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Laser hair removal involves a safe and pain-free process of removing unwanted hair from specific parts of the body. Medical experts and cosmetic skin professionals use the technology to help individuals get rid of unwanted facial and body hair in an effective. Even dermatologists utilize laser hair removal to treat various areas in the body such as the chest, back, and face, especially in the upper lip and chin.

If you’re interested in laser hair removal treatment, below we provide some facts and insights about the procedure, how to prepare, approximate costs, and potential risk factors.

How to Prepare for the Procedure

Laser hair removal should be carried out by a trained medical expert. Before the procedure is performed, an individual should thoroughly check the qualifications of the services provider. The health care provider that performs the process should have the required credentials. People planning to undergo the laser hair removal process should avoid certain activities such as procedure.

The waxing or plucking tamper with the hair follicle which is the primary target of the laser hair removal process. Direct exposure to direct sunlight should also be avoided six weeks before and after the treatment. The direct exposure to sunlight may reduce the effectiveness of the hair laser removal procedure. Sun exposure may also increase the risk on one developing complications after the treatment.

Process of Laser Hair Removal

Before the procedure, the hair is trimmed to a few millimeters just above the skin surface. Adjustments are then made to the laser equipment according to the patient’s hair color, thickness, and its location. Both the technician and the patient will wear an eye protector depending on the laser or light source. The outer layer of the skin will be protected using a cold gel or a specially designed cooling equipment.

The protection helps the light to penetrate the skin effectively. After the treatment procedure is completed, the patient will be given ice-packs and analgesic creams and lotions to suppress the pain. Hydrotherapy by use of cold water can be applied to ease the discomfort. The next treatment may be scheduled four to six weeks after the first treatment.

Cost of Laser Hair Removal

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates the cost of the procedure at around $235 USD per session. The total number of laser hair removal treatments will also determine the costs to be incurred by the patient. Some clinics provide packages for laser hair removal, which can help to lower the cost of the treatment as a whole. Because clinics know that it takes 6-8 sessions to realize desirable results, they provide only packages so that clients will have real expectations and successful outcomes.

There are some specific factors to consider when choosing a hair laser removal provider. This focus on:

• The level of qualification and experience of the treatment provider.
• The ability of the services provider to ensure safety and comfort of the patient throughout the treatment.

For more information, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons to see other estimates and statistics on laser hair removal procedures.

Hair & Skin Color Considerations

Laser hair removal effectiveness is affected by the hair and skin color. Melanin, which is a dark pigment on the skin is capable of attracting the light emitted from the source. Due to this, black hair is effectively treated than hair having other colors. Procedures performed on red hairs, or gray blonds are not effective as compared to that carried out on dark hair.

Risk Factors Associated With Laser Hair Removal

There are not very many risks associated with laser hair removal. In fact, they are very few and far between. The most common, when issues to arise, is with people who have dark complexions may be sensitive to developing blisters, however, this is very rare. Other potential adverse reactions that are caused by the process include redness, swelling, and even scarring. But again, this varies depending on the skin of the individual and if they are sensitive to laser light therapies.

As the name would suggest laser-assisted liposuction uses a laser to melt the fat then suction is connected and fatty liquid is removed from your body. It’s often considered to be safe, gentler, and less invasive than traditional methods due to the use of local anesthesia and small instruments which makes the downtime virtually none.

Laser liposuction is considered best for people within twenty pounds of their ideal body weight who have problem areas. It’s often used to sculpt areas such as the thighs, abdomen, hips, waist, bra fat, flanks, chin and upper arms.

In a nut shell, laser energy is delivered through a laser fiber that is threaded through a narrow cannula. As the laser pulses, its energy is converted to heat energy which is absorbed by the fat cells, causing them the melt. This heat is also absorbed by the surrounding skin tissue to stimulate collagen production.

Collagen production equals skin tightening, which is an added benefit. This process also protects the skin from excess tissue trauma so you have less bruising and swelling than with traditional methods.

Treatment and recovery time of these methods are comparable. Most use local anesthesia, but some doctors use twilight sedation, but this is certainly not necessary and does introduce its own risks, so local anesthesia is preferred.

Depending on the area you are having treated the procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours, and a few days recovering. Bruising and swelling will vary from person to person, but you should expect some swelling for several weeks post procedure, but it is mostly concealed with use of a compression garment.

Here are different types that may be available to you.

SmartLipo

SmartLipo Triplex from Cynosure is a body contouring process known to be especially effective at skin tightening. In fact it is the only technology on the market that has real clinical data supporting its skin tightening claim.

While Smartlipo has had several improvements since its inception and it was the first laser liposuction procedure to market after being approved by the FDA. It is still considered the gold standard when it comes to laser assisted liposuction procedures.

The Smartlipo Triplex machine utilizes three wavelengths of laser: 1064nm, 1320nm and the 1440nm. Each of these wavelengths has a different job. The Smartlipo Triplex also has built in safety features, like the thermaguide which is attached to the laser and measures the internal temperature as it’s pulsing, this virtually eliminates burns as it would automatically shut down if it reached a certain temperature. Again procedure time is anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours and recovery is 1-3 days.

CoolLipo

The cannula, once in place, emits short pulses of high-peak YAG laser energy at 1320 nm. CoolLipo offers a dual mode one for liposuction and the other for skin tightening. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia and depending on the area this will determine the amount of time needed for the procedure but usually 30 minutes to 3 hours. Again downtime is minimal just a few days.

ProLipo Plus

Sciton’s version employs a dual wavelength capacity laser at 1064 nm and 1319 nm, which can be used individually or custom-combined for optimum results. The 1064 nm wavelength is chosen for breaking up fat; the 1319 nm tightens the skin. The procedure takes a few hours and recovery time is several days.

LipoLite

Like SmartLipo, Syneron’s LipoLite uses a 1064 nm wavelength YAG laser, but adds SelectPulse technology to deliver custom-controlled and timed energy pulses. This allows it to better treat areas that are fibrous or have more resistant tissue, and helps destroy fat cell membranes. The procedure lasts under an hour with local anesthetic and recovery time is just a few days.

LipoTherme/LipoControl

Osyris’ Lipotherme uses a 980 nm wavelength diode continuous-wave laser to liquefy the fat cells before removing them with suction. Like the others the procedure takes 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on the size and number of areas being treated and the recovery is a few days.

Be sure to research all of your laser liposuction options and schedule consultations with several doctors. Not only do you have to feel comfortable and confident in the technology you choose, but most importantly you need to choose a good surgeon, so don’t forget to research them too.

You can visit the medical board for the state the doctor is practicing in and you should also read reviews from patients.