Having hair where you don’t want it is an embarrassing and frustrating problem, and the traditional solutions of waxing and shaving leave much to be desired. You may have read a little about laser hair removal, but how long do the results last and what are the advantages over other methods?
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a treatment that uses light energy to target the hair follicles. The minuscule openings in your skin are where new hair strands develop and grow. When you wax or pluck, you are removing the hair shaft from the follicle. Shaving only cuts the hair shaft at the skin level, leaving the shaft under the skin intact. Laser treatments are unique because they work on the follicle rather than the hair. By changing how the follicle works, the hair shaft simply falls out.
Why Do I Still See Hair After My Laser Hair Removal?
Hair grows in several stages, and the point at which a hair falls out of the follicle after laser hair treatment depends on the stage of growth for that individual hair.
- Growing phase (anagen) lasts two to seven years, and this is when the hair gains length.
- Transition phase (catagen) lasts about ten days while the hair follicle reduces in size and starts to release from the surrounding skin.
- Resting phase (telogen) that lasts up to 90 days.
- New development phase (exogen) signifies when old hair is being shed and replaced by new hair.
The hair on your body is in various stages of growth. When you have a laser hair removal treatment, the older hairs fall out right away. New hairs that grow are removed with follow-up treatments.
How Long Do the Results of Laser Hair Removal Last?
Laser hair removal gently heats the hair follicle so that it produces new hair slower. In some cases, the hair is lighter in color and much finer than the original hair. The follicle also produces less hair over a period of time. After the initial series of treatments to remove all the hair, the timespan for maintenance treatments varies by individual, but the results last significantly longer compared to waxing, plucking and shaving. Some of our patients only need maintenance treatments once or twice a year.
Contact Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach to Schedule a Consultation for Laser Hair Removal
To learn more about the ways that laser hair removal can help you better manage unwanted hair on the face, legs, bikini line, chest, back and other areas, contact Plastic Surgery of Palm Beach to schedule a consultation.