Why Are Lasers Used In The Treatment Of Hair Removal?

• Lasers are a great choice to remove hair since they are safe and can provide long lasting results or permanent removal of hair. It is a quick and a precise method to get a permanent solution for your unwanted hair. Another great advantage of using lasers is that you do not have to wait for the hair to grow long and above the surface of the skin before you can treat it.

What Is Laser Hair Reduction and How Does It Works?

• Hair Reduction Laser is a type of lightening device. It is sensitive to color. Therefore, it works best on black, dark and thick hair.
• These hair treatments work only over many sittings done at regular intervals. The approximate number of sittings that will be required, will be discussed with you during consultation. It is best, if you have had no sun exposure, have no active skin infection or have started a new skin care regime, at the time of your treatment. We use only FDA approved lasers which is latest and painless.

What Is the Procedure Like?

• Once Dr. Agarwal examines you and the necessary blood work is done and the corrections are in place, she decides the parameters of your treatment.
• We then shave the area to be treated, cool it and then administer the laser over it.
• What areas of the body can be treated using the laser hair removal treatment?
• Since lasers are extremely comfortable and easy to use, they can be used to treat any part of the body right from face, legs, arms, underarms to even the bikini line. However, to be safe a small area inside the bony structure of eye socket is left out.

What Makes The Treatment From The Laser Light Safe And Comfortable?

• The patients experience minimum discomfort at the time of laser hair removal treatment and that too is much less when compared to other techniques such as threading or waxing.
• The laser treatment is often accompanied by integrated cooling that helps to keep the surface of the skin cool, thus eliminating any feeling of discomfort or pain. Also, the laser light emerges from a sapphire crystal window that removes the heat almost instantly from the skin and leaving behind a sensation of a pinch.

When Do I See the Results?

• In 4 to 6 sittings, you will see good visible results.
• But the best results are achieved in 8 to 12 sittings.
• Please keep in mind, this is laser hair reduction and not laser hair removal

What Do I Do In Between My Laser Sessions for My Hair Removal?

• In between your hair reduction laser sessions, you could use any mode of hair removal, yes even waxing for the initial 15 days.
• The latter half of the month however, you are only allowed to shave.
• Please do not hesitate to call us if you see any unusual change in your skin post laser like pigmentation, burning or redness.

What Are the Before Care Instructions?

• Since Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and not just zapping of hair, there are a few precautions that you must consider before the actual treatment. This not just keeps you safe but it also increases the efficiency of the treatment and helps it to reach its full potential.
• Before initiating the treatment, make sure that your body is completely free of any kind of cosmetics such as creams, deodorants, lotions or other beauty products; Keep your skin hydrated and thoroughly moisturized and do not expose it to direct sunlight at any cost.
• This one is very important. Do not use any kind of hair removal techniques such as waxing or plucking hair for at least four weeks prior to the day of your appointment. By doing so you would significantly affect the effectiveness of the treatment. However, you can shave if you need to.
• It is advisable to remove any extra hair growth on the surface of the skin by shaving, at least 12 hours before the appointment. This can improve the effectiveness of the treatment.
• What you choose to wear for your appointment is also extremely important. Choose loose and comfortable clothes that will allow you to easily expose the area that requires treatment. Also consider something that will be comfortable post session as well and will not result in itching and discomfort.

What Are the After Care Instructions?

