Did you know that around 10% of women have excess hair growth to some degree? Excess hair can be a source of shame and embarrassment for many people, both men and women, and it can be irritating to have to deal with that hair every day. This is not to mention that typical hair removal methods such as shaving and waxing can be quite expensive over the years.
Fortunately, laser hair removal in Louisville can solve this problem. But what is the laser hair removal treatment like exactly, you might ask? Keep reading and learn more about what to expect from your laser hair removal appointment at your local med spa in Louisville.
What Is Laser Hair Removal Exactly?
Laser hair removal involves the use of a special laser that is designed to target melanin in your hair shafts and follicles. Melanin is a dark pigment that adds a dark tone to your skin and hair. It is the same melanin that works to give you a tan when you go out in the sun.
When this laser targets the melanin in your hair, the laser will react with this dark pigment and produce heat as a result. This sudden burst of heat will dissolve the hair shaft and damage the hair follicle. While this may sound like a bad thing, damaging the hair follicle is actually exactly what you want if you’re looking to reduce excess hair growth.
By damaging the follicle, it will be harder for the same hair to grow back next time. After several treatments, some hairs will never grow back at all while others will grow back very slowly. Keep in mind that laser hair removal at your Louisville med spa can only achieve permanent hair reduction rather than permanent hair removal.
What You Need to Know
After a few treatments, you will notice that the hair that grows back will be much thinner and lighter than usual. The hair will also be very soft. So, even though the hairs will grow back, they will be so unnoticeable that they shouldn’t cause much of an issue.
More than that, the remaining hair will grow very slowly. You might not have to deal with the hair growth for several weeks. Most people find that they need several treatments to get the results they want. Between 3 and 6 treatments are normal, but some people may need more, especially those who have very thick or stubborn hair.
Some people may also be better candidates for laser hair removal than others. For example, since the laser needs to pick up on melanin in the hair shaft and follicle, this treatment does not work very well on those who have blonde, red, or white hair. It also does not work very well on those who have both dark skin and dark hair.
This is because there is not enough contrast between the hair and the skin. On the other hand, if your hair is quite dark and your skin is light, you would be a perfect candidate because there would be a significant contrast between your hair and skin.
What to Expect During the Laser Hair Removal Treatment
Many people are wary about trying laser hair removal treatment because they fear that it will be painful. However, laser hair removal treatment is actually quite painless and easy. Suppose that you want to get the hair on your neck removed.
Your laser hair removal provider will first put some numbing cream on this area. After a few minutes, the area will be mostly numb so you’ll hardly feel the sting of the laser at all. You will, however, still feel a slight zap when the laser damages a hair follicle.
This is not very painful and many people describe it as being similar to the snap of a rubber band. In addition to the numbing cream, your hair removal provider will apply a cooling gel to the treatment area. That way, the heat of the laser will not hurt your skin in any way.
The length of the procedure will depend on a variety of factors, most importantly the size of the treatment area. For example, the neck is a very small treatment area and it might only take 10 or 15 minutes to complete. On the other hand, if you want to get your legs or arms treated, these are both very large sections of the body.
They may take as long as an hour to complete.
The Details
In some cases, you may need to get several sessions to treat one large area completely. During the procedure, you will wear special glasses to protect your eyes.
These glasses are important, as they shield your eyes from the damage they might sustain from the bright light of the laser. After the procedure, you might notice some slight swelling or redness in the treatment area, but these side effects should go away on their own after a few hours and they are quite harmless.
Your skin will be sensitive for a few days after the procedure. It is important to stay out of the sun while your skin heals as it will be more vulnerable to burning. If you need to go outside, always make sure to use sunscreen to protect yourself.
What You Need to Know About Laser Hair Removal Treatment
The laser hair removal treatment is quite simple. It involves a laser that targets the melanin in your hair and then damages the hair follicle to ultimately reduce hair growth in the area. One session can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour and it is quite painless.
After several sessions, you should finally start to see the results you want. To learn more, contact us here.
