What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is the removal unwanted hair from the body using a high intensity laser beam. The laser light used in laser hair removal is fired as a very brief flash and passes safely through the skin. It is absorbed by the hair follicles, which are darker, and the heat from the beam damages the cells at the root of the hair, preventing further hair growth The hairs affected fall out after a week or two and any subsequent regrowth is finer and sparser.

Laser hair removal treatment only works on hairs which are in the active growth phase. Because different follicles will be in different phases at any one time, several treatments will be necessary to achieve a lasting result - typically 6 or 8 treatments are required in a pale skin and maybe 8 or 15 in a darker skin.

Hair Growth Phases

Hair follicles go through 3 different growth phases:

Active growth phase (called the anagen phase). At any given time, the majority (85%) of our body hair is in this phase. During anagen, the hair has an abundance of melanin, which absorbs the energy from the laser beam.
Regressive phase (catagen phase), which lasts about two weeks, during which the hair stops growing but is not yet shed. About 3 - 4% of our body hair is in this phase at any given time.
Resting phase (telogen phase), which lasts 5 - 6 weeks, at the end of which the hair falls out and a new hair begins to form. Approximately 10-13% of our body hair is in this phase at any one time.

The flashes are repeated every second, so hundreds of follicles can be treated in one session. Sessions typically last 15-45 mins, depending on the area being treated.

Laser hair removal treatment can be used on any area of the body, including the face, legs, stomach and bikini line.

Laser hair removal needs to be carried out by a specially trained laser technician, in fact some areas require that a doctor carry out the procedure (this is the reason why laser hair removal in New Jersey cost more than laser hair removal in NYC)

During the laser hair removal session, the technician will use a hand-held laser instrument by pressing it against your skin. Depending on the type of laser used for the procedure, they may also use a cool gel to protect your skin, or the laser itself may have a cooling device on the tip.

  
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