The In’s & Out’s of Laser Hair Removal

As summer approaches, more people will start looking into laser hair removal to never have to shave again. For some, this sounds like a dream — who enjoys shaving? Instead of surgery, permanent hair removal is performed through a laser and it is imperative that everyone who is thinking about the procedure understand the risks and implications of laser surgery before undergoing the light.

“According to a 2013 report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, laser hair removal was the fourth most-common minimally invasive procedure — after Botox, fillers, and chemical peels — that doctors performed in the office.”

So how does laser hair removal work? It’s a lot more complicated than a zap & smooth legs forever. The laser hits your skin and goes into every hair follicle to burn it beyond repair. Sounds painful, but it doesn’t hurt any more than getting snapped with a rubber band. One treatment usually is not enough for you to throw away your razor and never look back.

“In most cases, more than one treatment will be needed for permanent laser hair removal. Generally, you will need to get somewhere between two to six treatments taking your skin type into account.”

Laser hair removal is one of the very few situations where skin color DOES matter! The Fitzpatrick Skin-Typing Scale breaks skin tone into 6 categories, from Very White/Freckled to Black. Darker skin (4–6 on the Fitzpatrick Scale) are more likely to be injured than lighter skin, and are also at a higher risk of having skin tone changes after the procedure.

The latest trend is to avoid the expensive doctor’s and DIY. Products like Nair and Veet will temporarily remove hair without shaving, but inevitably, the hair will grow back. Thinking of doing the at-home DIY laser hair removal treatment, such as Tria 4X? Downsides? Besides the fact that regardless of how much you read the instruction manual, you are NOT a trained professional in laser hair removal, it can hurt even more than the in-office treatment does, and you may need additional treatments. There are also certain skin tones that you can’t remove hair at home with.

If you’re among the population hoping to have shaveless smooth legs this summer, be sure to do your homework before zapping your follicles and go in with realistic expectations.

References
“Does At Home Laser Hair Removal Really Work?” By Cheryl Wischhover
“Laser Hair Removal & Ethnic Skin Tones” by Louis Silberman