If you are considering laser hair removal, chances are you have been forewarned by many aunties. Some of whom went as far as to quote their horror stories about getting their skin burned during facial laser procedures or of their hair coming right back after a mere few weeks of treatment. The truth is that the chances of backlash or anything going wrong are minimal- provided that all directions during treatment are followed to a T.
Starting with basic laser etiquette, shaving is important for your treatment. Because the laser works by damaging the hair follicle with heat to disable any future growth. If the hair is too long the shaft will absorb all the heat and the heat reaching the follicle would be insufficient to completely damage the follicle. Longer hair may also be the reason why some people get their skin burned. Also no waxing or tweezing between sessions. Shaving is okay but no hair removal from the root or there would be nothing to transfer heat to the follicle
Now for a bit of reminder, the FDA-approved treatment is for permanent hair Reduction and not permanent hair Removal, so expect about 80-90% hair reduction. Some hair will grow back a little but it will be a negligible amount. Also, results vary from person to person and area to area. Some areas with thicker hair are sometimes harder to clear. Just do not expect complete baldness everywhere
Remember, consistency is key. Like in the case of antibiotics, you have to run the full course of the procedure. The usual time between laser sessions is four to six weeks. And most of the time five sessions are required to permanently disable the hair follicle. A common mistake people make is to take only two or three sessions. Then return after six months or so complaining that their hair growth was back. The full five sessions are necessary to complete the task. Certain areas with thick hair or certain skin types may require additional sessions
Say, you booked your first-ever laser appointment at a spa. Now the cold gel spread on your skin, the tinted glasses to protect your eyes and the flashing lights of laser may well turn out to be IPL. And while IPL laser hair removal works fine, it requires more sessions. is not as long-lasting as a Diode laser and tends to hurt and burn quite a bit more. Even apart from all that, you’d end up paying for the laser and not get any of its benefits. And would have to go through the entire procedure again a few months later.
Tip of the day: always, always check your device.
It is imperative you get this procedure conducted by an experienced dermatologist at a clinic. Always get reviews before picking a dermatologis. And never be shy to ask them about how much experience they’ve had with laser. If they deal with multiple patients every day, that’s a good sign.
Personally, I’ve always enjoyed my experience at Cutera Aesthetics. It is an exemplary laser clinic and they have fully qualified trained professionals with exemplary repute and experience preceding them. The staff doesn’t just perform a service. Instead, they understand that it is their responsibility as caregivers to ensure that each customer is happy with the results. Cutera’s CoolGlide Titanium Laser is the best that there is in the market. It deals with all types of Asian skin tones and is completely pain-free. It’s actually a very soothing procedure and comes with the peace of mind of knowing your hair really isn’t growing back any time soon.
The laser experience here is vastly different from most anywhere else (I really wouldn’t recommend taking that risk.) Remember, Laser is a minor form of surgery and is not suitable for everyone, including pregnant women or if you have any kind of skin condition. Generally speaking, it’s best to consult a dermatologist before booking a treatment. Fortunately, your first consultation at Cutera is free!
