How Long Does It Take To Get Laser Hair Removal

The number of treatments required varies based on each person’s skin type, hair color, and size of the area being treated (if the area has more dark hairs than light hairs).

Laser hair removal has been around for a long time but if you don’t know much about it, what is the process involves and how quick to notice results. This article will answer all those questions so that you can be better informed when considering laser hair removal.

Finally, there’s one other factor that can influence treatment length: your technician! Your technician will be able to give you a better idea of what to expect when it comes to treatment length based on their experience with other clients with similar skin tones/hair colors/etc…

Laser hair removal is a great way to remove unwanted body hair. It’s fast, effective, and doesn’t require any shaving or other maintenance after treatment. But how long does it take to get laser hair removal?

How Long Does It Take To Get Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal on the face can take anywhere from five to eight sessions. The number of sessions you need depends on your skin type and hair color, as well as the area being treated.

The treatment itself is quick, lasting only about 30 minutes. You will feel a pinch or two during the procedure, but other than that, there is no pain involved.

It takes around three to six sessions to remove hair from the entire face. The number of sessions required depends on how dense the hair growth is, as well as how dark your skin tone is.

The larger the area, the longer it will take. For example, if you were having your face treated, it would take around 10-12 hours. If you were having a full leg of hair removed (hip to ankle), it would take around 16-18 hours.

Some people want to remove all of their facial hair. Others want to remove just a few stray hairs here and there. It’s important to think about what kind of results you’re looking for before choosing a treatment plan that best matches your needs.

If you have dark skin, it will take longer to see results than someone with lighter skin. The laser works by targeting melanin, which is the pigmented substance in your skin that gives it color. Darker skin tones also require more energy to target and remove the pigment, which means more sessions are needed to achieve permanent results.

How Many Sessions For Laser Hair Removal

To remove the hair, most patients need 2 to 6 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it. The hairs also tend to be finer and lighter in color.

Laser hair removal can be an effective, easy, and virtually painless way to get the smooth skin that you crave. With the help of our professional team at Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, Michigan, you can look and feel your best for years to come. Many people are turning to this type of treatment to remove their unwanted hair and look beach-ready any time of the year, and it’s easy to understand the appeal. It works, and the results can last for years.

How Many Sessions Are Needed for Laser Hair Removal?

This type of treatment is best done in a series of sessions. Each person is different, so it’s difficult to tell exactly how many sessions will be needed without an initial consultation. Generally, people need between six and eight sessions to remove the hair fully. That’s because our hair goes through different growth phases. The bodily location where you want the hair removed also factors in.

If you’re having hair removed from your face, you can schedule appointments once every four weeks. If you want to remove hair from your body, aim for every month and a half. We will work with you to craft a treatment schedule that works for you and your body and takes your existing appointments into account.

Is There Any Downtime?

One of the biggest perks of this treatment is that there’s really no downtime and the sessions themselves are virtually pain-free. Most people find this treatment preferable to other options, such as waxing, which tends to be rougher on the skin.

What to Expect During a Session

The targeted area will be treated to several laser pulses that will seek out the hair root and follicle. The lasers kill the follicle, so they can’t produce additional hair. Since hair grows at different times, the treatment must be done in a few different sessions to fully address all of the follicles in any given area. Most people find the treatment to be fairly pain-free.

What Happens After Your Treatment

After you get laser hair removal, try to stay out of the sun and avoid waxing or picking at your skin right after the treatment. You should also avoid putting any scented products or Retinol creams on the skin. Keep it clean and use a bit of baby powder to keep the area cool and dry. After the treatment, many people notice that their hair starts to slough off, and the skin underneath is luminous, smooth, and lovely.

Common Reasons People Get This Treatment

There are plenty of reasons why people prefer laser hair removal to other types of treatments. It’s a great investment in the long run, and it’s certainly far less painful than other alternatives.

Minimize Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs can be unsightly and also lead to infections if they’re plucked. Lasers minimize or even eliminate unwanted ingrown hairs, and many people who get these treatments done to find that they no longer have to deal with them again.

