Hair Removal Methods

Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure. It is a non-invasive, convenient method to reduce hair growth.

Laser Hair Removal Technique
Depending on the area being treated, the process may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours to complete. The most commonly used lasers utilize a low energy laser beam. This beam passes through the patient’s skin and is attracted to the pigment of the hair. The energy passes down the hair shaft and is absorbed by hair follicles that are in the active growth phase, thereby disabling the hair follicle in the deeper layer of the skin. The hair follicles that are in dormant phase are not affected by the treatment. In most cases, minimal pain should be experienced and no anesthesia is required.

Laser Hair Removal Benefits

• A non-invasive, gentle technique that reduces undesirable hair from most parts of the body
• Treats larger areas effectively because it disables more than one hair at a time
• May make skin color and complexion more uniform
• Minimal discomfort
• Replaces waxing, electrolysis, shaving and bleaching
• No downtime

Laser Hair Removal Considerations

• Laser hair removal is an ongoing process that requires multiple sessions because it only affects actively growing hair, and not all hair follicles are active at the same time. In addition, high energy levels are avoided so as to minimize the risk of injury to the adjacent skin
• Occasionally patients may experience slight redness of the skin or mild swelling around the hairs
• Sunscreen is recommended for any area treated that may be exposed to the sun
• Patients with darker skin may not respond well due to inadequate discrepancy between skin and hair colors
• Blonde or gray/white hair is less responsive due to lack of ample pigment in the hair

Hair Removal Methods

Electrolysis is a method of permanent hair removal which was invented over 100 years ago in the United States. During electrolysis, a needle is inserted into a hair follicle and an electrical pulse is sent through the needle. If this particular hair follicle is in the active growth stage at the time of treatment, it will probably not grow again.

There are three basic types of electrolysis hair removal:

• Galvanic – An electro-chemical current produces a bit of lye.
• Thermolysis – A heat current is produced by and a radio wave.
• Blend – An electro-chemical reaction is produced more quickly by a combination of the above methods.

Hair can be removed from almost anywhere on the body except from the inside of the nose, ears, or often from a mole.

All electrologists have some trainingin hair removal, but states vary widely as to whether electrologists actually need certification and if so, vary as to what is required to obtain electrolysis certification. It is probably a good idea to ask about the training and experience of your electrologist.

Some of the people who may not be good candidates for at least galvanic or blend include people who have pace makers, are pregnant or have IUD’s. Your medical practitioner and your electrologist should make these decisions.

Common side effects of electrolysis include pain, redness, or swelling. It is possible for scabs to appear which may result in infection or scarring. It is also possible for darker skinned individuals to get dark or light spots around the treated areas which may or may not be permanent.

Electrolysis may be painful for some individuals depending on the coarseness of the hair being removed, the sensitivity of the area itself, and an individual’s tolerance for discomfort. A topical anesthetic such as EMLA or ElaMax may reduce the pain. Since electrolysis takes quite a bit of time, it may be difficult for some people to endure the discomfort associated with electrolysis.

Electrolysis hair removal takes a commitment of money, time and energy. Most electrologists charge between $45 and $125 per hour. You can figure out how much electrolysis will cost by multiplying your electrologists hourly rate by the hours for a particular area. It is very difficult to estimate the cost of electrolysis since hair grows denser for some people versus others. While an upper lip may take as little as one hour to treat, a man’s back hair removal treatment may take 150 hours or even more.

Although it is not easy to estimate the cost of hair removal or time it will take to remove an individual’s hair, the chart below can be used as a general guide. It may make more sense to use laser hair removal as the method to remove hair from large areas such as backs or full legs because of the significant cost and time savings. It may also make sense to use laser for small areas if only to save significant amounts of time.

The FDA has only approved certain lasers for “permanent hair reduction” indicating that a certain percentage of hair will remain after a course of laser treatment. Some individuals choose to begin electrolysis after the series of laser treatments to remove the stragglers left behind by the laser.

Of course there is a group of people for which the laser hair removal won’t work. This includes people with red, white, grey, or true blond hair in the area from hair is to be removed. This group of people may opt for electrolysis hair removal. Another option is an intense-pulsed-light hair removal machine, most of which are FDA approved for “long-term hair reduction.”

Cost of Electrolysis

Electrolysis is definitely a tried and true option for those opting for permanent hair removal. Although sometimes costly, painful and time consuming, it may be the best option for people with certain hair or skin types, or for those with only a small amount of hair to be removed.

There are several questions that people ask when it comes to permanent hair removal done through the use of lasers. Listed below are answers to the most common questions.

Does it Hurt?

Because the laser energy is absorbed in the hair follicle producing heat, there is a little sensation when performing laser hair removal. Certain areas of the body hurt more than others during laser hair removal. In addition, patients with very thick, dark hair may experience more discomfort than those with thin hair. This is because the thicker, darker hair will soak up more of the laser light during any given treatment. Normally, the hair becomes thinner and less solid after each succeeding treatment. Therefore, the most pain is usually experienced during the first treatment.

Can it Leave Scars?

Any laser procedure can cause scarring. This risk is noted on most consent forms you will sign prior to laser treatment. However, the risk of scarring from laser hair removal is rather small and is a result of many things including:

• The experience, skill, knowledge and training of the laser operator
• Your particular ability to heal
• The amount of melanin pigment in your skin with greater risk for darker skin types
• Type of laser used

What are the costs?

While laser hair removal can be costly, many patients realize that the treatment’s lasting effects and reduced hair growth more than worth the cost. The cost of a laser hair removal treatment varies depending on the area being treated, the physician performing the treatment, the number of treatments in a package, and other considerations.

Here are some average costs:

California $407

Texas $638

Florida $597

New York $499

Michigan $300

Does the Hair Grow Back?

Laser hair removal is accomplished in a series of sessions generally completed monthly or every other month. The average number of sessions to achieve over eighty percent permanent hair reduction in 80-90 percent of good candidates is approximately six sessions.

In between these monthly sessions some of the hair will have grown due to the hair’s natural cycle. Hairs that may have been dormant during your previous laser hair removal session may now be in the growth phase. This is where the need for multiple treatment sessions arises. Multiple sessions ensures that all the hairs are subjected to the treatment. These hairs may be shaved by the patient between sessions if desired.