Laser Hair Removal - What you Must Know Before Beginning any Laser Hair Removal
Do you have an area on your body that you have excess hair on? Are you insecure about it? Do you wish that you could get rid of it permanently? Well, if so you are not alone. Many people struggle with excess hair that they want to get rid of, and the great news is that with laser hair removal you can get rid of it forever.
Laser hair removal is basically a quick way to get rid of hair over a period of time. It is not instantaneous, but after a few sessions, your hair will stop growing. Basically, laser hair removal is performed with a laser that penetrates the top layers of your skin so that it can reach the root of the hair. With the darker pigments of your hair, it absorbs the laser into itself. Once absorbed the laser turns into heat and basically damages the root so that it can no longer grow the hair. This will take a couple of sessions to truly take effect, and the required number of sessions can vary from body part to body part. For example to use laser hair removal on your upper lip you will need to have about six applications of the laser, whereas the bikini area can be treated in about four sessions.
Not everyone is a good candidate for laser hair removal. You are dealing with a laser, and it can sometimes damage the skin. The truth is that the laser is attracted to dark colors so individuals with darker hair that they are trying to get rid of generally have a more successful time of it. If your hair color is very close to your skin color, you might find that laser hair removal is not as successful as you had hoped for. Basically, you want to have a big difference between your hair color and your skin color for the best success. So typically fair-skinned individuals with dark hair have a great deal of success with Laser hair removal.
You can treat a variety of areas with laser hair removal. The only real rule is that you do not want to get near your eye with the laser. Many individuals use this procedure to get rid of hair on their faces, underarms, backs, bikini lines, legs, and upper lips. In general, you can treat almost any area, but of course, you will want to consult with a professional.
Laser hair removal is not considered dangerous, but there are a few bad reactions that can occur. The worst danger is that the surrounding skin might be a bit damages. Sometimes the laser can cause the skin pigment to shift a bit lighter or darker, but this is usually a very temporary change and will return to normal after a few weeks. This side affect is not common, but you will want to ask your doctor if there is anything that you should do to avoid it.
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Hair Removal Systems - Are They Really Worth the Cost and Discomfort?
Many people, women in particular, want to remove all the hair from their bodies as they can. This commonly includes the face, underarms, and legs, but some people need hair removed from other areas as well. Hair removal systems have been created to make this process faster and less painful. But many people wonder if they are worth it.
Not that long ago, the main options for removing hair was either pulling it out with tweezers or wax, or shaving it. As most people know, both of these methods come with some serious problems. Plucking hairs one by one is extremely uncomfortable, and is usually only used for facial hair. Waxing is also very painful, but at least the effects last up to a couple months. The hazards of shaving are pretty obvious; if you cut yourself it is going to hurt, and won't be very attractive.
One of the biggest problems with these hair removal systems is the risk of infection or skin problems. If a shaving cut gets something in it and festers it could scar. Ingrown hairs can also occur, usually in very sensitive areas.
Professional hair removal systems are supposed to reduce these problems in various ways. Electrolysis and laser hair removal don't yank the hairs out, but they do target the hair's root and kill it. Occasionally this takes two treatments, but this is still better than yanking the same hairs out over and over.
Something that should be noted is that these procedures aren't entirely painless. With electrolysis, you will likely feel a stinging or pinching sensation. The laser removal generally hurts less, but it can cause temporary scabbing, so you may not want to have this done right before an important event.
Cost is one of the biggest deciding factors when it comes to hair removal systems. The traditional methods such as tweezers and razors are very economical, and that is why many people use them. The more advanced systems that work with electricity or lasers are much more expensive to have performed.
One question you need to ask yourself is which is going to save you money in the long run. Yes, one sitting in a salon can buy you a lot of razors, but the effects should be permanent. What about the time you will save in the future by not having to shave every other day? Does that make the salon's price worthwhile?
While many people scoff at the price of hair removal systems, many others think the price is worth not having to pluck, wax, or shave their hair multiple times a week. It is pricy, but you may save as much in razors, wax, bleach, and other hair removal products. If you have hair that you really want to get rid of, and the money to get rid of it a bit at a time, this may be an option for you to look into.
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Laser Hair Removal - Information for Patients about the Techniques Used
You may want to have your unwanted facial and body hair removed for cosmetic purposes. After all, who wants to look like a gorilla with a mustache parading on the beach in shorts and bikini? However, you just cannot take the pain of traditional hair removal methods like plucking, tweezing, waxing and shaving. Fortunately, you now have the more modern approach known as laser hair removal.
