Many individuals who are just getting started often wonder: is laser hair removal safe? Laser hair removal is an aesthetic procedure that is undergone with the use of laser light, it is only natural that certain side effects can be experienced. However, as long as patients take the proper precautions and undergo treatments only with certified, experienced laser technicians, the treatments will be both safe and effective. In order to bypass the dangers of laser hair removal, be sure to take the following precautions.
Certified Laser Technicians
One of the most important factors that will determine the overall safety of the laser procedure is the person performing your procedure. Depending on the state in which you live, you’ll find that different individuals are able to perform laser treatments. In some states, only doctors, nurses and physicians assistants can perform treatments while in other states, there are no stipulations as to who can perform the procedure; so long as they undergo proper laser certification.
Whether individuals are a physician or just a man or woman off the street, the same laser certification is undergone, therefore when choosing a laser center, it is important to choose those who are the most experienced. Doctors may have a medical degree, but laser hair removal is often just one small part of their practice. With laser specialists, all they do is laser hair removal. Finding the right fit for your should rest largely upon who is the most experienced.
The other most important factor that will determine whether or not your laser treatments are safe is the equipment being used. Laser treatments have been around for more than ten years. In that time span, newer technologies have been developed and certain equipment has become outdated.
In addition, laser technologies have been developed to treat specific skin types—making the treatments more effective for patients. While this is good news for those patients looking for effective reduction in unwanted hair, it also makes treatments more dangerous. The danger comes from patients being treated with the old, outdated, or the wrong laser equipment.
Old or outdated equipment isn’t always dangerous, for the most part, it just tends to provide less results. But undergoing treatments with the wrong laser for your skin type can be quite dangerous. The three most common types of lasers on the market today target specific skin types for effective hair removal. Alexandrite lasers most often treat those men and women with lighter skin tones while Nd: YAG lasers most often treat those with darker skin tones. Diode lasers treat those with medium skin tones, but can sometimes also treat darker skin tones as well. Before beginning treatments, be sure the proper laser is available for your specific skin type.
Laser Hair Removal Danger
Laser treatment become dangerous only when treatments are improperly administered. Now improper administration can be due to a variety of factors. The first being an inexperience laser technician who sets the laser parameters incorrectly, which results in either the burning of the skin, hyperpigmentation (lightening of the skin) or hypopigmentation (darkening of the skin).
The second is when the laser equipment is not right for your skin type. If an Alexandrite laser is used on an individual with darker skin tones, the patient could experience side effects. The third ultimately rests on the patient. Exposure to the sun can cause skin pigment to darken. If patients fail to tell their laser technician that they’ve been exposed to the sun, the laser energy could cause damage to the skin. Following all pre- and post-treatment recommendations will ensure that you undergo safe, effective treatments.
Is laser hair removal safe? If all of the above treatment precautions are taken, it definitely is.
If you are interested in maximizing your hair removal experience, take a look at the 5 tips for more effective laser hair removal treatments. When undergoing laser hair removal, patients can see varying results depending on a multitude of factors. For those who are investing both time and money into this treatment, it is important to maximize each treatment in order to get the best laser hair removal results possible. By implementing these five tips, patients are more likely to see better results.
Tip 1: Determine whether or not you are a candidate
The first step in the laser hair removal process is determining whether or not you are able to undergo treatment. When laser treatments first became available, only those men and women with light skin and dark hair were able to see effective results. As technology has progressed, lasers have been developed that can treat patients with all skin tones, however there is still not a laser out there that can treat gray, white, red or light blonde hair. Individuals with those hair colors will not see effective results with laser treatments.
Tip 2: Find a reputable laser clinic
When starting the search for laser hair removal treatments, many individuals will automatically compare pricing. While pricing is an important factor, it should not determine your overall decision. Laser hair removal is an aesthetic procedure that is performed by professionals – you wouldn’t choose a doctor solely based on price would you? A reputable laser clinic should meet certain criteria. Be sure that the laser clinic you chose is run by certified laser professionals, has been in business for a significant amount of time and that patients are happy with their results.
