LASER HAIR REDUCTION TREATMENTS FOR BODY & FACE
Unwanted hair on the body is unsightly, be it just the normal growth of hair on the body or due to a medical condition. Let us help you. Usually, one resorts to waxing, threading, plucking, tweezing, application of depilatory creamsetc, to remove the unwanted hair. The procedures are not without discomfort and these methods offer only a temporary solution and can also cause ingrown hair.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HAIR REDUCTION
Laser of a specific wavelength is focused on the target skin surface. This light energy is absorbed by the chromophores (coloured pigment) and converted to heat energy. This heat coagulates the proteins in the target and destroys it.
Hair growth occurs in three cycles – Anagen (active cycle), Catagen (dormant cycle), and Telogen (fall-out cycle or resting phase). When the laser beam is concentrated on the hair follicle, the pigment absorbs the light and gets vaporised at the right time destroying the stem cells that form the hair. Thus, this leads to permanent hair reduction. This process takes place without damaging the structure of the skin.
Laser Hair Reduction creates maximum impact when the follicle is in the anagen stage and each follicle must be treated individually to ensure maximum hair removal.
About 60%-90% of unwanted hair can be removed with laser hair reduction, if the protocol is followed. The benefits of hair reduction treatment are –
- Painless process with long standing results
- Procedure is swift and even a large area of skin can be covered in a very short span of time
- Far more effective and advantageous than depilatories, electrolysis, and other methods of hair removal
- Precise and targets only the problem area without damaging the surrounding skin
- Can be done on any part of the body such as arms, underarms, legs, bikini line, back, shoulders, buttocks, chest, abdomen, upper lip, etc.
- No chance of infection or scar formation
- Saves a lot of time, energy, and above all money compared to the results of the conventional methods such as waxing and threading
The sensation is often described as a ‘hot pinch’ or ‘snapping’ feeling. The sensation only lasts for a fraction of a second, and you may feel warmth or a tingling sensation for a short time afterward. Most people tolerate treatment without any topical anesthetic cream, which may be used to numb the skin from feeling sensation for very sensitive individuals.
There are negligible side effects of laser hair removal. One may or may not see mild redness at the treatment area immediately after the procedure. This would subside in about half an hour.
SUITABLE SKIN TYPES FOR LASER HAIR REDUCTION
The advanced laser hair removal machines at our clinics enable us to perform the laser treatment on all skin types and body areas. The different body areas that can be treated include full face, upper lip, chin, chest, abdomen, arms, underarms, bikini line, pubic area, legs, buttocks, and back.
If you are somebody who wants to get rid of unwanted hair forever, then you are the right candidate for Laser Hair Removal at PLAC. This treatment can be given on any kind of skin as the lasers we use suit all skin types, including darker skin.
Pregnant and lactating women and young adults (in stage of puberty) are advised against laser hair removal as the body undergoes major hormonal changes during these stages.
HOW TO PREPARE & WHAT TO EXPECT
Pre-care instructions for laser hair reduction are –
- Do not shave for 10 days prior to the treatment.
- Do not apply makeup on the skin that is going to be treated on the day of the treatment session.
- Do not get other aesthetic treatments like Chemical peels at least a fortnight before the service.
- Medications such as retinoids, depigmenting creams, and bleaching creams should be stopped four days before the service.
- No beauty parlour activities like waxing, threading, or facial should be done on the treatment area for one week prior to the service.
- Scrubs, both commercial and homemade, should not be used for at least two days before the treatment.
The actual procedure of laser hair reduction starts only after an initial consultation with the dermatologist. A detailed discussion with our doctor will give you insights into the procedure, the expected results, the number of required sessions etc. Tests will be run to rule out any other hormonal derangements.
You will experience the following during the procedure –
- The target area is shaved and the cooling gel is applied prior to treatment.
- The dermatologist at PLAC ensures that the laser beam is set at the optimal wavelength to give the best results.
- The area to be treated is divided into sections by the therapist.
- The hand-piece is then gently moved over the targeted area. During the very first session, this might feel like a nudge with a pencil or like a cool metal is being rubbed against the skin, depending on the laser hair removal machine that is being used.
- Once the entire area is covered with the hand-piece, the gel is wiped off and you are done!
Skin type, laser equipment used, the thickness of the unwanted hair, and the body part to be treated are the major factors that decides on the feel of laser hair reduction by the individual. For people with very less tolerance to pain, the doctor might recommend a numbing cream application.
Temporary pinkness in the area lasts a very short time, and most people return to work or normal activities immediately after treatment. The treated area will shed some hairs over the next 3-4 weeks, and you may experience a period of hair lessness in the area while you wait for your next treatment.
