Laser hair removal is a procedure in which the medical professional uses a laser to remove or reduce unwanted hair. It works by destroying the hair follicles and thus preventing more hair from growing. The laser targets the pigment in the follicle and leaves surrounding tissues unharmed.
What Happens During the Procedure?
Our skilled specialist will use a special device that emits the laser and run it along the skin in the treatment site. How long the treatment takes depends on the size of the treatment site. A large area like the back may take hours, while a small site like the upper lip may take just a few minutes. To get the best results, most people will need a series of treatments.
Why Do People Need More Than One Treatment?
Hair grows in cycles that consist of three phases: the growth, transitional and dormant phases. It’s only during the growth phase that the hair has enough pigment to absorb the energy produced by the laser. By contrast, hair in the dormant phase has little or no pigment and therefore can’t absorb the laser and won’t be affected by it.
Not all of the hair in the treatment site will be in the same stage at the same time. Some will be in the growth phase, and some will be in the transitional or dormant stages. During the treatment session, the specialist can only remove the hair in the growth phase.
The transitional phase lasts about two weeks, and affects relatively little hair at any given time. The dormant phase may last one to four months and involves 10 to 15 percent of the hair on the body at any given time. In order to give hair a chance to cycle into the growth phase, our medical professional may schedule treatment sessions roughly every several weeks.
Why is Fall a Good Time to Begin Laser Hair Removal?
While undergoing laser hair removal treatments, the patient will have to allow the unwanted hair to grow out, so the specialist can target it with the laser. Shaving may not cause problems, for it leaves the follicle in place. But other types of hair removal, like plucking, will remove the hair follicle and thus prevent the specialist from effectively treating it. Since the laser focuses on the follicle, it needs to be intact during treatment.
During Fall, the temperatures begin to cool, and people start wearing more clothes with long sleeves. Such clothing will generally cover up the treatment site and spare the patient the embarrassment of revealing extra and/or uneven hair growth during their treatment.
By starting treatments in the Fall, the client will have finished the bulk of their treatments by the time the weather starts warming up again. They will be able to wear clothing like shorts or tank-tops without fear of embarrassment. They will actually be excited to show off their legs!
Learn More About Laser Hair Removal
There is no better time than now to schedule your consultation at Wayzata Cosmetic Surgery and Spa to learn more about how laser hair removal can benefit you. We will be happy to get you started on a treatment plan in order for you to have smooth, hair-free legs by the Spring and Summer seasons. Contact us today to schedule your appointment at our office in Wayzata.
