Unwanted hair on the face, chest, legs, or elsewhere can lead to despair if the individual cannot find an effective means of removing it. Waxing, plucking, and constant shaving won’t do the trick. Luckily, laser hair removal is a proven method for getting rid of unwanted hair safely and permanently reducing hair growth.
Inhibiting Hair Growth
Hair cells are formed in follicles, and this takes place in cycles. Each follicle has a growth phase followed by a resting phase. This is why some of the hairs on your head and elsewhere are lengthening while others seem to just stay at the same length for several months.
The idea behind laser hair removal is to treat the follicles while they are in their growth phase. These are the follicles that show definite hair production. Laser hair removal requires multiple treatment sessions in order to permanently reduce hair growth since the follicles may not always be in the growth cycle.
How It’s Performed
The lasers used in this procedure have evolved rapidly over the past two decades. Most of them are handheld instruments that can be accurately calibrated to work on any density of follicle. Individuals with lighter hair, for example, have follicles that are themselves lighter in tone, and these follicles will, therefore, absorb laser light energy more readily if the wavelength and intensity is properly adjusted. If the follicle is denser and darker, a different wavelength of laser energy is chosen by the dermatologist.
The device is placed next to the skin, and the lamp is flashed for a very brief period. The energy is absorbed by the follicle, which heats up and permanently inhibits hair growth. The tissue will eventually be flushed from the body, and a new follicle will not be created. A single pulse of laser energy can treat a large amount of follicles over a surface area of perhaps a square centimeter.
Treatable Areas
This procedure can be used to get rid of unwanted hair on the cheeks, above the upper lip, on the chin, in the eyebrow area, on the chest, and on the arms. It’s also a safe procedure for treating the bikini area. It’s important to remember that laser treatments usually remove about 95 percent of the follicles, but some touch-up treatments may be necessary if a few stray hairs remain.
Get More Information
If you have hair in areas where you would rather see smooth skin, laser hair removal may be exactly the treatment you’ve been seeking. Kick unwanted hair to the curb with effective laser hair removal treatments at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa. We proudly serve clients in Ottawa, Princeton, and the surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Peru, IL!