Look Great All Summer Long

You can look great all winter long as well, but the summers are when we tend to show off more skin. Since hair doesn’t grow back on laser-treated skin, you won’t have to worry about missing a spot shaving or waxing. You can go to the beach with the full confidence that you look totally hairless and bathing suit ready. This assurance can raise your confidence and make you feel better about your body.

Permanent Solution

Unlike other hair removal techniques, lasers are a permanent solution to unwanted hair. Once the follicle and root are destroyed, the hair is gone forever. This makes the treatment an excellent option for those who are looking to get rid of hair for good.

Smooth, Luxurious Skin

Hairless skin is smooth, luxurious skin. Imagine having soft, hairless skin that feels freshly waxed or shaved without going through the trouble of waxing or shaving? That’s how people who get laser hair removal feel every day. There’s no stubble or unwanted, patchy hair.

Everyone experiences different benefits of laser hair removal. Talk to us about what your objectives are, and we should be able to tell you what to expect and what excellent benefits you can expect after your hair removal sessions.

Where Can I Get This Treatment Done?

You can get this treatment done virtually anywhere on your body. Many people opt for the face, specifically areas of your eyebrows, upper lip, and nose, or underarms, bikini line, legs, chest, and arms. You can certainly get it done on more than one body part, and many people who have experienced laser hair removal firsthand like to continue treating other areas of their bodies.

Alternatives to This Treatment

Those who don’t opt for laser removal have several different options when it comes to getting rid of unwanted hair. Unfortunately, these alternatives are simply not as effective as lasers and are generally considered to be temporary fixes.

Tweezing

Tweezing is a way of ripping out single or small bunches of hair with tweezers. It’s a good way to sculpt eyebrows or deal with one or two unwanted hairs. It’s not a permanent solution to hair removal, and realistically it can only be done in small areas of the body.

Topical Hair Removal Lotions

You can buy topical hair removal lotions or creams over the counter. Many of them are specifically designed for a particular part of the body, and you shouldn’t attempt to apply them in a different area. Although these creams tend to work, many of them are loaded with chemicals and can cause adverse reactions. If you opt for this hair removal system, test a small area of your body first to make sure that you’re not allergic.

One of the biggest benefits of laser removal treatments is that there’s virtually no chance of an allergic reaction.

Shaving

Shaving is one of the most common ways to get rid of unwanted hair. Although it’s relatively painless and you can shave anywhere on your body, shaving will not remove hair in the long run. Many people also miss spots shaving, which can lead to embarrassing situations. Razors can also become quite dull over time, and need to be replaced, making shaving costly in the long run. Although it’s an easy fix for body hair, shaving just doesn’t make a ton of sense if you have to do it every day.

Additionally, many razors are disposable and can cause major environmental headaches if they’re not recycled. Lasers are a more environmentally friendly, easier, effective, and less costly way to deal with unwanted body hair.

Wax

Waxing is highly effective, but most people find it to be exceptionally painful. Although you can wax at home, many people go to salons to have it done professionally. While wax rips the hair out at the root, it doesn’t permanently prevent the follicle from producing more hairs, and most people have to go back to the salon to get re-waxed after a few months. Wax can also cause burns or infections if you don’t go to a reputable place.

Ultimately, most people who try laser hair treatments wind up finding it to be a pain-free, permanent alternative to a lot of other options.

Get Smooth, Hairless Skin Today

If you want to have smooth, hairless skin without the constant need to shave, or the pain of having your hair waxed, we can help. Our team works with men and women just like you who want to look their best in an affordable and practical manner. We prioritize your care, treat you like the individual that you are, and make sure that you are handled with kindness and total transparency every step of the way. Our goal is to help you look and feel your very best through personalized consultation and an effective treatment plan.

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent

Hair removal from a destroyed hair follicle is permanent. However, people who undergo hair removal can expect that some hair in the targeted area will grow back.

Over time, it is possible to treat the area again to reduce the number of hairs that regrow. In some cases, it may even be possible to eliminate all hair.

