Laser hair removal by dr shruti gupta at SKINOS Clinic

LASER HAIR REMOVAL Laser hair removal is a non-invasive hair removal technique by means of exposure to pulses of laser light that destroy the hair follicles. How does it work? The laser light is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair follicle and hair shaft -generating heat which damages the follicle to inhibit future hair growth. The laser light is best absorbed when the hair follicles are in the active growing phase (anagen phase). So plucking the hair before the treatment will reduce its efficacy as the target will be absent. Also because, not all hair are in the anlagen phase at a particular period of time, so multiple sessions are required to produce signification reduction of hair. Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal treatment? Anyone with unwanted dark coarse hair is a good candidate for this treatment. Females with increased facial hair growth and underlying hormonal imbalances can also undergo laser hair removal, in addition to the treatment of hormonal issues. People with white or gray hair do not have sufficient melanin in the hair roots to serve as target for laser light, hence they are not suitable candidates for laser hair removal. What should be avoided prior to starting the treatment? The following activities should be preferably avoided 4-6 weeks before laser hair reduction treatment. Hair Removal Cream Hair Bleaches Hair Waxing Tweezing and plucking Excessive Sun Exposure What areas of the body can be treated? Laser hair removal can be done for the entire body, as well as for individual areas of concern like underarms, legs, arms, chest, bikini area, lip, chin, back, abdomen, buttocks, thighs, chest and private areas. What are the steps of the procedure? It is a very comfortable procedure performed without anaesthesia. The area to be treated is first marked with a white skin marking pencil. The hair is then shaved off using a disposable razor. Pre-treatment cooling of the skin is performed with sterile ice packs. A transparent gel is applied on the skin. Laser parameters are set in the machine, hand-piece of the device is held steadily and placed on the surface of the skin and laser shots fired. The laser shots are felt like snap of a rubber band or minor needle pricks. The discomfort is reduced markedly by cooling performed before, during and after the treatment. The entire treatment area is covered in a systematic manner to avoid skip areas. At the completion of the session, the area is cleaned and post-treatment cream is applied. Is it a painful procedure? Laser hair removal is a comfortable procedure. The laser shots feel like a snap of a rubber band or like minor needle pricks. The discomfort can be reduced by proper cooling of the area pre and post procedure. For more sensitive areas like the pubic area, a topical anaethetic cream may be applied for 30-40 minutes before the session. How much time will each session take? Depending on the body part being treated, a laser hair removal session may take few minutes to few hours . What can I expect during the recovery period? There is no down time associated with laser hair removal treatment. You can return to normal activities immediately. Icing may be done for a couple of days post treatment if you experience any burning or stinging sensation. A moisturising lotion is advisable to be applied to soothe the skin and keep it soft. How many sessions do I need to achieve best results? Because hair grows in cycles, and laser acts on the hair follicles only during their growing (anagen) phase, it typically takes six to eight laser hair removal treatments to provide significant hair reduction. Some areas respond much earlier, while other areas may need few additional sessions. What is the interval between laser sessions? Depending on the area, we generally recommend six to eight weeks interval between different laser sessions. How will I look between sessions? The dead hair roots shed off spontaneously in 7 - 10 days. After that the skin feels smooth and hair free. Is laser hair removal safe? Absolutely! We use only state-of-the-art Lumenis medical lasers. Additionally, all of our staff are highly experienced and qualified. Is laser hair removal permanent? Yes. The hair that is removed once do not grow back. However, it requires multiple sessions to achieve the results.