Body hair grows, rests, and falls off in cycles that span one to three months. Laser Hair Reduction treats only the hair in active growth phase and at any point of time up to 30% of hair is in active phase. Since the laser affects only the active phase hair, multiple sessions are required to get the desired results. The number varies for every individual as per their skin and hair type, the presence of hair follicles, hormonal status, ethnic background, and other factors. On an average, 6-8 sessions are required for visible hair reduction. However, this may differ and an estimation of number sessions required would be informed to you during the initial consultation with the dermatologist.
There is no recovery period after the laser treatment. No downtime is a key benefit of this procedure. You can go about with your daily activities immediately after the session.
A list of post-care instructions need to be followed to ensure that the results are optimal. These instructions are –
- Only normal water should be used for the next 12 hours to cleanse the treated skin.
- No heat treatments like the sauna, steam room, or hot showers or baths should be done for the next three days.
- Avoid any form of workout for the next 24 hours.
- No heavy cosmetics, greasy lotions, deodorants, and perfume usage for the following two days.
- Regular usage of sunscreen every 2-3 hours is advised and 20 minutes prior to stepping outdoors.
- Excessive sun exposure should be avoided for the next three days.
- Bleaching, waxing, or threading the treated area in between sessions should not be done. You can shave the hair in between sessions, if required.
Besides the above list, there may be certain case specific instructions which the doctor informs post the procedure.
EXPECTED RESULTS
Unwanted hair can take a major hit at your self-esteem by affecting your appearance. At PLAC we want to help you re-achieve your lost confidence by giving you smooth, hair-free skin. In just a few sessions, the hair growth will go down drastically and after the completion of the treatment, you will be left with hairless, smooth, and soft skin
Considering the hair growth cycle, a few sessions are required for complete reduction in hair growth. Most individual body parts take 6-8 sessions on an average. For full body laser hair removal, the number of sessions may be higher as the entire body needs to be treated in segments.
But, once you have completed all the required sessions, you can be stress-free about getting rid of unwanted hair forever.
PRICING & RELATED FACTORS
The cost of laser hair removal starts at Rs.2,500 per session. As only 50-60% of the hair is in the growth stage and can be targeted during each session, a few sessions will be required to get hair-free skin. This number is recommended by the dermatologist. Multiple packages are also available at PLAC that reduce the cost per session to a great extent. There are tempting monthly offers too!
As laser hair removal is such a revolutionary technology with fabulous results, people assume that it must therefore be incredibly expensive. However, you would be surprised to know how cost-effective laser hair removal is when you compare it to the traditional methods of hair removal. For example –
A person spends up to Rs 100 per session on underarms waxing and would need two waxing sessions per month on an average. So, this cost approximately comesupto Rs.200 per month. Since this is a temporary hair removal procedure, one needs to continue this month on month to maintain smooth hair-free underarms. So, 15 years down the line, you would have spent Rs. 36,000 on just underarms waxing for about 360 sessions. This is quite a big amount when compared to Rs. 15,000 (approximately) that one has to invest in one-time laser hair removal.
The final price varies depending on the range of factors given in the next sub-section.
There are many factors that are taken into account to decide the final cost of the laser hair treatment in India. Primary factors that hold importance are –
- Size of skin area to be treated
- Skin type and skin tone
- Hair type
- Laser technology being used (Nd YAG laser / Radio frequency – Diode
- Number of sessions required
Many machines are available in the market to perform this treatment and every salon or clinic that offers it uses different machinery and technology. Here is a simple comparison of the machines used –
- A beauty salon would use a machine that costs merely 1.5-2 lacs.
- Your neighbourhood cosmetic clinic uses equipment whose market price is between 5-6 lacs.
- At PLAC, we use the latest and most advanced equipment from the world’s leading laser manufacturers, to perform the laser hair removal treatment. This equipment costs around 50 lakhs and is US FDA approved. It is of utmost superior quality and offers effective results with minimal side effects; and makes the procedure absolutely ‘pain-less’.
- PLAC is one of the few centres in India which has the Diode +RF laser which can also remove gray hairs.
While cost an important factor when it comes to choosing a laser hair removal treatment, it is also important to understand and analyse the other important factors like the expertise of the clinic and the dermatologist, and the technology being used for the treatment. Using non-FDA approved equipment is not a safe decision, as well as getting the laser treatment done at a novice clinic can leave you with unwarranted scars and burns. Choose wisely, while keeping all the factors in mind!
