Answering your questions about Laser Hair Removal

By Katie Ladner, L.E.

In today’s blog I wanted to cover some questions about laser hair removal. I have had so many questions regarding the process and because of the onset of summer, I figured this would be such a good topic to cover. 

The top questions I get are: 

1. 1. 1.  Is laser hair removal permanent?
         • The answer is no. Laser hair removal works by heating the hair follicles to stop new hairs from growing. Although the procedure is often touted as a form of “permanent” hair removal, laser treatment only reduces the number of unwanted hairs in a given area. Providers should not use the word permanent hair removal, it should be called permanent hair reduction.
      2.  Does it hurt?
         • Laser hair removal is designed to target hair follicles with tiny high-heat laser beams. While you may not feel the heat with our device, you may feel like your skin is being snapped with a rubber band. You may also experience mild discomfort after the procedure, such as redness and irritation similar to a mild sunburn. I always tell my clients no intense heat or sweating after your treatment for the rest of the day.
      3.  What happens if I stop treatment or miss an appointment?
         • In short, nothing. And that’s the problem! If you want too long between treatments, your hair follicles won’t be damaged enough to stop growing hair. So it is best to be consistent with your series of treatments until you’re in the touch up phase.
      4. How many treatments will I need?
         • Most people need about 8 treatments give or take a few sessions. Everyone is different; some people may have an excellent result immediately, where others feel like the process is a struggle until the end.
      5. Do I have to stay out of the sun?
         • Yes! The area being treated needs to remain out of the sun. We need the treated area without sun for 2 weeks prior and 1 week after. If you go in the sun and disclose it, you could suffer from burns. It’s not worth it. Most of my clients prefer to do the permanent hair reduction in winter for this reason.

I hope that my blog will help answer some of the laser hair removal questions and shed some light on this very popular subject!