There are several types of lasers for hair removal currently on the market, and the laser you are treated with will determine whether or not you’ll get the most effective laser hair removal results. The three most common lasers used for hair removal are the Alexandrite laser the Diode laser and the Nd: YAG laser. Each of these lasers has a varying wavelength of light, which are designed for specific skin tones.
Those with lighter skin tones are best treated with an Alexandrite laser and those with darker skin tones are best treated with the Nd: YAG. The Diode laser can treat light to medium skin tones but should not be used for darker skin tones. Speak with your laser clinic before starting treatments to see what types of lasers they use.
Tip 4: Follow pre- and post-treatment recommendations
Different laser clinics may have different ‘rules’ for laser treatments, but you’ll find that all laser treatment facilities recommend certain pre- and post-treatment care. The most important recommendation is to keep the area you are having treated out of direct sunlight. Direct sun exposure causes the melanin in your skin to darken. In order for laser hair removal treatments to be effective, you need your skin to be in its most natural state. Clinics will often recommend that patients stay out of direct sunlight for at least two weeks before and one week after each treatment. If this recommendation is not followed, patients could experience several different side effects of laser hair removal.
Other treatment recommendations include not waxing or tweezing hair before or in between treatments, as this removes the hair at the follicle level, which leaves nothing for the laser to target. Only shaving or trimming should be practiced throughout the series of sessions.
Tip 5 – Do not veer off of your treatment schedule
When you visit a laser treatment center for your consultation, you’ll learn about the different cycles of hair growth and how the laser treatment is designed to target and treat hair while it is in the anagen or growth stage. Depending on the area you are having treated, you laser treatment center will set up a treatment schedule that will have you returning after a specified number of weeks. In order to get effective treatment results, it is important to stick to this treatment schedule. This will allow each treatment to maximize the amount of hair that is targeted and treated.
Many individuals just learning about treatment ask: how effective is laser hair removal? While this technology is capable of permanently reducing unwanted hair, the overall effectiveness of each treatment is largely up to you.
When men and women are considering their hair removal options, many compare electrolysis versus laser hair removal. There are many different types of hair removal available to consumers, but electrolysis and laser hair removal are the only two that can claim to provide permanent results, therefore have become one of the great debates in the hair removal world. So how do you decide which of these permanent methods is right for you? Before declaring a winner of the electrolysis vs laser hair removal debate, learn more about each before making your final decision.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal treatments have revolutionized the way we remove unwanted hair. Temporary hair removal methods may be quicker, easier and cheaper, but removing unwanted hair with permanent results simply cannot be beat. The laser hair removal treatment permanently reduces unwanted facial and body hair through the principle of selective photothermolysis.
The laser energy is passed over the treatment area where it effectively targets and treats actively growing hair follicles. The laser energy is attracted to the pigment within the hair follicles, the energy is absorbed by the follicle where it transforms into heat and that heat cauterizes the blood supply to the hair, rendering the follicle inactive. While this treatment is very effective, several evenly spaced sessions are necessary (individuals experience an average of 6 to 10) because hair can only be effectively treated when in the anagen or growth stage. Hair grows in three distinct stages and only a percentage of hair is in the growth phase at any given time.
While laser hair removal is the ideal hair removal method, there are some restrictions. Laser light is attracted to pigment and unfortunately not all hair colors contain enough pigment for treatment. Those with blonde, gray, white and red hair will have to seek other hair removal alternatives—this is where electrolysis can help.
Electrolysis is the first permanent method of hair removal to be introduced and is the only that can claim to be 100% permanent. The electrolysis treatment is performed using a tool called an epilator. An epilator is a needle-like device that, when inserted into a hair follicle, delivers an electrical current that cuts off the blood supply to the follicle and renders it inert.
While this treatment sounds easy enough, it is actually quite a process for each individual hair follicle in any given treatment area needs to be treated in order to get results. Small areas like the upper lip and chin can benefit greatly from electrolysis because there are not a lot of hair follicles in these areas, but treating larger areas like the legs or back can be very tedious because treating each individual hair follicle can take a long time. Areas such as the upper lip and chin can take about 10 to 15 minutes to treat, and larger areas like the full back can take up to two hours to complete.
