Overview | Types of Lasers | Benefits | Pre-treatment Care | Post Treatment Care | Symptoms | Seeking a Specialist

How many times have you had to give up on wearing your favorite dress for a special occasion only because of unsightly hair growth? And, how often do you dread the thought of heading to your neighborhood salon for the monthly, and rather painful, waxing treatment?

We, at The Bombay Skin Clinic, are here to tell you that you can wave a permanent farewell to days to upsetting hair on your body. With our advanced laser hair removal options, you can now look forward to smooth skin every day.

Read on to learn about hair removal treatment through laser technology.

Laser types

There are many different types of laser machines for hair removal treatment. Let’s look at the most common ones.

  1. ND YAG laser – ND YAG laser is noted for its ability to penetrate the area to be treated far deeper than other lasers. It also works well in the Q-switched mode for superficial skin treatments. ND YAG is highly effective for laser hair removal almost anywhere on the body including the sensitive areas on the face, neck, bikini line, and underarms. It is even highly effective in treating spider veins and facial veins. ND YAG laser treatment usually involves the use of a topical anesthesia. Post-treatment, ice may be used to cool down the treated area.
  2. Alexandrite laser – Alexandrite laser treatment derives its name from the alexandrite crystal that works as its source. This form of laser treatment can also work in the Q-switched mode. Alexandrite laser treatment is known for its extreme precision that leaves the surrounding skin completely unharmed. It can be used for hair removal in almost any part of the body including the face, neck, back, chest, and legs. There is a bit of caution to be exercised when using the Alexandrite laser treatment on darker skin tones, as it may lead to a destruction of melanin and white patches.
  3. Diode laser – When it comes to laser hair removal, our patients have experienced wonders with the Vikini diode laser for permanent hair reduction. Approved by the US FDA, the diode laser can work its magic on the face, arms, and legs with a visible 90% reduction of hair in just a few sessions. This form of hair laser treatment has many advantages. It is painless, has no downtime, and carries no side-effects. With advanced sapphire cooling, you can be sure of the most comfortable hair removal experience.
  4. IPL – IPL stands for intense pulsed light. This treatment aims to destroy the process of hair growth by targeting hair at the root level. The IPL treatment sees hair fall out between a few days to two weeks after exposure. IPL is slightly different from laser. While laser is light that is concentrated in one spectrum and color, IPL manifests in many colors and wavelengths.
    IPL is quick and offers visible results in barely four sessions. Additionally, the less concentrated IPL is less painful than laser. It is also quicker as a larger area can be treated in a very short span of time. Yet, it is important to also note that IPL has a much higher chance for the patient to suffer from burns and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Also, there is a high chance of reverse hypertrichosis in the surrounding areas.

Benefits of laser hair removal

There are many reasons why our patients swear by the benefits of laser hair removal. Here is a quick look at some of them:

  1. No waiting for growth – When you opt for other hair removal methods like shaving and waxing, you need to wait for the hair to grow a certain length before you can remove it. This means that you do have a few days of grooming problems in the month. With laser treatment, you can be hair-free, as the treatment does not need you to wait for hair growth.
  2. No in-growth – Unlike with waxing, you do not have to deal with the pain of ingrown hair. Laser can take care of these too.
  3. Quick and effective – If you sit and add up the hours you spend on waxing and depilatory creams each month, it can truly startle you. This is why our patients save time on their schedule through quick and zippy laser hair removal that is effective and time-efficient.
  4. Accurate treatment – The precision of the treatment treats the hair at the follicle level. This gives longer and better results.
  5. Saves money – Laser treatments might sound costly initially. But, you really have to think of all the money that you will save on monthly waxing and depilatory creams. If you add up the costs, laser falls cheaper over time.

Pre-treatment instructions

At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we have state-of-the-art facilities for laser treatment. All patients are given protective eyewear before the treatment starts. Some patients are administered a numbing gel to help ease the slight discomfort that the laser may cause. You would also be instructed to follow certain habits in the days leading up to your treatment. These can include:

  • Stop waxing or plucking hair to be treated
  • Shave the area to be treated
  • Avoid sun exposure
  • Keep the area free from bleach and cream
  • Inform your dermatologist if you are on birth control or acne medicines

After treatment

Once your hair removal treatment is completed, your dermatologist will take you through a detailed discussion of how you would need to care for your skin in the coming days. Here are some things that you will be asked to do/follow:

  • Avoid direct sunlight
  • Stay away from tanning beds
  • Use a cool compress to soothe the treated skin

Once the treatment is done, patients see results really quickly. In most cases, patients require at least two to six sessions for permanent hair reduction. Once the sessions are complete, most patients do not get any hair re-growing in the treated area for years. Some patients may see a growth of hair but this is usually very fine and light. You may need to keep following up for regular maintenance as per the recommendation of your skin specialist.

Symptoms of hirsutism

Hirsutism is a condition in which women get excessive hair growth. This can be caused due to many reasons such as excess androgen or hormonal changes during menopause. The main symptom of hirsutism is the growth of thick hair in areas that women do not normally get hair. This includes the face, chest, back, and upper arms.

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that excessive body hair generally runs in the genes of people of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent.

Hair removal in men and women

While women constitute a larger part of patients seeking hair removal treatments, men are not to be left out either. Women tend to require hair removal on the arms, legs, underarms, and bikini line. Men tend to require hair removal treatment done on the ears, cheeks, neck, back, and chest. Men may also opt for a shaping of the beard using laser. In many cases, the tiny black spots on the nose might look like blackheads but they are actually tiny hair that can also be removed with laser.

Shaving and waxing are both painful and temporary. Plus, they can cause skin irritation. Laser hair removal is safe and effective for both men and women. Our skincare experts will recommend the kind of laser that will work best for you.

The importance of seeking a good specialist

When getting a treatment such as laser hair removal done, it is vital that you only go to a qualified dermatologist. You can look up dermatologists online or simply ask your family doctor to recommend one. Remember that money should never be a consideration when getting such treatments done. The best dermatologists will only use the most suitable equipment that is sensitive to your skin type and to your treatment needs. Saving money by going to an inexperienced technician can leave you with expensive bills to treat the damage caused. The National Health Service UK alerts patients against going with a technician who has only done a short course in laser treatment.

The American Academy of Dermatology notes that an unqualified skin technician can leave you with burns and scars after a badly done laser treatment.

Closing paragraph

Say goodbye to painful and tiresome hair removal treatments that need to be repeated every month. Laser technology is certainly the future. The laser hair removal procedure is safe and precise if conducted by an experienced and qualified dermatologist.

At The Bombay Skin Clinic, we take the utmost care to look after your skin treatment needs with the latest in technology. As a leading hair specialist in Mumbai, we focus on customizing care so that each patient gets treated as per their unique requirements. With the latest in technology at our facility, you can get your skin smooth and glowing in no time at all. Walk in today for a consultation and walk out with the best version of a beautiful you.

References

  1. American Academy of Dermatology – https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/hair-removal/laser-hair-removal-faqs
  2. Johns Hopkins Medicine – https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/excessive-hairiness-hirsutism
  3. National Health Service UK (NHS UK) – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cosmetic-procedures/laser-hair-removal/