Laser Hair Removal: Preparations Tips, Process, and Pros Cons – Removing hair by shaving, plucking, or waxing often only lasts a moment. Recently, many people started trying laser procedures to remove hair, as the results proved to last longer. However, the procedure also carries some risks, such as reddish skin and pain.
The laser procedure for hair removal is performed by emitting high-strength rays on the roots (follicles) of the hair. The energy of this laser beam is absorbed by a dye or a melanin substance in the roots of the hair, then converted into a heat energy that damages the roots of the hair itself.
It usually takes 2-6 times the laser procedure with a pause of several weeks, to be able to remove the hair in the desired area perfectly.
Lasers do not permanently remove hair. Hair can grow back in a few months or several years. However, the growing hair will be fewer, thinner, and not as dark as before. The laser action can be repeated when the hair grows back.
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Prepare before doing laser hair removal
Laser hair removal is an act of health. Before this process is done, the dermatologist will ask and check your health records and perform basic physical tests, especially in the area where the process will be performed. Before the process starts, you will be encouraged to:
- Avoid hair removal with electric current heat, chemical exfoliation, waxing, and hair removal at least four weeks before the process, because the roots of the hair can be temporarily lost by these things.
- Avoiding skin darkening and basking in the sun as this will make melanin in your skin is less useful.
- Avoid deodorant, perfume, and other annoying things before and after the procedure.
- Avoid aspirin, herbal supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs before the process to reduce the risk of bleeding in the event of complications during the process.
Laser Hair Removal Process
Before carrying out the treatment, the area of skin that needs to be removed will be cleaned first and then applied numbing gel. The gel will work for 30-60 minutes, so you will not feel any pain during the procedure.
Laser treatment sessions will take place in a special room. You and the nurse are required to wear protective goggles so that the laser beam does not damage the eyes. After that, the area of the skin that will be removed the hair is illuminated by a laser.
You may feel a tingling, warm, or skin-like sensation grabbed by a rubber band. The laser technique will knock out fine hair on the skin by evaporating the rays. Steam from the laser will smell like sulfur.
The length of laser treatment depends on the target size of the body area. Cleaning the hair around the lips will only last for a few minutes. If the part of the body to be illuminated is wider, such as the back or legs, then the treatment will last more than an hour.
The results that each person will get varies. There are several things that affect this procedure, namely the color and thickness of the hair, body parts, laser type, and skin color.
Usually, the amount of hair is reduced by about 10-25 percent after you finish the first treatment. To remove the hair as a whole, it takes 2 to 6 times laser treatment.
Laser Hair Removal Pros Cons
Pros:
- It is not as painful as waxing or shaving.
- There is no need to do regular hair removal sessions, because the hair will not grow back anytime soon.
- It can directly remove hair in large areas, such as back or leg areas.
- The laser method is relatively safe when done correctly.
Cons:
- Quite much more expensive than regular hair removal procedures.
- In some cases, the hair can grow back, but within a period of 1-2 years. Depending on the condition of each skin.
- Since lasers target melanin (the pigment that gives color to the skin and hair), people with dark hair (more melanin) are more successful with laser methods than people with light hair color.
