Laser Hair Removal Information Resources

The internet is awash in information about cosmetic procedures, laser hair removal among the most popular of them. The rise in popularity of the procedure has seen an increase in the erroneous and flat out misleading information available regarding laser hair removal. Over 1.4 million laser hair removal procedures were performed in 2005 and many of these procedures were not performed by qualified practitioners. The number of patients injured while having laser hair removal performed has increased dramatically as the number of unqualified offices has proliferated. As a result, professional medical societies such as the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, one of the largest and most respected associations of dermatology experts in the world, has created a patient safety campaign to help educate the public about the need to see a medical doctor for laser hair removal. Please visit the Patient Safety Campaign page of the ASDS for more information.

Often advertisements would have a prospective patient believe laser hair removal is akin to having a waxing. This simply is not the case. If you are looking to compare laser hair removal to other hair removal methods, you may visit the Laser Hair Removal Comparison. In the hands of a well-trained technician, with a medical doctor on-site to supervise and consult should any complications arise, laser hair removal is a safe, effective and long-lasting treatment. Lasers are highly delicate and sensitive devices that require a high level of competance to operate. Most lasers which are now used in medicine were developed and researched by some of the nation's greatest dermatologists, physicists and researchers. Physicians at research institutions such as the Harvard-MIT Divison of Health Sciences, Beckman Laser Institute and University of Pennsylvania spent decades developing the technology which has now become ubiquitous.

The highly technical nature of a laser requires that a trained operater perform laser hair removal with a medical doctor nearby. Without a doctor physically available on-site, potential complications can go unnoticed and thus harm can be caused. Many chains claim to have a physician ‘supervising’ their offices. In many cases the doctor is involved in name only. If a doctor is not physically directing a practice on-site, the potential for substandard treatment is much greater. There are a number of resources which can help you find information about laser hair removal such as www.pennhealth.com, www.hairfacts.com, and www.lasersurgery.com.

Certain considerations should be made when thinking about having laser hair removal. A patient’s skin tone, provider qualifications, physician directed treatment, the laser being used, all are critically important in the final outcome of laser hair removal. If you spend a little time finding a quality provider and learning about the procedure, you may find a completely satisfying and long-lasting result awaits. For more information about laser hair removal, you may visit the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery laser hair removal information page.

Understanding Laser Hair Removal

Unwanted hair is common for both men and women. For men, often this hair appears as back hair or shoulder hair. Men can also experience painful ingrown hairs on their back and neck. For women, hair is generally a problem is most areas including the face, neck, upper lip, chin, underarms, and bikini area. The technology to remove and diminish the amount of hair an individual has exists, and its laser hair removal.

Before undergoing laser hair removal, one should determine if the hair growth is unusual for them. If a sudden growth of hair occurs on the face for a woman, this may be a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Such a hormonal imbalance may be due to an irregular menstrual cycle or hormonal changes due to medication. If you fear your hair growth is the result of a sudden shift in your hormonal balance, you should consult your doctor.

Typically unwanted hair is either shaved, tweezed, plucked or waxed. Repeated plucking is difficult and time-consuming, making it impractical over large areas. Aggressive plucking can also lead to skin irritation and scarring over time. Depilatory creams and lotions are also popular, especially over larger areas. These products work by dissolving the hair at the base of the follicle. Often they may be problematic because they can often irritate the skin.

Waxing is among the most popular treatment for removing unwanted hair over a large area. Waxing will only last between two and six weeks and may cause superficial abrasions to the skin. Obviously it can be painful as well, making monthly treatments a dread.

If you have isolated and light colored hairs, Electrolysis is a good option. Though costly and time consuming, Electrolysis is an effective method, though if done improper can cause scarring. Be sure to visit an experienced provider if you choose Electrolysis.

The appeal of laser hair removal is the level of effectiveness and lasting effect of the treatment. The procedure can be performed on virtually any segment of the body from legs and bikini to back and chest. It has a mild pinching sensation during the actual treatment, however patients often comment that this pain is less than that felt during waxing. Laser hair removal is ideal for larger areas too because the speed of the treatment allows for a larger area to be treated in one session. Generally, after three sessions most hairs are removed. Hair will regenerate in the treated area over time, though this can vary between six and twelve months to as many as four or five years depending on the patient. The treated areas also tend to have fewer and thinner hair over time.

Laser hair removal exploits the difference in the pigment between the treated hairs and the skin. The darker hair is, the better it may respond to laser hair removal. For more information please visit

Hair Removal Journal