequently shave off unwanted hair.
Prepare for facial hair removal
If you’re interested in laser hair removal, choose a doctor who’s board certified in a specialty such as dermatology or cosmetic surgery. Someone who has experience with laser hair removal on your skin type. If a technician or licensed nurse will do the procedure, make sure a doctor supervises and is available on-site. Be cautious about spas, salons or other facilities that allow nonmedical personnel to do laser hair removal.
Before laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with the doctor to determine if this is an appropriate treatment option for you. Your doctor or technician will likely do the following:
Review your medical history, including medication use, history of skin disorders or scarring, and past hair removal procedures.
Discuss risks, benefits and expectations, including what laser hair removal can and can’t do for you.
Take photos to be used for before-and-after assessments and long-term reviews.
At the consultation, discuss a treatment plan and related costs. Laser hair removal is usually an out-of-pocket expense.
- The doctor will also offer specific instructions to prepare for laser hair removal. These instructions include:
- Staying out of the sun. (Whenever you go out, apply a broad-spectrum, SPF30 sunscreen).
- Lightening your skin. (Your doctor might also prescribe a skin bleaching cream if you have a recent tan or darker skin).
- Avoiding other hair removal methods. (Only shaving with razor at least four weeks before treatment). Trimming and shaving is recommended the day before laser treatment. It removes hair above the skin that can result in surface skin damage from burnt hairs, but it leaves the hair shaft intact below the surface.
- Avoiding blood-thinning medications.
What you can expect
What you can expect at your session for laser facial hair removal is:
- The doctor or technician will examine the facial hair you want to be removed and trim it if necessary to maintain a length of few millimeters.
- Your eyes will be covered with a protective eye gear throughout the procedure.
- A special gel will be applied on the skin surface that helps to penetrate the laser beam into the deeper skin layers to target the hair follicle.
- The laser instrument level will be adjusted as per the location of hair, thickness, and also the color of your hair and skin.
- First, the doctor or technician will do a test on your skin to see if you will have any unwanted side effect. If not, facial hair removal with laser beam will be continued.
- To reduce the discomfort during process, some local anaesthetic may be applied on the area you are receiving the treatment. But, if the laser has it’s cooling system, then the anaestethic is not needed.
Laser hair removal usually requires two to six treatments. The interval between treatments will vary depending on the location.
On areas where hair grows quickly, such as the upper lip, the treatment might be repeated in four to eight weeks. On areas of slow hair growth, such as the back, the treatment might be every 12 to 16 weeks.
During the procedure
The doctor or technician will press a hand-held laser instrument to your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip of the instrument or a cool gel might be used to protect your skin and lessen the risk of side effects.
When the doctor or technician activates the laser, the laser beam will pass through your skin to the hair follicles. The heat from the laser beam will damage the hair follicles, which slows and eventually stops hair regrowth. You might feel discomfort, such as a warm pinprick, and you’ll likely feel a sensation of cold from the cooling device or gel.
Small area treatment, such as the upper lip, takes a little time, only a few minutes. Larger area treatment, such as the back, legs or arms might take more than an hour.
After the procedure
You skin might be red or a little swelled for the first few hours after laser hair removal.
To reduce any discomfort, apply ice to the treated area. If you have a skin reaction immediately after laser hair removal, the doctor might apply a steroid cream to the affected area.
Avoid sunlight and don’t use a tanning bed for six weeks or as directed by your doctor after laser hair removal and between scheduled treatments. Don’t forget to use SPF30 sunscreen daily.
Results
After facial laser hair removal, the hairs do not fall out immediately, but you will shed them over a period of days to weeks. The repeated treatments are usually necessary because hair growth and loss naturally occur in a cycle, and laser treatment works best with hair follicles in the new-growth stage.
Results vary significantly and are difficult to predict. Most people experience hair removal that lasts several months, and it might last for years. But laser hair removal doesn’t guarantee permanent hair removal. When hair regrows, it’s usually finer and lighter in color.
What about home lasers?
There are a lot of choices for lasers that can be used at home for hair removal. But there are no large studies comparing how effective these devices are compared with laser hair removal done at a doctor’s office.
If you choose to use a home laser hair removal device, please follow the instructions that come with the device to help reduce the risk of injury, especially eye injuries.
Pay special attention if the device you want to use on your skin is adopted to your skin and hair type, especially if you have any skin condition or skin disease.
Facial Laser Hair Removal Benefits
The benefits of laser facial hair removal are:
- Reduction in facial hair growth with long lasting effect on areas such as chin, upper lip, side lock, and forehead in women.
- In men laser removal of facial hair helps to get defined moustache and beard.
- Laser technique can target the specific location for hair without causing severe damage to surrounding skin.
- This treatment saves a lot of time for women as laser treatment done in couple of session reduces need for regular hair removal or visit to salons for waxing or plucking.
- In men laser treatment saves a lot of time daily otherwise spent in shaving and trimming facing hair.
Cost of Laser Facial Hair Removal
Cost of laser facial hair removal depends on the amount of hair to be removed and location of body part. The cost may also be different based on the laser instrument used.
Side Effects of Laser Facial Hair Removal
Laser hair removal can be associated with some unwanted side effects.
- Burning of skin (is more common in people with dark skin as high levels of pigment tend to absorb more heat);
- Skin lightening or darkening;
- Itching, redness or rashes of skin;
- Pain at the site (with new versions of lasers that use ice cooling function, the pain is less noticeable);
- Possibility of hair regrowth and need for re treatment;
- Expensive procedure;
- Risk of eye injury during the procedure;
- Risk of skin infection (happens rarely, but is a possibility).