• Undergoing the treatment of laser hair removal can be a great experience for the patient, especially so if they realize that much of that depends on how they take care of their skin. There are a few things that one must keep in mind after the session of treatment. These will not just keep the skin safe and free of any potential risks but will also increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
• One of the most important things to remember post the treatment session is not to pluck or wax any hair on the treated area. Doing so can disrupt the treatment procedure and spark a re-growth of the hair follicle, thus reducing the effectiveness of the treatment.
• Do not exfoliate the treated area for almost two weeks after the laser hair treatment session, do so only once the redness in the area subsides. Also avoid very hot showers and baths for up to 48 hours after the treatment.
• If you notice any signs of discoloration or pigmentation in the treated area, apply Vitamin E to soothe it; completely avoid exposure to direct sunlight for a minimum of two to four weeks after the session of treatment.
• In case you have had a laser hair removal for face, you can use mineral makeup even in the first 48 hours but no other cosmetics until the skin has healed completely. Completely avoid the use of deodorants for up to three days after the treatment as it can cause irritation and itching.
• Even if you take all the above-mentioned precautions, you can still experience itching as it is a common side effect. But ensure that you resist scratching the treated area as it can result in scarring.
• Avoid excessive gym, sauna or exercise for at least 24 to 48 hours as these produce heat in the body that can cause irritation

• Since there are no significant studies to prove the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy, most of the health care providers advise to avoid the treatment during pregnancy. The process involves targeting the melanin in the hair follicle and causes mechanical or thermal damage to the same thus blocking the hair growth permanently. There are no studies to prove the effect of the procedure on the fetus thus it is suggested to avoid it completely during the period.

• PCOD or Polycystic Ovarian Disease, also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is a hormone syndrome and is often seen in women. Some of the common symptoms of the disease include weight gain, infertility and excessive hair growth, a condition also known as hirsutism.
• Hirsutism is caused due to a high level of male hormone called Testosterone in women. The condition results in excessive male pattern hair growth in women that is often a cause of embarrassment for them. Hair growth can affect any part of the body, especially the face, back and chest. There is no doubt about the fact that such women must spend a lot of time and energy in hair removal treatments that are short lived.
• Laser hair removal can be a viable option for women suffering from PCOD. It can give them freedom and help them to get rid of daily shaving and tweezing and discover a new and a confident person.

• Laser hair removal works well for white skin. Instead the best candidates for laser hair removal are the ones that have a fair skin and dark hair. When energy from the laser is targeted at the skin, some of it can be absorbed by the pigmented skin which increases the risk of burn and significantly reduces the energy going to the hair follicle.
• All of this contributes in making the treatment less effective. But fair or white skin does not absorb any energy from the laser and leaves all of it for the hair and the hair follicle, thus making the process a complete success.
• On the contrary, light hair are always more difficult to treat.

• Laser hair removal does not work well for grey hair on any light hair, for that matter. The laser light that is targeted at the melanin in the hair follicle gets reflected instead of getting absorbed. It is then transmitted to the hair follicle. Using laser for a longer period on the grey hair does not work either, since it can cause more damage to the skin and can potentially burn it too.
• There are other methods of hair removal that work just fine for grey hair such as waxing and there are still others that work well but need a bit of precaution such as Electrolysis, Epilation, and hair removing creams.

• Laser hair removal is increasingly getting popular with people due to its several advantages over temporary hair removal techniques.
• The very fact that it is a long-term hair removal or reduction process is a primary advantage over other short-term techniques that give only temporary results. It is safe to use laser hair removal procedure. It comes with minimal side effects which often disappear within a matter of few days.
• Even though the laser treatment has a huge upfront cost but in the long run it is a highly cost-effective method since the patient does not need to spend on temporary techniques such as razors, wax treatments or hair removal creams on a regular basis. They can also save a lot of time and energy that is otherwise spent on such procedures regularly.
• There is no problem of ingrown hair with the laser treatment that is common with other techniques such as waxing, epilating or threading. Also, it is not as painful and irritating as the others.
• While techniques like waxing or threading are more successful with full hair growth, laser hair removal does not require you to wait for full hair growth. Instead laser treatments are more efficient if you shave a few hours before your appointment.
• The laser hair treatment is fast, precise and much more effective than the other temporary hair removal techniques. The laser light precisely targets the hair follicle without damaging the skin surrounding it. Also, the procedure is time saving and can result in permanent hair loss in less than 7 sessions.