Hair Removal by Laser

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Many men and women have hair that they want to thin out or to eliminate in various parts of their bodies.

Over the past 10 years laser hair removal has advanced to the point where black and brown hair can be reliably and safely treated. Please note that there is no laser treatment which is very effective for the removal of white, blond or red hair.

Laser equipment

What are the facts about Hair Removal?

  • Shaving will NOT make the hair grow back in faster, darker or thicker!
  • Blonde hair is the hardest to remove
  • The thickness and colour of your skin, and the colour of the hair to be removed, will determine which lasers can be used and how successful the treatment may be
  • You should wait two months after waxing before any laser treatment to remove hair.
  • Most people need between 4 and 8 treatments for substantial long-term hair reduction

What happens before the Procedure?
As the hair shaft is the treatment target, it is important to stop waxing / sugaring or plucking your hair for approximately 8 weeks prior to your laser treatment. If you pull out the hair shafts there will be no target for the laser.

What happens during the Procedure?
The procedure takes from several minutes to several hours, depending on the area of the body involved. Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser. The laser energy passes through the patient's skin, being absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. A percentage of the follicles are instantaneously and permanently disabled with each treatment. In most cases, no anaesthesia is necessary.

What happens after the Procedure?
You may experience a mild sunburn like sensation which may be accompanied by minor swelling. This usually lasts for approximately 2 -24 hours and can be soothed with a cold gel pack or ice pack. The treated hair will continue to appear for 7 - 30 days after your treatment: please note this hair is being expelled from the skin.

What are the benefits of Hair Removal by IPL Laser?

  • A non-invasive technique.
  • Leaves skin looking smoother and silkier.
  • Treats larger areas effectively because the laser treatment removes more than one hair at a time.
  • Minimal discomfort.
  • Replaces waxing, electrolysis and razors.
  • Immediate return to normal activities.

A laser is effective because the hair shaft absorbs laser energy, and it is the heated hair shaft, which kills the hair follicles. The best way to remove hair before laser treatment and between treatments is to shave the hair off, bleach the hair, or use depilatory creams.

The laser hair removal objective is to kill the hair follicles but not harm the skin. The surface of the skin is soothed and cooled by the laser head just before the laser energy is delivered.

During each treatment as many hair follicles as possible are killed. Follicles which are not killed are usually crippled by the laser energy, so just about all the pigmented hair falls out during the week or two after the laser treatment. New hair starts to grow several weeks to 1 month after laser treatment, and arises from 3 groups of follicles:

  1. Follicles which were empty on the day of treatment and did not have a hair shaft in them to absorb laser energy. The empty follicles might have been between growth cycles, or might have been plucked or waxed out.
  2. Follicles which were injured but not killed by laser treatment may recover partially, so the new hair is usually finer and lighter than what you started with
  3. As time goes on some “peach fuzz” follicles can mature into terminal follicles which produce dark hair, which is a good target for the laser.

Typically several treatments will be necessary to achieve permanent hair removal.

What are the different types of Hair Removal Lasers?

  • The first lasers that were used on a wide scale for hair removal were the ruby and - for very white, thin skin - alexandrite lasers
  • Nd-YAG lasers can be used safely on all skin types, including Mediterranean, Asian and Black skin
  • Diode lasers are considered more effective on thicker skin like the back and legs and can be safely used on people with lightly tanned skin.

What are the Potential Complications?
Fortunately, the complications of laser hair removal are rare if the procedure is performed by an experienced Consultant Plastic Surgeon.

You should expect a certain degree of pain, swelling and redness around the hair follicle after each treatment session. These symptoms, which typically disappear 24 hours following your procedure, include:

  1. Pigment alteration: Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation or darkening of the skin next to the treated area has been reported in 5% of patients and is sometimes seen in darker skinned individuals. Strict sun avoidance is recommended. Hypopigmentation, or lightening of the surrounding skin, has also been reported. These adverse effects are usually temporary. Alteration in underlying pigments is also a risk, especially when Q-switched lasers are used.
  2. Infection: Bacterial Skin Infections are rare and occur when the superficial skin is injured. Antibiotic treatment may be prescribed, but generally good wound care is sufficient to prevent infection. If you have had prior episodes of cold sores or herpes simplex infections, you may develop a recurrent episode after a laser treatment. If you have a history of herpes simplex infections, your doctor should prescribe appropriate antiviral medication prior to laser hair removal to prevent a recurrent herpes episode.
  3. Scarring may rarely occur and generally follows an infection or superficial skin injury.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is laser hair removal painful?
Laser hair removal can be mild to moderately uncomfortable. Each individual hair follicle is surrounded by nerve endings. While some patients may be able to tolerate the procedure without the use of an anaesthetic, others may find the application of an anaesthetic cream (such as EMLA) helpful. A generous layer of anaesthetic cream is applied for 30-60 minutes before the procedure and can provide adequate relief from discomfort during the procedure.

2. How many treatments are necessary?
For satisfactory, long-lasting hair removal most patients may require from three to six treatments.The interval between treatments varies between 4 and 12 weeks, and will depend on your hair colour, the type of laser used, and the location treated.

3. What are the potential complications?
Fortunately, the complications of laser hair removal are rare if the procedure is performed by an experienced Consultant Plastic Surgeon. You should expect a certain degree of pain, swelling and redness around the hair follicle after each treatment session. These symptoms, which typically disappear 24 hours following your procedure, include:

  1. Pigment alteration: Postinfl ammatory hyperpigmentation or darkening of the skin next to the treated area has been reported in 5% of patients and is sometimes seen in darker skinned individuals. Strict sun avoidance is recommended. Hypopigmentation, or lightening of the surrounding skin, has also been reported. These adverse effects are usually temporary. Alteration in underlying pigments is also a risk, especially when Q-switched lasers are used.
  2. Infection: Bacterial Skin Infections are rare and occur when the superficial skin is injured. Antibiotic treatment may be prescribed, but generally good wound care is sufficient to prevent infection. If you have had prior episodes of cold sores or herpes simplex infections, you may develop a recurrent episode after a laser treatment. If you have a history of herpes simplex infections, your doctor should prescribe appropriate antiviral medication prior to laser hair removal to prevent a recurrent herpes episode.
  3. Scarring may rarely occur and generally follows an infection or superficial skin injury.

4. Who is a candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
Almost anybody who has undesirable hair is a candidate for laser hair removal. However certain conditions may complicate treatment. Laser hair removal is particularly effective with lightskinned, dark-haired individuals. Lasers with longer wavelengths are generally useful for darker skinned patients.

For additional information regarding this procedure please contact your Consultant Plastic Surgeon.

 

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