Many Gainesville folks who suffer from patches of unsightly body hair have turned to laser hair removal to get rid of that unwanted hair. The body areas most often chosen for laser hair removal are the upper lip, chin, underarms, legs and bikini line. Hair removal is not limited to just those areas, however; treatments can be applied to just about any part of the body. Safe and effective, laser hair removal provides a big boost to your self confidence and overall morale.
Laser hair removal is not intended to permanently eliminate body hair, however. Rather, it extends the period of time in which you are hair free. These periods can last for months or even years if you regularly undergo laser hair removal treatments. A laser light beam passes through your skin during the procedure. The beam targets the dark pigment present in hair, then hits and destroys the hair follicle.
The laser hair removal procedure works best on dark haired and light skinned people but can also be used on those with a darker skin tone. Laser hair removal treatments are unsuccessful on people having white, blonde, light brown or light red hair. Complications are almost nonexistent, but there are some side effects that you should be aware of. You may experience incomplete hair removal or hair regrowth, temporary skin darkening or lightening of darker skin tones, blistering, scarring, changes in skin texture, temporary crusting or scabbing and changes in new hair growth. Any tan you currently have must fade before you undergo laser hair removal as your tan increases the probablility of side effects. Avoid any prolonged sun exposure for four to six weeks prior to treatment, and avoid tanning booths altogether. Hairs should also be shaved short yet visible for maximum treatment effectiveness; do not wax or pluck or undergo electrolysis for at least three weeks prior to laser hair removal treatment.
During the laser hair removal procedure, the doctor will press a handheld laser instrument on your skin, with either a cooling tip or cooling gel between the laser and the skin for protection. You will be provided with protective goggles to wear during treatment in the event of accidental exposure to the laser beam; that beam may also create a stinging sensation on your skin. Your doctor may apply a topical anesthetic to minimize the effect. Do not be concerned if you detect a slight odor of singed hair. This results from the charring of your hair stubble and is completely normal.
You will not need any bandages or medications following the procedure. Any redness or swelling will disappear after a few hours. You should avoid exertion for the first day following treatment (to minimize sweat) and avoid sun exposure, waxing or plucking or any disturbance of the affected area of any kind for several weeks afterwards. Ask your doctor when you can resume shaving the area. Only a gentle soap and water wash is allowed.