how many sessions are enough for laser hair removal?

how many sessions are enough for laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal can be an effective, easy, and virtually painless way to get the smooth skin that you crave. Many people are turning to this type of treatment to remove their unwanted hair and look beach-ready any time of the year, and it’s easy to understand the appeal. It works, and the results can last for years.

There’s nothing better during spring and summer then spending time in the outdoors and feeling the warmth of sunlight on your skin. But if you are living with unwanted hair, baring your skin can bring complicated feelings. If you’ve thought about getting laser hair removal, now is the perfect time to get rid of that unwanted hair and feel more comfortable in the skin you’re in.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal is a cosmetic skincare procedure that relies on selective photothermolysis. The laser will send a light pulse targeting the pigment in the hair. The energy will then travel through the hair to the follicle. There, the light will change to thermal energy and damage the follicle. The blood vessel feeding it will cauterize. Damaged and without fuel, the hair follicle will no longer be able to product more hair.

Patients must shave prior to each laser hair removal appointment. Long hair may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment as the energy would need to journey further to get to the follicle. Furthermore, long hair may increase the risk of burns. To be effective, the laser must find the hair to get through the follicle. That is why patients must not wax or sugar prior to their session. Indeed, both will remove the hair along with the root, leaving nothing for the laser to target.

The hair growth cycle also needs to be remembered when undergoing laser hair removal. Indeed, the treatment only works with the hair is in the anagen phase of growth. As a matter of fact, it is the only time the hair and the follicle connect and when the energy can travel from the former to the latter. Unfortunately, only 20% off all body hair is in that right phase of growth at any point in time. That is why only 20% of hair can be treated during each session of laser hair removal. This also explains why patients need several sessions six weeks apart.

How Many Laser Sessions Do I Need?

This type of treatment is best done in a series of sessions. Each person is different, so it’s difficult to tell exactly how many sessions will be needed without an initial consultation. Generally, people need between six and eight sessions to remove the hair fully. That’s because our hair goes through different growth phases. The bodily location where you want the hair removed also factors in. Our expert team will assess your specific situation and give you a timeline of what you can expect.

Everyone’s body is different, and different biological factors can impact how many sessions you need in order to fully remove your unwanted hair, you can expect to see about a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after your first treatment. As you continue your treatments, more and more hair will fall out, and you’ll notice that it continues to grow back more slowly.

When scheduling your hair removal treatments, you’ll need to space them out by several weeks, so the full treatment cycle can take a couple of months. After each appointment, you will notice fewer hairs growing in that area. After treatment is complete, patients should visit our office once or twice a year for maintenance sessions.

How Long Will I Have to Wait to See Results?

Many people see a thinning of their hair right after the treatment, although everyone is different, and the results will depend on how your body reacts to the laser and what kind of hair you have. Since it takes several sessions to eradicate hair in a specific area completely, you should expect that your hair will grow back a little bit. Generally speaking, the new hair is a lot finer and lighter than the removed hair.

Your existing hair should start to shed after the treatment. The best way to get rid of it is to wipe it away with a warm washcloth gently. Resist the urge to scrub too hard because you might irritate the skin.

The type of laser that the office uses can also affect the number of treatments that you need. Some lasers produce longer wavelengths that penetrate the skin deeper and absorb less of the hair pigment. In these situations, a patient might need more sessions. This laser is typically safer and more effective for patients with darker skin. Larger areas of the body require a different type of laser to cover more space quicker. The wavelengths are long, and the light absorbs more of the hair’s melanin, so fewer sessions are required.