Description of the Process
Basically, removal of unwanted hair using laser is a medical procedure best done in a clinical setting. The equipment used is medical grade laser that produces a pulsating and intense beam of light targeted at your hair follicle specifically the dark pigment known as melanin. When the laser beam hits the hair follicle, it is instantly destroyed by virtue of the intense heat. In turn, the hair follicle dies and cannot produce new growth for a while or slows down on its normal growth.
Only a handheld device is used to deliver the laser beam, thus, the physician's capacity to kill the hair follicles even in hard-to-reach areas. You must understand that laser hair removal only destroys the hair follicle, not the surrounding skin, although pain will be felt. However, if your doctor is a competent one, you should be provided with pain relievers like gel, mists of water and cool air.
Suitability for the Procedure
Not everybody is suitable for hair removal through laser. You doctor will assess your suitability for the procedure by asking detailed questions of your medical history, your physical condition and your pain tolerance levels, among other things. You will also be discussing the risk, benefits and expectations that you need to know. After all, every cosmetic procedure has it advantages and disadvantages, of which laser hair removal is no exception.
There are also considerations regarding your skin tone, type and color of hair, and tan lines. For example, hairs that are shaved short respond well to laser treatments while a tan increases your risk for side effects like discoloration.
Care Before and After the Procedure
You will be advised to take certain precautions a few weeks before treatment. You should avoid sun exposure 4-6 weeks before the treatment as well as avoid plucking, waxing and electrolysis 3 weeks prior to the procedure. During the procedure itself, you will be required to wear protective goggles to protect your eyes from the laser light. You should feel a stinging sensation when the laser hits your skin as well as little discomfort although a local anesthetic will often take care of it.
The laser hair removal procedure will last anywhere from 15 minutes to 4 hours depending on the area being treated. For full body treatment, 4 hours is the average time. Of course, you can go back home immediately after the procedure. After the treatment, you should strictly follow doctor's orders. These instructions can include avoiding exertion for the first 24 hours, avoiding the sun for several weeks and tanning booths forever, and avoiding manipulation of the skin in the treated areas, to name a few.
With laser hair removal, you will go hair-free for several months or several years depending on your response to the treatment. You can now say goodbye to embarrassing unwanted hairs on your armpits, legs, chest and face!
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Hair Removal Systems - An Expert View On What Is Involved And If It Really Works
Many people, men and women alike consider hair removal at some point in life. Women are constantly battling to remove unwanted hair from their legs, armpits, face and other areas. Men on the other hand generally only use hair removal for stubborn or thick hair in conspicuous places such as the back. Either way there are many times people consider hair removal and up until now the most popular methods have been time consuming, painful and sometime ineffective or only temporary in nature.
Over the past few years, physicians and others have worked on more permanent hair removal systems. For quite some time waxing was as close to permanent as you could get, however today there is a new procedure called laser hair removal systems.
What is Laser Removal?
Laser hair removal systems use a powerful laser that targets the melanin in the hair root; this is the substance that gives hair its color. When the laser passes through the skin and strikes the melanin at the root the hair follicle is damaged. This slows hair growth immensely and over time can completely eradicate it.
Does it Work?
Laser hair removal systems do work, but there are a few things you should know. First of all laser hair removal will not eliminate your hair in one setting. You will likely undergo 5-7 treatments before you become hair free permanently. It takes some time to completely destroy the hair follicles.
This process works the best on dark hair and light skin for obvious reasons. The darker the hair and lighter the skin the easier it is for the laser to target the follicle. This does not mean if you have light hair you cannot get laser treatments, however there are special lasers for lighter hair. The procedure does not work as well for light hair however.
What to Expect
Before you go in for laser hair removal systems you should be sure not to shave for at least a week prior to your appointment. The lasers function better when hair is at a specified length and your technician will trim it if necessary. Do not expose your skin to anything that may make it sensitive, such as a tanning bed, before your procedure.
During the procedure all treatment areas will be covered in a thick gel, these allow the laser to pass harmlessly through the skin. As the laser works, you can expect to feel a slight stinging sensation, similar to a rubber band snap. Using laser hair removal systems does not take long and you can expect for the hair to fall out within two weeks.
Finally
There are pros and cons to any type of hair removal system. Waxing is painful but reasonably priced and anyone can use it, razors are cheapest of all but only offer temporary results. The best way of getting permanent hair removal is through laser treatments. Make sure that you check the credentials of any salon offering laser hair removal, injuries are rare but a laser in unskilled hands is something to be avoided.
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