Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent, Is It Safe, and More?

Do you see how every other clinic markets laser hair removal as a method of permanent hairlessness? However, you have also seen people go for laser hair removal sessions even after their treatment is complete, right? 

So, do you wonder about the reality of permanent results from laser hair removal and why people go for follow-ups? 

If you do, you are in the right place. In this article, we will discuss laser hair removal results and see if it is safe enough to undergo multiple sessions. 

1. What is the Preparation, Procedure, and Post-Treatment Care of Laser Hair Removal?

The results and safety of laser hair removal mainly depend on how diligent you are about the pre-, pre-, and post-care. 

Preparation

Preparing for laser hair removal mainly focuses on choosing a high-standard laser provider and preparing your skin. Both of these factors are well-explained in preparation for laser hair removal. 

If we general points, your skin should be free of dead skin cells, impurities, and oils before you go for the treatment. Moreover, you should avoid unprotected sun exposure, plucking hair from the roots, and dehydration. Lastly, always shave the area to be treated. 

Procedure

Talk to your doctor before the treatment about your expectations, pain tolerance, and skin sensitivity. The procedure mainly involves applying local anesthesia to the treatment area, protecting your eyes with goggles, and then carefully flashing the laser on the treatment area. 

A medical review by Mayo Clinic explains the procedure of laser hair removal in detail [1]. 

Post-Treatment

After a laser hair removal session, skin becomes sensitive and prone to damage. Therefore, you need to heal and prepare for the next session. 

To prevent this, avoid hot baths, sun exposure, chemical-containing skincare products, and scrubbing. Instead, use cold showers, gentle products, and loose clothes. 

2. Who Should Get Laser Hair Removal?

As long as your skin color is fair to brown and your hair color is dark, you are good to have regular laser hair removal treatments. Additionally, the advanced laser also works for colored hair and dark skin. 

Furthermore, laser hair removal proves to be most beneficial for people suffering from PCOS, hypertrichosis, and hirsutism. A clinical trial explains the usefulness of laser hair removal for women with hirsutism [2]. 

3. Who Should Avoid Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal has its limitations. People having cold sores, viral infections, tattoos, keloid scars, bleeding disorders, burnt skin, skin cancer, and active acne should not book a laser hair removal session until their condition is healed. 

Moreover, it is best to avoid laser hair removal during pregnancy. The contraindications of Laser hair removal are well-elaborated in an informative article by the UK Health Center [3]. 

4. Is Laser Hair Removal Safe?

Laser hair removal is cleared by FDA and it was originally founded as a medical treatment. So, it is a safe procedure as long as you go to a licensed laser hair removal expert with high-quality apparatus. 

Also, as explained earlier, your skin must be compatible with laser and not contraindicated. Proper care can reduce its mild and severe side effects, such as redness, inflammation, pain, skin dryness, blisters, and crusts. 

The efficacy and safety of ND-Yag laser for hair reduction have been demonstrated in a research article published in the Minia Journal of Medical Research [4]. 

5. How Many Treatments Do I Need to Get?

Our hair is in different stages of hair growth at any point in time. These stages include the actively growing anaphase, the transition catagen, and the dormant telogen phase. Hair treated in the anagen phase is mostly likely to be destroyed. 

So, the percentage of hair present in the anagen phase during your treatment determines the results.   

Additionally, the initial number of treatments required for laser hair removal totally depends on the body part, its hair growth, hair thickness, and the reason behind excess hair growth. On average, 4 to 6 treatments reduce more than 90% of hair growth. 

A two-center study shows the results of Laser within 3 to 5 treatments in 948 patients [5]. 

Furthermore, know more about laser hair removal at laser hair removal: all you need to know. 

6. Is Laser Hair Removal permanent?

Sadly, laser hair removal is not permanent in contrast to the assumptions. Only electrolysis provides permanent results by killing individual hair follicles. 

On the other hand, a laser destroys some hair follicles and puts others in a resting phase. The hair follicles in the resting phase activate after a particular period and hair begins to regrow.