A hair-free skin does wonders to your persona and brings out the real you. Before impressions fail and before your confidence takes a toll, a right solution is imperative for unwanted hair and that surely rests with the laser hair removal treatment at PLAC
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON LASER HAIR REMOVAL TREATMENT
In the first place,the procedure is Laser Hair Reduction & not removal .It is a scientifically proven technique that helps to prevent hair growth in the most effective manner. If performed correctly, as done by our expert dermatologists, the technology works on destroying the stem cells that form the hair.Thus,making this a permanent solution for hair removal.
Hair looks good on the head but unsightly when it grows at unwanted places. The most affected areas are face, arms, back, legs, under arms, chest, back, and bikini line. Conventional methods that people resort to India are painful, time-consuming, and are not permanent. Laser Hair Reduction is becoming an increasingly popular aesthetic cosmetic procedure among the Indian denizens to eliminate undesirable hair from the face and body forever, leaving behind smooth and silky skin.
Laser Hair Reduction has many benefits when compared to traditional methods like waxing, threading, depilatory creams, and electrolysis. Most importantly, it helps to destroy the hair follicles forever making the chances of the hair growing back nil. It is a permanent solution for removal of unwanted hair.
Laser Hair Removal is a quick and painless procedure with the chances of hair reduction being high. In the other methods, the process is time consuming, causes a reasonable amount of pain and discomfort, and above all, there is a risk of picking up infections or getting scars.
Laser Hair Reduction has many benefits when compared to the traditional method of Electrolysis. Firstly, Laser Hair Reduction is safe,quick and painless. The chances of hair reduction are high. In Electrolysis, the process is time consuming, causes a reasonable amount of pain and discomfort, and above all, there is a risk of picking up infections or getting scars
Most importantly, Laser Hair Reduction helps to remove the follicle but in Electrolysis the chances of the hair growing back is significant.
No. Laser Hair Removal is a conveniently painless procedure with much better output than other hair removal processes like waxing, threading or electrolysis.
During the very first session, it feels like a nudge with a pencil, and so when laser hair reduction for armpit is done, it feels like nudge of 8-12 pencils or a rubber snapping against your skin.
Also, the laser equipment used at PLAC comes with cooling technology which cools down the exposed part right after it is zapped. The discomfort, if any, associated with laser hair reduction varies considerably between individuals. Skin type, laser equipment used, the thickness of the unwanted hair, the body part, and one’s ability to tolerate pain is the major factor that decides on the feel of laser hair removal by the individual. For people with very less tolerance to pain, the doctor will recommenda numbing cream application but preferably only for smaller body parts.
Normally, all areas of the body require six to eight sessions on an average. But the number of sessions can vary in different types of skin and hair depending on number of hair follicles at the target site, ethnic background, hormonal balance, metabolism, and skin sensitivity.
Body hair grows, rests and falls off in cycles that span 1-3 months. Laser treats only the hair in active growth phase and at any point of time up to 30% of hair is in active phase. Considering your hair growth cycle, initially it is recommended to undergo a series of 6-8 sessions with a spacing of 1-3 months interval. These treatment sessions are usually followed up with a detailed evaluation by our dermatologists at either of our centres to determine how much hair reduction is achieved with the ongoing sessions and advise necessary medicines to get optimal results.
Laser Hair Reduction is a scientifically proven technique that helps to prevent hair growth in the most effective manner. If performed correctly (as done by our expert dermatologists here), the scope for re-growth of hair is extremely minimal. It saves a lot of time, energy, and above all money compared to the results of the conventional processes. So, this is a sensible solution to resolve your unwanted hair problem.
Laser Hair Reduction at PLAC can be given on any kind of skin, as we use lasers for all skin types including darker skin types. The laser technologies used at PLAC are Elos-Plus by Syneron and Nd:YAG laser. Whatever may be the technology we use, the most unique part of the procedure is that it is done by certified therapists under the guidance of dermatologists.
Pregnant and lactating women and individuals in stage of puberty are advised against laser hair removal as the body undergoes major hormonal changes during these stages.
No, radiations are not a part of laser hair removal. Ideally there are two forms of radiation -ionizing radiation and non ionizing radiation. What we do here is ‘non-ionizing’ radiation and that too with equipment which is FDA approved for your skin. Ionizing radiation is different and is usually found in X-rays.
No, this is a common myth; because laser hair reduction is such a revolutionary technology with fantastic benefits, people assume that it must therefore be incredibly expensive. However, you would be surprised to know how cost-effective laser hair removal is when you compare it to the traditional methods of hair removal.
For example: A person spends up to Rs. 100 per session on underarms waxing and so approximately Rs.200 per month. Since this is a temporary hair removal procedure, one needs to continue this month on month to maintain smooth hair-free underarms. So, 15 years down the line, you would have spent Rs. 36,000 on just underarms waxing and that’s quite a big amount when compared to Rs. 15,000 approximately that one has to invest in one-time laser hair removal.