Unlike laser hair removal, electrolysis can treat any patient, regardless of skin tone or hair color. However, it can take much longer for patients to see effective results. Where 6 to 10 laser treatments is the norm, those undergoing electrolysis can undergo treatments for as long as two years. While this may seem long to some, the prospect of finally being hair free quickly outweighs the downsides. In addition, electrolysis is the only method of hair removal that can get 100% permanent hair removal.
So … electrolysis or laser hair removal? Depending on the body area you are having treated and the thickness and density of your hair, either of these permanent hair removal methods are capable of getting you the results you want.
When first introduced, many garnered the notion that laser treatments were only for women, but it was quickly proven that laser hair removal was for men as well. Women found treatments to be a great relief to shaving, waxing and tweezing unwanted hair, but even without this hair removal method, women could arguably remove hair with greater ease than men.
Men often get hair in many hard to reach places such as the back of the neck, the shoulders, the back and even the buttocks. Shaving and waxing are possible solutions, but having continual hair re-growth in these hard to reach areas can quickly become a nuisance. The prospect of achieving permanent hair reduction became apparent with the introduction of laser hair removal treatments, and men were quickly jumping on board.
Male laser hair removal is most commonly undergone for the back and shoulders because for men, removing unwanted hair is extremely difficult in many cases because the hair is in hard to reach places. However, more men are taking a cue from their female counterparts and are undergoing hair removal treatments for aesthetic reasons as well. Many men will have chest and stomach hair removed, as well as arm hair, leg hair and hair on the fingers and toes.
Genetics plays a large part in both hair color and thickness, and many men feel they’ve been cursed with thick, dark hair all over their bodies. Suffer no more – laser hair removal treatments can remove it once and for all.
On the other side of the spectrum, many men will also remove hair from areas that are difficult to shave such as the beard. Laser hair removal beard treatments are quickly increasing in popularity, as well as neck hair removal. With sharp angles and hard to shave spots on the face and neck, laser treatments make the 5 o’clock shadow a thing of the past. Men no longer have to worry about stubble after undergoing a series of treatments.
Whether looking to undergo treatments for a small area such as the underarms or a larger area such as the back, many laser clinics will customize packages to fit your particular needs.
Before and After Laser Hair Removal on a Male's Back
How to get started
Men who are just starting their research should know that the perfect place to start is with a consultation at a reputable clinic in your area. Search online for positive feedback, contact the clinic and be sure to ask a lot of questions. Reputable laser centers will be able to answer your questions with ease and will give you a better understanding of what you are about to experience.
On the day of your consult, go armed with an idea of the goals you’d like to achieve and your realistic expectations. Ask about their experience, longevity, the laser equipment they use and who will be performing a procedure. Ask to tour the facility and have a laser technician walk you through the process. The point of this meet and greet is to ensure that you are comfortable with the procedure and that your expectations can be met. If you feel that the clinic can meet your needs, then all you need to do after that is get started with treatments.
When it comes to aesthetic treatments such as laser hair removal men often hesitate because entering into a situation such as this can be outside their normal comfort zone. But for any man who is frustrated with unwanted hair, this is the way to remove it once and for all. Once you’ve undergone laser hair removal, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get started sooner.
If you’re interested in having facial or body hair removed, it is important to first learn about the different types of hair removal lasers. As non-invasive aesthetic laser technology has progressed, several lasers have been developed that work to effectively remove hair based on certain genetic factors such as hair color and skin tone. Before undergoing treatments for unwanted hair it is first important to learn about the various laser types in order to ensure that you will undergo safe and effective laser hair removal treatments.
Ruby Laser
Ruby lasers were the first laser hair removal lasers to be introduced and while effective in reducing unwanted hair, could only treat those patients with very light skin and very dark hair. The reason for this was that this rudimentary design found it difficult to distinguish between hair pigment and skin pigment; therefore only patients with a sharp contrast could undergo treatments. Ruby lasers are rarely if at all used for hair removal anymore, having been replaced by updated technology such as the alexandrite and the Nd: YAG laser.
