How does the laser cause permanent hair reduction?
During laser hair removal at our Charlotte, NC Med Spa, the 810-Diode Laser is placed over the desired area and laser energy passes through the skin targeting the pigment in the underlying hair follicle. The laser energy destroys the targeted follicle if that hair was in the anagen growth phase.
How many laser sessions are required to achieve the desired outcome?
The number of treatments needed to achieve the desired results depend on many factors including the hormonal expression of the patient, the color and thickness of the hair, and the patient's skin type. In general, six to 10 sessions are required to get the desired outcome. Multiple treatment sessions are required due to the fact that our hair grows in cycles. There are 3 distinct phases of the hair cycle. These are anagen (growth), catagen (regression), and telogen (resting). The hair can only be effectively destroyed by the laser during the anagen growth phase. Because only a percentage (15-30%) of the hairs are in the anagen phase at a given time, each treatment is scheduled 6-8 weeks apart to allow sufficient time for your skin to heal and for resting hairs to reenter the active phase.
Is laser hair removal permanent?
The goal of laser hair removal is to significantly, permanently reduce the amount of undesired hair. After the initial series of treatments, touch-up sessions may be required once or twice a year. Therefore, a more accurate description of laser hair removal is laser hair reduction.
What should I expect after treatment?
Some patients notice changes immediately, but hair shedding is more common within 2 weeks following treatment. Most patients describe 810-Diode laser hair removal as painless. This is because the laser hand-piece has a chiller where skin contact is made. Several patients who have had laser hair removal at other clinics report that they didn't finish their package because it was so painful. These same patients describe our 810-Diode Laser as virtually pain-free.
After treatment you may experience some redness or irritation at the treatment site for up to 30 minutes. There is typically zero downtime after the procedure.
You should always use a medical grade SPF, especially after any laser treatment of the skin.
Who should postpone their laser hair removal treatment?
- Patients with recent direct sun exposure that have a tan as compared with baseline
- Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding
- Patients who have tanned indoor or used topical tanning products within 2 weeks
- Anyone taking medications that increase photosensitivity
