Laser Hair Removal: Benefits, Side Effects, and Cost
Are you tired of razor burns or painful waxing? You don’t have to suffer month after month from these methods. Instead, you can try laser hair removal to finally get rid of your unwanted hair, whether it’s your stubble or your snaggy leg hair.
But you’re probably wondering, how does laser hair removal work? How much will it cost me and is it really worth it?
In this post, we’ll answer all your questions, including the benefits, costs, and what you can expect once you get a laser treatment. Read on and see if this is the right choice for your skin!
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal uses special equipment to remove your unwanted hair without surgery. Basically, it uses a laser beam to target your hair follicles, so it will stop growing new hair strands.
What happens is that the laser beam damages the follicles as your hair’s melanin absorbs the heat. From there, your hair follicles will stop or reduce hair production.
But the question is, does laser hair removal work? Overall, permanent hair removal doesn’t happen in one session. You’ll need to finish an entire treatment package if you want to see the best results. Depending on your hair type, skin type, and other factors, you may need fewer or more sessions than most people.
But where can I use laser hair removal? Well, another great thing about this treatment is you can use it all over your body. You can get laser facial hair removal to eliminate pesky peach fuzz or upper lip laser hair removal if you want to get rid of your mustache.
Aside from that, you can also request laser removal of hair on your chest, back, arms, legs, and bikini area.
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
Unlike depilation methods like shaving and waxing, laser hair removal offers long-lasting results. But as to whether it’s permanent or not, the answer varies from person to person.
For example, some people enjoy the benefits of laser hair treatment for years without growing any of the strands back. However, some may need touch-ups from time to time.
In that case, permanent laser hair removal can have semi-permanent results for some. But even if the hair grows back, it will take a long time (we’re talking about years) and it will be wispy in thickness. And with touch-up sessions, your skin will be smooth and hair-free again.
Average Laser Hair Removal Cost
How much does laser hair removal cost, you ask? Well, most full-body sessions cost around $500 to $650 each. Take note that treatments for men tend to be more expensive since the gents usually have more body hair than the ladies.
Aside from that, the following factors will also impact the cost of laser hair removal:
- Size of the treatment area. As expected, the larger the area you want to treat, the pricier it will get. It’s because large areas require more work and probably more sessions as well.
- Hair density. If you have naturally thick body hair, then you have to prepare a substantial budget for your laser skin treatment.
- Hair and skin color. In general, laser treatment for hair removal is the most effective for people with dark hair and light skin color. It’s because the laser energy is absorbed by the melanin (the dark pigments). So the higher the contrast between your hair and skin, the lower the cost could be.
- Number of sessions. Your provider will advise about the ideal number of sessions you should get based on your desired results.
- Location of the clinic. Most of the laser hair removal costs depend on where you’re going to get the treatment. If you’re opting for upscale clinics in the metro, then you should expect to pay more.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Although hair laser removal comes at a cost, it’s an excellent investment for your skin. Here are the benefits you’ll reap from this treatment:
- Long-term hair reduction. As we’ve mentioned earlier, the results of laser hair removal can last for years. With quality hair removal laser, you won’t need full treatments for quite some time.
- Precise hair removal. Unlike waxing or shaving which doesn’t get to the root of the problem, laser treatments are more precise. It can target specific areas of your body that you want to treat. In fact, you can even use it to shape your beard or sideburns.
- Minimal discomfort. Hair remover laser is relatively painless and you’ll only feel slight discomfort. So is laser hair removal painful? At most, it feels like a rubber band snapping on your skin. Also, your provider can use a numbing cream to make your experience as comfy as possible.
- Reduced ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs are a nightmare and laser hair reduction is here to fix that problem. Since the hair follicles are neutralized, they won’t produce painful and frustrating ingrown hairs. You can finally goodbye from tweezing those nasty strands out.
- Time and money savings. In the long run, you’ll save more with laser hair removal than waxing, shaving, or other methods. It’s because the hair won’t grow back for a long period, which is much better than booking monthly waxing sessions.
Laser Hair Removal Side Effects
Like other hair removers, laser treatments have its share of downsides. So before you go over and search “skin laser treatment near me”, you should know the following points first:
- Temporary skin irritation. Right after your session, your treated skin will be reddish, mildly swollen, and tender. These are expected side effects of laser hair removal, which will resolve on their own.
- Changes in skin pigmentation. If you have a darker skin tone, you may notice changes in your pigmentation right after the treatment. This is also normal and will go away on its own over time.
- Risk of burns or blisters. Unskilled technicians or low-quality equipment can cause burns or blisters during a laser treatment. This is why you should only trust a professional laser hair remover when getting this treatment.
So is laser hair removal safe? Totally, as long as you get it from a legitimate and licensed provider. Also, you should always undergo consultation before getting right into the treatment. This way, your laser provider can customize the equipment setting and technique that suits your needs.
Also, an experienced laser technician can minimize or avoid most of these side effects. After each session, you can return to work and resume your usual activities without any downtime.
Finding the Perfect Laser Hair Removal Provider
The success of your laser hair removal for face, arm, leg, or whatnot, highly depends on the skills of your provider. This is why you should be meticulous about where you’ll get the treatment.
To help you out, here are some of our recommendations:
- Ask about their experience. Try to look for a laser clinic that has good experience in the area you want to treat. For example, if you want to get laser bikini hair removal, make sure that the technician has done similar treatments in the past.
- Advanced technology. It’s not enough that you find a skilled laser technician. You should also look for a provider that uses high-end equipment like Candela Gentle Pro. It’s the latest technology in laser hair removal and is guaranteed to give you the best results.
- Client reviews and testimonials. You should take the time to read reviews from the clinic’s previous clients. See what they have to say about the results they got. More often than not, client reviews are the most legitimate way to gauge a clinic’s quality of service.
- Consultation process. If your clinic of choice doesn’t conduct a consultation before the treatment, you should run and never look back. This is a red flag and means they use the same approach for every client. Remember, you are unique and so are your skin’s needs.
- The atmosphere of the place. If you have the chance to visit the laser clinic, observe if it’s clean, organized, and cozy. You should also ask about the measures they use to ensure laser hair removal safety.
Conclusion
Laser hair removal has been tried and tested when it comes to the results it could bring. And if you’re interested in trying it for yourself, make sure you look for a reliable provider with years of experience.
Aside from that, you should also factor in the cost of the treatment. This way, you can allocate a reasonable budget while achieving your desired results.
Lastly, you should remember that laser hair removal is a process. The results don’t happen overnight and it’s best to stick to your recommended treatment plan. With enough patience and budget, you’ll see amazing results after a few sessions.