The constant battle against unwanted hair can be an annoyance. It can be especially hassling as warm weather approaches and everyone wants to be ready for the beach. If you’re ready for a permanent solution, laser hair removal could be what you’re looking for. Today our team at The Mack Cosmetic Center in Tampa, FL, is going over some common questions about this treatment and the benefits it can provide.
What Areas Can You Treat With Laser Hair Removal?
The Legs
Laser hair removal is able to treat just about anywhere on the body. If you have an area you’d like addressed and you don’t see it listed here, feel free to reach out and ask us either online or during your consultation.
Legs are one of the most popular treatment areas. Many people shave their legs daily or go through the discomfort of regular waxing. Whether you just want to save time or find the idea of not having to worry about leg hair appealing, our team is happy to help.
The Face or Neck
Many patients struggle with bits of unwanted facial hair either above their upper lip or around their chin, jawline, and neck. This hair can negatively impact their confidence and gives them another daily thing to manage and stress over.
Bleaching this hair could put the patient’s skin at risk if they aren’t careful, while plucking and shaving can be annoying. By having this area treated with a laser, you can address your concerns permanently.
The Chest
Regardless of their gender, anyone can find themselves dealing with unwanted hair around their chest. Rather than having another area you have to remember to shave, laser treatment can help you get rid of this growth for good.
The Bikini Area
Managing unwanted hair can be a chore throughout the year, but it tends to become even more of an annoyance during the summer. Most people want to be able to enjoy their precious spare time. If you have a busy schedule, it can already be difficult to make spontaneous plans to go swimming or head off to the beach.
Squeezing in a shave before the beach, on top of all the other prep you have to do, can inhibit your ability to make fun, last-minute plans. Having the bikini area treated permanently can help patients feel like they’re ready to go at any time.
The Arms and Underarms
The underarms are a very common area to shave or wax, making it a great area to consider laser treatment.
Some patients also feel self-conscious about their arm hair. Laser treatment can help these patients feel more comfortable in their skin by thinning out or eliminating arm hair.
FAQ About Laser Hair Removal
1. How Long Does the Treatment Take?
The length of your treatment will depend on the treatment area as well as individual factors. A consultation will help us give you a more precise estimate.
In general, if you’re treating a small area like your chin or upper lip, your treatment will probably only take about five minutes. Treating your legs, arms, or back could take around 30 to 45 minutes. Many patients take this opportunity to relax and listen to some music, an audiobook, or their favorite podcast.
2. When Will I Notice Results?
Individual timelines may vary, but most patients will notice results within a few weeks after their first treatment. While a single treatment can provide noticeable results, a series of treatments is recommended to get a smooth, lasting, and even outcome.
3. How Many Treatments Will I Need?
We usually schedule treatments about eight weeks apart. That allows us to efficiently attack the hair during its active stage. Due to our powerful laser technology and skilled team, six to nine treatments is usually all it takes to give our patients permanent hair reduction.
4. Why Are Multiple Treatments Necessary?
Multiple treatments help us give you results you’ll be happy with in the long run. Due to how many hair follicles the human body has, these treatments will allow us to be thorough. We’ll make sure we haven’t missed any follicles, and also keep an eye out for follicles that need to be re-treated.
Once your series is done, you can enjoy the lasting convenience of permanent hair reduction.
4. How Does the Treatment Work?
The process of absorbing laser energy damages the treated hair follicles, which drastically decreases or completely eliminates their ability to grow new hair.
5. How Does It Compare to the Alternatives?
Shaving
Shaving is an effective and low-cost way to get rid of hair, but it’s only able to remove hair at your skin level. That means people who shave their hair are stuck in a constant cycle of shaving before their prickly hair growth comes back.
Waxing
Waxing tends to cost more than shaving, but when it’s done properly it removes hair right from the follicle. Waxing will last longer than shaving; sometimes up to six weeks. That said, six weeks still isn’t permanent removal.
The process of waxing can also be a painful one. Having it done professionally can be safer, but it can be costly and requires a time investment. Doing it at home tends to put people at more risk for wax burns, so patients looking to save money could end up regretting it if they’re not careful.
Creams
Creams and gels are a fairly easy way to chemically remove hair, but this isn’t a good option for everyone. Some products barely work, while others could be putting the health of your skin at risk. There are many people who like this type of hair removal, but others are concerned about the ingredients within some of these creams and gels.
To make matters worse, some of these creams could be harmful to the environment. The chemicals within these gels could end up accumulating in local water supplies or making their way to the ocean.
6. Why Our Team?
We want to help as many clients as possible and are dedicated to offering the best possible laser treatments as the technology continues to improve. That’s why our office was proud to be the first office to offer the Prowave laser from Cutera.
This laser is able to target finer hair than many traditional laser treatments, which means we can serve an even wider range of patients.
The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Save Time
Once your treatment series is done, you won’t have to worry about staying on top of waxing appointments, or shaving every day. The convenience factor is significant, but saving time can also help patients reduce stress. If you’re struggling to find time for everything you need to do in your life, it can be helpful to know that one thing you don’t have to worry about is unwanted hair removal.
Better Results
Shaving only offers smooth skin for a day or two at most. On top of that, shaving often leads to ingrown hairs, which can become red and irritated, or even infected. Laser treatment doesn’t cause ingrown hairs, and can in fact be used to treat ingrown hairs in some cases.
If you’re in a rush, shaving or waxing can become hazardous. Great care has to be taken not to burn yourself when you wax, so being in a rush isn’t really an option. Shaving in a rush can lead to whole patches of missed hair or a cut that you’ll have to spend time cleaning and treating.
Environmental Benefits
We’ve mentioned that some hair removal creams can be harmful to the environment, but there are other hair removal methods that can have a harmful impact as well. Shaving with disposable razors is extremely common. These razors are cheap, convenient, and can generally get the job done. The problem is that the making, packaging, and eventual disposal of these razors can all have a harmful effect on the environment.
Most plastic will eventually break down into small particles, but it doesn’t completely decompose. These small bits of plastic can become what’s known as microplastic pollution, which is a serious concern for the ocean in particular. That means removing your hair in a more sustainable way can help decrease the amount of plastic that ends up in our landfills or oceans.
Powerful Lasers for Lasting Results
Ultimately the best way to know if this treatment is right for you is to set up a consultation. We’ll be able to go over your needs and goals with you and work with you to set up the right treatment and best treatment schedule. If you’re wondering whether laser hair removal is right for you, reach out to us at The Mack Cosmetic Center in Tampa, FL, today to set up your consultation.