Whether or not hair grows back depends on numerous factors, including the type of hair that regrows and the skill of the person removing the hair.

Most people find that when hair regrows, it is lighter and less noticeable than it was before. This is because the laser may damage the hair follicle even when it fails to destroy it.

If a hair follicle is damaged but not destroyed, the hair will eventually regrow. It can be difficult to destroy every single hair follicle, so most people will see some hair regrowth.

When hair regrows, it is possible to treat it again, so people who want to remove all the hair may need several treatments.

In some cases, hair may be too light, too short, or resistant to treatment. In these cases, a person might choose to use other hair removal methods, such as plucking stray hairs.

How long does laser hair removal last?

Laser hair removal is permanent when the hair follicle is destroyed. When the hair follicle is only damaged, the hair will eventually regrow.

The amount of time it takes for the hair to regrow depends on the person’s unique hair growth cycle. Some people have hair that grows more quickly than others. Hair that is in a resting phase will grow back more slowly than hair that is in another phase.

Most people can expect some hair regrowth within a few months. Once this happens, they can opt for more removal treatments.

Does skin or hair color make a difference?

Hair removal works best on people with light complexions who have dark hair. This is because the pigment contrast makes it easier for the laser to target the hair, travel into the follicle, and destroy the follicle.

People with dark skin or light hair may need more treatments than others and may find that more hair grows back.

To permanently remove hair, the technician must know how to target the hair and choose the right type of laser. Research published in 2013Trusted Source found that lasers that produce longer wavelengths work best on dark skin.

Side effects and risks

During treatment, some people experience burning, stinging, or discomfort. For this reason, many technicians apply a numbing cream to the area they are treating. However, some people may have an allergic reaction or skin irritation in response to the numbing cream.

Minor side effects are common, and may include:

• changes in the color of the skin, particularly in people with dark skin, which are usually temporary
• skin redness
• blistering or crusting of the skin

Sometimes, irritation related to hair removal can cause scarring. Damaged skin can also become infected. Though rare, skin infections can spread and become life-threatening.

Providing a detailed medical history and discussing risks and benefits can help the provider determine the right treatment, reducing the risk of serious side effects.

Following hair removal, a person should avoid sun exposure. The sun can irritate the skin, which increases the risk of blisters and scars.

People who experience intense pain, a fever, crusting, blisters, or other signs of skin damage or infection should seek medical attention.

Cost of laser hair removal

Most people require multiple sessions, so people should talk to their treatment provider about how many sessions they will need to work out the overall cost.

Because laser hair removal is almost always a cosmetic procedure, insurance is unlikely to cover it.

The total cost of laser hair removal depends on several factors, including who performs the treatment. Skilled providers such as dermatologists and plastic surgeons may charge more but are less likely to cause injury or side effects.

Other factors affecting the cost include:

• the number of treatments required
• how much hair regrows
• the number of hairs targeted
• the size of the area requiring treatment

Removing a small amount of hair from a region such as the upper lip will cost less than removing hair from the entire leg.

Outlook

Laser hair removal can significantly reduce the amount of body hair a person has. In most people, some hair will regrow over time.

Even when hair does regrow, there will be less overall hair, producing a smoother appearance. To get a realistic understanding of what to expect from laser hair removal, discuss treatment goals with a doctor or hair removal specialist.

Some skin complexions and hair types produce better results than others. The only way to know for sure what to expect is to talk to a doctor, a dermatologist, or another skilled practitioner.

Last medically reviewed on June 10, 2018

• Dermatology
• Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery

How we reviewed this article:

SOURCES

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What are the side effects of laser hair removal?

• Side effects
• Rare side effects
• Is laser hair removal safe?
• Is it painful?
• Does it work?
• Risks during pregnancy
• Myths
• Seeing a doctor
• Outlook

Laser hair removal is popular with people wanting a solution to hair removal that is more permanent than some other methods. Using lasers to remove hair works by stopping the hair follicles from growing new hairs.

