What is laser hair removal and how does it work?

It is a relatively new treatment that makes use of lasers to remove hair from the body.

The practitioner uses a hand held device that emits a laser that penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the hair. Once absorbed heat energy is produces in the hair which travels down the shaft and destroys the root.

The laser uses a beam of light which penetrates the skin and is absorbed by the pigment colour in the hair where it is converted to heat.

Is it safe?

Yes. The laser settings are customised depending on your skin and hair colour. There is very little risk of any damage to your skin.

Will the laser hair removal treatment get rid of my hair permanently?

Tiny hair re-growth is possible but comparing laser hair removal with other methods of hair removal it produces the best long term results. Hair grown after the treatment is usually very thin and weak and can be easily treated.

Does it hurt?

Laser treatment is not completely painless, usually a slight sting can be felt but it is no where near the pain experienced when waxing or epilating. Most patients can bare it without the need of anaesthesia. However patients with very low pain thresholds can ask for a cream based anaesthesia to be applied to the skin.

Can everyone get it done?

No. I am afraid it is not possible to treat very light shades of hair such as white, grey, light blonde etc.

In addition to hair colour people with dark skin can only be treated with very specialised lasers available at very few laser hair removal clinics. Tanned people with light hair cannot be treated.

The treatment works best on light skinned people with dark hair.

How long does the treatment take?

That depends solely on the size of the area being operated on. It can take anywhere between 10 minutes, for parts such as the chin to about 35 minutes for the back.

What areas can be treated?

Apart from parts very close to the eye all other areas such as legs, back, arms, bikini line, chest etc can be treated.

How much does it cost?

Laser hair removal treatment is not cheap. That depends on the size of the area being treated. Usually it costs about 200 dollars per session of small areas such as the upper lip/chin rising to 500 for large areas such as the back and the legs.

How many sessions are required?

Many factors come into play and it varies from patient to patient but usually anywhere between three and six are needed for the best results.

What should I expect after the laser hair removal treatment?

The laser treatment area goes pink after the treatment, like sunburn, and stays that way for about one to two days. Minor discomfort will be felt during this period. The laser treated hair falls off by itself within a few days.