Saturday, February 9, 2008

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is one of the newest and most effective ways to reduce unwanted hair growth Excess hair growth and ingrown hairs can be treated by lasers but most procedures are done for cosmetic reasons. Getting a laser hair removal treatment can be costly Depending on the area to be treated the cost of laser hair removal can range from $50 to upwards of $900 per session Multiple sessions are usually required for maximum effectiveness because hair grows in cycles Common treatment areas are

Upper lip

Face

Chest

Underarms

Neck

Back

Stomach

Legs

Bikini line

Lasers reduce hair growth by releasing pulses of light which enter skin to reach the hair follicle The follicles absorb laser energy and then are destroyed by it Several types of lasers are available for use including

Ruby laser

Alexandrite laser

Pulsed diode laser

Intense pulsed light source

ND YAG laser

A doctor will evaluate each patients skin type to determine which laser is best for that particular patient The different lasers have properties making them each unique for treating darker or lighter hair dark skin or that work better for treating fine hair

Before having laser hair removal treatment research doctors Consider the following questions when evaluating doctors

Is the doctor a cosmetic surgeon and licensed to practice in your state

Are licensed nurses on premises

How many years has the doctor been practicing

Can the doctor show before and after photos from persons who had the same procedure done

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has a surgeon locator for the public to use Additionally check with the American Academy of Dermatology to find out if your doctor has ties to their organization

Be wary of doctors or practices that claim or guarantee permanent hair removal The Food and Drug Administration has only approved several permanent reduction lasers which produce long term stable reduction in hair growth

Before receiving treatment your doctor will meet with you to determine your skin type and what kind of laser she he will be using Persons with light hair blondes or redheads or very fine hair along with people who have dark skin should be aware that laser treatments may not be as effective for them as those with course dark hair and lighter skin Your doctor will discuss his her view of the treatment effectiveness based on your skin and hair type

Tanned skin scars more easily Persons who have been tanning have a tan or even a sunless tan should not use laser hair removal until the tan has disappeared Other things to discuss with your doctor include any skin conditions medications you currently take and if there are moles or tattoos near the area that will be treated Your doctor should take a full medical history before beginning the procedure

HairElectrolysis is the most effective method of permanent hair removal possible A technique created more than 125 years ago to first treat ingrown hairs it is suitable for a variety of skin and hair types and can help interested individuals achieve a smooth sleek appearance without the hassle of shaving

In general this type of procedure involves a fine metal probe or needle that is inserted into individual hair follicles to provide an electrical current to the surrounding tissue The electricity damages the tissue impeding further hair growth and permanently eliminating hair There are three basic types of electrolysis also called electric epilation treatments

Thermolysis This treatment involves generating a mild heat through the electrical current to cause damage to follicle cells

Galvanic In galvanic treatments a mild electrochemical current produces a tiny amount of lye in the follicle which destroys the adjacent cells

Blend Blend techniques include both thermolysis and galvanic treatments for a doubled effort

Which specific treatment you undergo is up to the trained professional hair removal specialist who administers the treatments Many professionals prefer a particular method or they may choose which option may be most effective for individual hair removal needs

Electrolysis is effective for a wide range of individuals with varying hair and skin types Unlike laser hair removal even individuals with gray very light blonde or red hair can undergo electric treatments to eliminate the unwanted hair Furthermore treatments are safe to use on a variety of hair types including

Electrolysis is more effective than shaving Legs

Underarms

Chest

Bikini Zone

Back

Face

Eyebrows

The coarser the hair and the deeper the follicles the more treatments may be required for total eradication Because of the sensitivity of the skin and the nature of the necessary equipment electric treatments are not possible on hair inside the ears or nose or for most hairs from moles

While in most cases electric epilation can cause permanent hair removal approximately ten percent of individuals experience some degree of hair regrowth Nevertheless it is still the most guaranteed method of permanent removal available for cosmetic applications Other complications that may arise from these electric treatments include

Pain during and after treatment though topical anesthetics can sooth irritation

Skin damage or excessive irritation including rashes or scarring

Possible spread of infections

These side effects are rare but prospective patients need to be aware of the possible risks before undergoing treatments Other negative aspects of electrolysis include the high cost electric epilation may be up to twice the cost of laser treatments the tedious nature of sessions depending on the size of the area to be removed sessions can last an hour or more and the fact that it may take multiple treatments to remove hair thoroughly

The number of necessary sessions and their duration depends on the type and amount of hair to be removed Coarse deep hairs legs back etc may require multiple sessions and could take months to completely eliminate On the other hand relatively small fine hairs such as a womans upper lip may be finished in less than an hour usually involving 34 brief treatments Most hair removal requires multiple treatments because individual hairs grow in different cycles and a single session will not remove every hair

The costs for electric epilation can be steep Treatments range from $25150 per hour and most insurance programs will not cover cosmetic procedures While this may seem expensive interested individuals should remember that this is permanent removal once the costs are paid and the hair is removed the results will last indefinitely

Before scheduling treatments investigate the practitioner to be sure they are qualified to perform the procedure More than 30 states now regulate electronic hair removal treatments and professionals should be able to present credentials certifying their expertise

Electrolysis is the most welldocumented type of permanent hair removal available with the most wideranging applications for different hair and skin types While it may at first seem highly uncomfortable and expensive the longlasting results and convenience of eliminating shaving waxing and other techniques may be well worth the sacrifice

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