Laser Hair Removal has evolved from being only meant for highly visible facial hair to being used for any unwanted body hair. There are a number of cosmetic surgeons that offer laser hair removal services.
Prior to performing laser hair removal, a patient must discuss what the procedure entails. Some doctors suggest that the patients discuss with their friends and family members to get their opinions on whether they would prefer to remove the hair on their body. Other than that, there is no way for the patient to know for sure what the results will be, but, most importantly, the patient should not have any expectations of how fast or how much time it will take.
The skin will be numbed for approximately 3 minutes. Afterwards, the laser is used to cut the hair at the root. Some patients experience minimal pain after the procedure, while others may have discomfort. Most patients have complete healing time and do not have any scarring on their skin.
Before going in for laser hair removal, it is imperative that a patient undergoes a dermatological exam. This should include determining if there are any allergic reactions that he or she might have to any topical medications. Since laser hair removal targets the follicles, it is recommended that the patient take these medications as directed. If a patient chooses to continue using the medication without consulting a doctor, it is possible that the medication could be too strong to avoid irritation to the skin.
For laser hair removal to be successful, the skin must be completely prepared. A specialized, medical-grade compound should be applied to the treated area before the treatment begins. After it is applied, the patient should wear a long-sleeved shirt to minimize the risk of smearing the substance on the skin.
The procedure is done under a local anesthetic, which does not involve any pain medications. Instead, it involves a combination of lidocaine and ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is used to counteract the burning sensation that results from the laser light, while lidocaine blocks the transmission of pain signals to the brain.
While some doctors recommend shaving before the procedure, others prefer not to trim off facial hair prior to the laser treatment. Some patients also choose to keep their eyebrows and eyelashes for cosmetic reasons. While it is a common practice among women to have their eyelashes removed, this is not usually done by male patients.
Some physicians will cut hair in the back and chest before laser hair removal. The reason for this is to avoid making hair in the treated area more visible. Other than that, the back and chest areas are ideal because there is a large amount of skin there that can easily be covered by the prescribed cream.
If the patient has large, dark or thickly pigmented skin, he or she may be able to opt for hair reduction instead of laser hair removal. Hair reduction is one of the least expensive forms of laser hair removal. A local anesthesia may be necessary for this type of hair reduction.
Prior to undergoing laser hair removal, it is essential for a patient to discuss his or her expectations of results. Some people require completely removing all of their hair, while others may want their hair to be reduced to a less noticeable amount. Certain hair types are more sensitive to lasers than others.
Although hair removal is more prevalent in men, women can also benefit from laser hair removal. However, in most cases, it is recommended that women wait a few years before undergoing laser hair removal procedures. The reason for this is that skin cells will age faster than other parts of the body, so the newer cells of a woman’s body will take longer to heal than the older, damaged ones. Laser hair removal is a highly effective form of cosmetic surgery. It has become increasingly popular over the past decade, and the growing demand for more options has led to many laser hair removal clinics in operation around the country.