One of the most commonly requested cosmetic procedures, especially in recent time, is laser hair removal. A lot of people find shaving, waxing or tweezing too taxing and time consuming which is why they turn to laser hair removal. How it works is that highly concentrated light is beamed into the hair follicles. The light is absorbed by the pigment in the follicles and this destroys the hair.

Some of the areas where laser hair removal is used include the face, legs, arms, back and underarms amongst others. The benefit of using lasers is that they are incredibly precise, much more so than the human hand holding a razor.

How is the procedure performed?

Like most other nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, patients need to visit a clinic where the procedure is carried out. The procedure does not take long since the laser is pulsed onto the skin every time, it clears an area roughly the size of a quarter. If the area being treated is small, such as the upper lip, then the procedure would take a maximum of two minutes. If the area is larger, such as the entirety of the legs then the procedure could take up to an hour.

It is also common for people undergoing this procedure to experience permanent hair loss if they repeatedly go through the procedure. Permanent hair fall is reported after 3 to 7 sessions.

Can anyone perform the procedure?

While laser hair removal sounds fairly easy, it is a medical procedure that should only be performed by qualified experts.

Patients who want to have laser treatment for hair removal should refrain from shaving, plucking, waxing, and electrolysis as the laser targets the roots of the hair to be effective, and other hair removal techniques can temporarily remove the hair, including the roots. Patients are also advised to avoid sun exposure as it slows down the treatment. The procedure is fairly painless and numbing cream can be applied.