Before embarking on the therapy, however, people should make themselves aware of some side effects of laser hair removal, as well as some myths that surround the process.

For most people, laser hair removal is a safe way to get rid of hair in unwanted places permanently or for long periods of time.

Side effects

A few different side effects can appear after laser hair removal. Most side effects are minor and temporary. Anyone experiencing lasting side effects should consult their dermatologist.

Redness and irritation

Laser hair removal damages the follicles of the targeted hairs. The body reacts to this, and many people experience redness and irritation in the affected areas. The skin may tingle or feel tender, and may even appear to swell slightly.

The symptoms are usually short-lived. The affected area may look similar to skin that has just been waxed or plucked. Some dermatologists use a topical anesthetic to reduce how much a person’s skin reacts to the process.

Irritation should ease after the initial reaction, usually within a few hours of the treatment. Swelling and redness may respond well to ice packs or a cool bath.

Crusting

Some people may experience skin crusting in the affected area. This is typically a minor issue but can be inconvenient.

Crusting can sometimes lead to scabbing or scarring. By taking care of the treated area after laser removal, such as by using a moisturizer, a person may prevent any lasting issues from this treatment.

Changes in skin color

Some people may notice minor color changes to the treated area of skin. It may get slightly darker or lighter, following laser hair removal.

People with lighter skin may be more likely to experience darker pigmentation changes. People with darker skin tones may be more prone to lighter pigmentation changes. These changes tend to fade away over time, and the skin returns to normal.

Eye injury

The hair removal procedure involves the use of powerful lasers. This means there is a risk of potentially serious eye injury, especially when a practitioner is working on a person’s face.

Both the person receiving the treatment and the practitioner should wear protective eye equipment to help prevent injury while the procedure is carried out.

Risk of skin infection

As with other cosmetic hair removal methods, damaging hair follicles with a laser can create an infection risk.

The affected area should be treated as a wound while it heals. People should report any signs of infection to a dermatologist.

Finally, they should not apply over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic creams to large areas of skin if an infection arises.

Rare side effects

Less common side effects following laser hair removal can include the following:

Burns and blisters

There is a risk of burns and blisters if laser hair removal is not done correctly.

When a qualified practitioner carries out the process, however, burns and blisters are rare.

Laser hair removal uses high-heat lasers.

A practitioner may apply a cooling device to a person’s skin just before the laser is used. This helps to prevent the laser from burning the skin.

Scars

Scars are typically not a side effect of laser hair removal. However, if the practitioner makes an error, scarring can occur. This should not be an issue with most qualified practitioners.

Scars may also form if people do not care for the treated area correctly afterward.

They should treat the affected skin as if it had been sunburned to avoid further damage. This means keeping it moisturized, protected from light, and checked regularly for signs of infection.

Is laser hair removal safe?

The majority of people who use it find that laser hair removal is safe and well-tolerated. There do not appear to be any long-term health risks associated with the procedure.

However, some people may experience minor side effects after laser hair removal. People should ask their dermatologist to test how a small patch of skin reacts to the treatment before having it done on a larger area of skin.

People wishing to have laser hair removal treatment should always use a fully-qualified practitioner.

Is laser hair removal painful?

For a couple of days after treatment, the affected skin may become red and tender. Many people describe the sensation as similar to a sunburn. The process itself, however, is typically not painful.

Does it work?

Laser hair removal therapy does work, but it rarely achieved permanent hair removal. Laser treatment can significantly reduce hair growth, nevertheless.

After the first treatment, many people will only be hair-free for a few months. The hairs will eventually grow back, though they are often finer, lighter, and less likely to be noticed than before.

Many people will require multiple sessions to achieve a more permanent or satisfactory solution to unwanted hair. The hair may grow back lighter and thinner with each subsequent session. After enough treatments, it may stop growing back altogether.

Laser hair removal may also be more effective on dark hair. People with blond, reddish, or grey hairs may not notice much of a change, as laser lights are attracted to dark hair and are often not successful on light hair.