Alexandrite Laser
The alexandrite laser is possibly the most widely recognized laser for hair removal, and its adjustable spot size and fast repetition rate increased both the speed and effectiveness of the laser hair removal process; and rendered the ruby laser practically inert. The Alexandrite laser utilizes a 755nm wavelength; this shorter wavelength makes this laser ideal for treating those patients with lighter skin tones and darker hair colors. Patients with darker skin tones were sometimes treated with the Alexandrite laser, laser technicians found that if the laser energy was turned down, patients could see effective results. But a significant amount of treatments were needed to remove hair once and for all.
Nd: YAG Laser
The Nd: YAG laser was the next laser to be introduced after the Alexandrite. While the Alexandrite revolutionized the effectiveness of the laser treatment, the Nd: YAG revolutionized its versatility. Like the Ruby laser, the Alexandrite was only proficient in treating those patients with lighter skin tones, but with the development of the Nd: YAG and its 1064nm wavelength, the YAG allowed those patients with darker skin tones to undergo safe and effective laser treatments.
Diode Laser
The Diode laser was later developed and is effective for both hair removal as well as other skin rejuvenation techniques. The Diode laser has a 780-1480nm laser wavelength which, depending on the procedure, allows patients with varying skin tones to see safe, effective results.
IPL Laser
IPL or intense pulse light lasers are similar to true lasers but differ slightly. True lasers such as the Alexandrite, Diode and Nd: YAG emit a single beam of continuous laser energy which penetrates to a specific depth beneath the outer layers of skin. IPL lasers use pulsed light technology which involves pulses of laser light being emitted which reach several different depths simultaneously. While this laser can be effective for skin rejuvenation treatments, many believe that pulsed laser energy is not as efficient as a continuous beam of laser light; therefore hair removal treatments are not as effective. Patients find that they can successfully achieve permanent hair reduction with IPL lasers but that it can often take more treatment when compared to true lasers.
Removing unwanted hair once and for all can be both rewarding and satisfying, but undergoing treatments with the correct laser is imperative for experiencing effective results.
Cellulite Reduction is a process that is quickly gaining popularity. Cellulite is one of the many skin problems that the majority of adult women face each and every day. Cellulite commonly occurs when the excess fat cells become trapped in connective tissue lying underneath the outer layers of skin. The connective tissue hardens which causes the skin to take on the lumpy, dimpled appearance commonly known as cellulite. This ‘orange peel’ appearance of the skin causes embarrassment to women who enjoy wearing fashionable swimwear, shorts and skirts available today. Cellulite is formed because of hereditary reasons, pregnancy, toxins, free radicals in the body, auto immune disorders and other health issues. These conditions cause the skin cell activity to slacken and when cell activity is abnormal, the water we drink is not able to wash away the fat accumulated under the skin causing the skin cells to store fat.
Because this is such a common condition among adult females, many different treatments have been developed to help combat cellulite. One of the most recent developments can be found in VelaSmooth Cellulite Reduction technology. VelaSmooth utilizes infra red light and radio frequency waves and the technique of combining the bipolar radio frequency and optical energy to activate the skin cells which then dissolve the fat stored in them. VelaSmooth does not produce results in one treatment, a series of treatments is needed to see visible reduction of cellulite.
Another recent treatment for Cellulite Reduction is the SmoothShapes Laser Cellulite Reduction Treatment. This process combines laser light energy and manual manipulation to activate cells and reduce cellulite. The success of SmoothShapes is because of its non-invasive long lasting effects. Using light energy, vacuum suction and mechanical massage, the system helps activate even the most stubborn skin cells. While exercise workouts can help women reduce external fat the unsightly dimples known as cellulite, exercise is not a cure in itself. With a healthy diet, regular exercise and the help of one of these revolutionary treatments, Cellulite Reduction is a real possibility.