Moreover, the destroyed follicles can also regenerate giving rise to more unwanted hair. So, the results of laser hair removal last as long as hair follicles are not active which might be for a few months to a few years. 

7. How Often Should I Get Laser Hair Removal Follow-Ups?

The frequency of laser hair removal follow-ups depends upon your hair regrowth. So, whenever you see that hair is regrowing and you want to treat it again, you can go for follow-up sessions. Normally, 2 to 3 follow-up sessions are required in a year. 

The variance in the need for laser hair removal follow-up has been explained in an article by Healthline [6]. 

8. What are the Advantages of Laser Hair Removal?

The benefits of laser hair removal are given below, 

• Precise hair removal: The laser machine has a small round window that can be used to treat unwanted hair precisely in any pattern you want. 

• Long-lasting results: The results of laser hair removal last for a few years, allowing you to relax without worrying about plucking, shaving, or waxing. 

• Fewer follow-ups are required: 1 to 2 yearly follow-up sessions are enough to maintain the effects of long-term laser hair removal. 

• Reduces risk of skin problems: In addition to reducing hair regrowth, laser hair removal reduces the chances of folliculitis, ingrown hair, and diseases involving small vessels in the skin. 

9. What are the Drawbacks of Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal can save you from the effort of grooming yourself. But it is not a perfect hair removal treatment. So, the drawbacks of laser hair removal are given as, 

• Time-taking treatment: Laser hair removal is a time-consuming treatment because the small window of the device takes a long time to treat a large cross-section area. So, you should be prepared to spend some hours in the clinic if you are getting your legs treated. 

• Risk of side effects: Laser hair removal can cause pain, irritation, and redness during the session. After the session, the skin may become inflamed, and mild burns can also occur if you are not getting treated at a good clinic. 

• Takes a long time for desired results: Although only 4-6 sessions are required, they are spaced at an interval of 1 to 1.5 months. So, completion of treatment can take more than 6 months. 

• Expensive:  Laser hair removal costs hundreds of dollars with the total cost depending upon the treatment area and number of sessions. The detailed cost of laser hair removal is given in how much does laser hair removal costs. 

10. Is Laser Hair Removal Worth It?

Laser hair removal has its own set of pros and cons. Its worth depends mainly on your feasibility and expectations. If you have enough time, money, and will to take multiple laser sessions in a professional clinic to get a precise, permanent, and professionally done procedure, laser hair removal is worth it.

However, if you cannot make time for monthly hair removal treatments, each taking more than an hour, commute to the clinic, and endure the pain and skin tingling during the session, laser removal is not worth the money you’d be spending on it. 

11. What Can I Try Instead of Laser Hair Removal?

Although effective, safe, and semi-permanent, laser hair removal can be painful, costly, and inconvenient. Therefore, if you would rather have a hair removal treatment that is nearly painless, cost-effective, and convenient, you should give IPL hair removal a try. 

The technology and working principle behind IPL and laser are the same, and their results are comparable as well. However, the type of light used and the timeline of treatment make IPL hair removal a user-friendly alternative to laser. 

Ulike Air 10 IPL hair removal device can help you with nearly painless treatment because of its sapphire cooling technology, super fast sessions with 0.25 seconds per flash speed, quick and effective results with 26 J/cm2 of power, and ease of use with its treatment and comfort modes.

 Also, check out the effectiveness of Ulike at the efficacy of laser hair removal for men and women. 

Conclusion

Laser hair removal works well for people with hirsutism and hypertrichosis if you do not have a skin infection, sunburn, or hyperpigmented sections. It is safe when done by a skillful professional. Moreover, it allows you to enjoy hairless skin for a long time. 

Although safe and used for permanent hair removal for decades, laser hair removal is a semi-permanent method of getting rid of the unwanted hair on your face and body. Its results last for a few years, and you need follow-ups even after the treatment has been completed.

So, if you find going to the clinics for follow-ups bothersome, IPL hair removal can save you trouble and give you satisfactory results.