Laser hair removal was first introduced to the public in the mid 90’s and has since become a widely used treatment for the removal of excess body hair. It is so popular that numerous home laser hair removal machines have been introduced to encourage self-treatment.
How it Works
Hair contains melanin, a natural compound that gives hair its dark color. The skin also contains melanin;however, it may appear lighter than hair because it does not have as much.
Dark colored objects have the natural ability to absorb light whereas light colored objects tend to reflect it. This basic scientific principle is what makes laser hair removal work.
Basically, light emitted by the machine is absorbed by the hair and reflected by the skin. The absorbed light goes down to the hair follicle, which is the hair’s root. The root heats up and gets damaged, thus slowing down the process of hair growth. With multiple sessions, it’s possible to completely destroy the hair follicles and stop hair from growing altogether.
Advantages of Laser Hair Removal
There are numerous methods for hair removal. However, laser treatment is a popular option because of the following advantages:
Precise Removal
Laser hair removal has the ability to completely remove hair without damaging the surrounding skin. This makes the treatment safe and painless.
Useful for Large Areas
Every laser pulse delivered for this treatment lasts between 1 and 1,200 milliseconds. Those pulses can target numerous hairs in one go. This means small areas like the upper lip takes just a few minutes and a huge area like the back can be covered within an hour.
Visible Results
Most patients who tried the treatment are satisfied with their results. Although hair regrowth is possible, it comes back lighter and finer. Those who have light skin and dark hair have even reported permanent hair reduction. In addition, results can be seen even after just three sessions.
Disadvantages of Laser Hair Removal
There are no perfect treatments when it comes to hair removal. And despite 90% of consumers showing great results, laser hair removal does have its cons.
It is Not Permanent
Many clinics advertise that laser hair removal is a permanent solution for unwanted hair growth. However, results show that even with multiple sessions, the best result is permanent reduction and not permanent hair loss.
Although permanent reduction is not a disadvantage per se, it can be a huge disappointment for those expecting complete hair removal.
Can be Expensive
Laser hair removal typically costs around $250 to $500 per session. This is true for smaller areas such as the upper lip and the underarms. For larger areas such as the legs, the price would be around $600 to $900 per session.
Considering that 3 to 5 sessions are needed to complete a treatment, the whole experience can be very expensive.
Verdict
Laser hair removal is a revolutionary technique for eliminating unwanted hair. It is fast, safe and highly effective. Of course, innovation often equates to high costs. Therefore, those who are interested should first evaluate their finances before committing to the treatment.
