Getting rid of unwanted hair on some parts of the body is made easy with laser hair removal.
Unwanted hair, especially in areas one desire to flaunt, is just gross! Sure, plucking, shaving, waxing, using hair removal creams, and the like, can get rid of unwanted hair, but for a more lasting effect, people are now turning to the latest of derma technology --- laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is a system of minimizing the growth of hair using laser energy. It involves the use of a machine.
What really transpires here is that the heat being produced by the laser is transferred to the hair or hair follicle, damaging it and eventually stopping its re-growth. This is a very delicate procedure, one that requires extreme caution, skill, and patience, because the skin surrounding the targeted area must not be damaged by the heat at all. Most common target areas are the face (usually the lip line, but never anywhere near the eyes), arms, legs, back, and bikini line.
Because of this, and because, too, of the potential risks and side effects, like blistering and scarring, laser hair removal becomes a medical procedure, and not simply a cosmetic procedure, as more commonly thought of. For this very reason, the expertise of a licensed dermatologist or skilled laser hair removal professional is highly recommended. Prior to the procedure, it is imperative for the individual to make an appointment with his or her chosen doctor to be assessed of his or her physical condition.
Oftentimes, the doctor will want to know the client’s medical history, including the kind of medicines being taken. The doctor may also take photographs of the area or areas that will undergo the treatment to provide him or her with a basis for post-treatment review and evaluation.
The appointment with the doctor almost always does not conclude without the doctor informing the client of what to expect from the procedure, including its advantages, benefits and risks involved. The treatment may be done only once, depending on the area to be treated. Usually, however, it takes several sessions for the treatment to effectively work.
At least two weeks prior to laser hair removal, the client will be most likely advised to avoid plucking and/or bleaching. If one has a sunburn or suntan, the client must avoid undergoing the treatment until the sunburn has completely resolved and the suntan gone. Shaving may be done before the treatment, but only to a point wherein just a bit of hair can be seen. During the procedure, the client may be made to wear a pair of goggles to protect his or her eyes from laser light.
The client may then feel a tingling sensation when the laser machine is turned on. Although laser hair removal is not painful, it could cause some discomfort, thus the application of a local anesthetic may be done. The procedure lasts for several minutes to a few hours, depending on the area being treated. Redness and swelling are common during the first couple of hours or so, and oftentimes, this may relieved by applying cold compress on the area.
A stinging sensation may also be felt during the first two days after treatment, so it will be wise to have a jar of petroleum jelly at the bedside. After the treatment, the client will be instructed to use a generous amount of moisturizer and to limit the use of cosmetics as these may irritate the skin. He or she will also be asked to use sunblock, specifically one with SPF 25 or more, for better protection, for at least two weeks.
Side effects, like pigmentary changes, blisters and burns, are rare, after the treatment, and if ever they occur, they are most likely to be just temporary. The hair is expected to continue to shed from day one post-treatment to three weeks, more or less, so keeping a washcloth or a loofah handy will be a great comfort. Except for shaving, plucking, waxing and other hair-removal methods are a definite no-no after laser hair removal.
While laser hair removal may not be for everybody, there are, today, five different types of laser hair removal systems to suit varying hair and skin types. Thus, understanding the function of each will enable the client to achieve maximum results. The oldest of these laser hair removal systems is the Ruby Laser with a wavelength of 694 mm. This is designed specifically for people with fine and light hair. However, this system has been found to cause changes in skin color. Another method of hair removal is the Alexandrite Laser with a wavelength of 755 nm, the fastest and most widely used among the laser hair removal systems.
This is the method of choice for light to olive-colored skin, and also if the area to be treated is quite large, like the back, for instance. Like the Ruby Laser, this method has also been found to cause changes in skin color, or otherwise known as pigmentary changes. For clients with dark skin, using Diode Laser with a wavelength of 800 to 810 nm will prove to be most effective. Experts view this as the most useful of all systems because of its longer wavelength which allows light to seep deep into the hair follicle without causing much damage to the skin.
The most versatile of all hair removal systems is the Long Pulse Nd: Yag Laser with a wavelength of 1064 nm. This type of laser can suit every skin color, even dark skin tones. However, clients have complained of periods of discomfort when using this, probably because of its fast repetition rates. The last, but not least, of the laser hair removal systems is the Intense Pulse Light Device.
This is, actually, not laser in the strictest sense of the word, but functions in like manner as laser in that it also uses selective photothermolysis in hair removal. This device is very hard to use, and may often require the services of a skilled technician.
Every laser hair removal system comes with different sets of machines. The Intense Pulse Light systems, for example, may use the machines Photoderm, Epilight, Aculight, Quantum or Vasculight. The Epilight is the most clearly defined and is often referred to as the advanced or improved version of Photoderm (primarily used to treat the blood vessels of the face and leg veins). The Epilight is so designed to specifically remove unwanted hair on any type of skin. Its simplified and less complicated version is the Quantum or Aculight, which is highly recommended for amateurs.
Intense Pulse Light machines, such as those manufactured by Beijing S & T Development Cop., Ltd and Wuhan Zhenguan Industry and Trade Co., Ltd, may be bought online at Tradekey. The Diode Laser systems, on the other hand, utilize machines like the SLP 1000, Light Sheer, F1 Diode, LaserLit, MeDioStar, Apex 800 and Epistar,. They have just recently been made available in the market, so there isn’t much information about them yet to conclude their success rate, although the SLP 1000 has been observed to have better hair removal results while producing fewer side effects.
Medlite IV, CoolGlide, Athos, Lyra, Varia and Image machines are used by the Nd: Yag laser system. These machines are being endorsed to cater to very dark skin colors. There are just two kinds of machines being used by the Ruby laser, the oldest hair removal systems --- Palomar E2000 and Ruby Star, while the Alexandrite laser utilizes three --- Apogee, GentleLASE and EpiTouch Plus. Choosing which of these machines will work best for the client may be difficult, and oftentimes, it may require the assistance of a skilled laser hair removal professional.
Before any laser hair removal machine can be offered for sale in the market, it requires clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that the machine has undergone quality testing and met the standards set by the agency. There are heavy-duty laser hair removal machines available in the market, and they are quite expensive. Prices range from $2,000.00 to $8,000.00, depending, of course on the type of machine.
Getting rid of unwanted hair comes with a price, of course. The cost varies, depending on the size of area to be treated, type of treatment to undergo, degree of difficulty of the treatment itself and the length of time it takes for the treatment to finish, plus the number of sessions to attend, and even geographical location. However, while the cost of having smooth, practically hairless skin may be uniquely different from one individual to another, some laser hair removal clinics may charge a flat fee rate.
Other clinics use time as basis for charging, say for example, $100.00 for every 15 minutes. Thus, the longer it takes to remove the hair, the more expensive it becomes. Pricing may also be based on the number of pulses generated, say $1.00 for every pulse, with one pulse able to remove roughly 100 pieces of hair.
In some areas in the United States, laser hair removal session costs around $400.00 to $450.00. And oftentimes, it takes several sessions for laser hair removal to effectively work. Some may find it outrageously expensive, but the important thing is to make sure that one gets his or her money’s worth. So it helps a lot to have a bit of research and netsurfing where one can find the best service without having to pay too much.
Although laser hair removal is highly recommended to be performed in the clinic by a doctor or skilled laser hair removal professional, the procedure may also be done at home. Soon, a portable laser hair removal device from Gilette will be up for grabs for only $400.00. The feedbacks toward this machine are quite encouraging. There are other hair removal machines that are being sold at a cheaper price, too, but there have been a lot of complaints