Body hair in unwanted locations creates a constant grooming challenge for millions of people every day. They shave, wax, pluck and lather up with depilatory creams only to have the unwanted hair return in short order. Many people struggle to find a longer-lasting solution that saves them time, money, and often discomfort. Reno Sparks MedSpa in Reno, NV, recommends laser hair removal as an outstanding and semi-permanent solution to this problem.
Laser treatments, unlike other options, can be a very long-lasting solution to a client’s unwanted hair challenge. Laser treatment begins working immediately after the first appointment. You’ll first see hair falling out of treated areas within a day or two. Soon after that, you’ll notice smoother skin. Once your treatment plan is complete, the results will last typically longer than waxing and can last for years.
How Laser Treatments Work
Reno Sparks MedSpa uses the safest laser system available called the Gentle YAG Pro. This is a 1064 wavelength laser that works for all skin types and pigments. Specifically, our laser system is safe and effective for darker tones typical in Latino, Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, and East Indian skin types.
Lasers work by heating and damaging the hair follicles below the skin. The damaged hairs fall away and leave noticeably sparser trouble areas. After multiple treatments, laser treatment will achieve client hair management goals.
Laser treatment is semi-permanent, meaning the hair follicles remain dormant for a long period of time and regrowth is significantly slower than at-home treatments. Although a few maintenance appointments may be necessary, laser treatments often last years.
Laser removal is also very safe. Some patients may experience minor discomfort and skin irritation. Our staff at Reno Sparks MedSpa will thoroughly review the client’s medical history to ensure the safest, most comfortable experience possible.
How Many Treatments are Required?
The size and location of the problem area will determine the number of treatments. During your consultation, our staff will recommend a specific treatment plan based on your goals. Typical plans for armpits, chests, and back are complete after six to eight visits. Some facial hair treatment plans may last up to 12 visits. Legs may take as few as six treatments, depending on the client’s skin and hair density.
Are All Hairs Removed?
Laser treatments work best on dark, thick hair follicles and lighter-toned skin. The procedure works through the melanin in the hair system, so lighter-colored hair and grey hair aren’t affected because there is little to no melanin present. Laser treatments are also not as effective on fine “peach fuzz” hair.
Can I Shave During Treatments?
Most clients are able to shave during the treatment cycles. Not only does shaving not interfere with laser treatment, but it can also sometimes be desirable. A clean shave helps the laser system gain access to more hair follicles. It is important to shave with a clean razor to avoid introducing bacteria to the treatment area.
Other Options
One of the chief benefits of waxing and shaving, for example, can be rapid results. But those results don’t last very long. Depilatory creams have the exact same limitation. In all these cases, the hair follicles will continue to grow and the hair problem returns like clockwork.
Shaving
The most common tactic is the most obvious – shaving. Millions upon millions of people drag razor blades across the lathered skin of various body parts all around the world every day. Shaving is popular because it is generally safe and effective for most body areas and in the short term.
However, shaving creates stubble and, depending on the individual, that stubble can return before 12 hours has elapsed. Also, shaving can produce skin irritation (razor burn) and of course, there is always the possibility of nicking the skin with the razor and causing bleeding.
Shaving is typically a daily requirement for most clients. Some people develop folliculitis or contact dermatitis from shaving. Nicks and cuts are common. And ingrown hairs and razor burn are also common complaints of shavers.
Waxing
Waxing is another very popular tactic for removing unwanted hair on many areas of the body. Warm wax is applied in a strip to problem areas and allowed to cool and harden, capturing the hair shaft. When the wax strip is quickly removed from the skin, the hair shafts come away with it and the hair is removed from the body, hopefully, root and all.
Waxing results are far more durable than shaving because, when done correctly, the hair has to completely regrow from the follicle. Smooth skin with no stubble can last two to four weeks for some clients, and the resulting hair is finer than shaving stubble. But waxing has some noticeable drawbacks.
First, waxing can be painful or very painful, depending on the area. Clients who are looking for a long-lasting solution without significant discomfort will probably want an alternative to ripping hair out at the follicle by wax removal. Second, waxing can be tough to bear on certain parts of the body where hair growth is densest and nerve bundles create areas of high sensitivity.
Waxing treatments can last three to four weeks. Side effects may include skin irritation or minor burns from the hot wax, and ingrown hairs.
Plucking (and Threading)
Plucking and threading are very similar techniques that involve removing hair at the follicle using force. Plucking accomplishes this one or a few hairs at a time with tweezers and can be done by the client in their own bathroom. Threading is typically done by a trained technician and requires an appointment. Both techniques are meant as detail work, in general, and neither is appropriate for large areas of hair removal.
Plucking is typically a daily or every week chore. Threading can treat a larger area and typically lasts a bit longer – maybe up to a month. There are few common side effects from plucking or threading other than discomfort during the actual procedure.
Depilatory Creams
These over-the-counter products are designed to destroy the cell structure of the hair just below the skin. The product works relatively quickly, and the hair typically is removed while washing or wiping the cream off of the treated area.
Depilatory creams typically last two to three weeks. There are few side effects from creams. Some people with sensitive skin may experience contact dermatitis or skin irritation. Leaving the cream on too long could cause minor chemical burns.
Treatment FAQs
Does Hair Color Matter?
The treatment targets the pigment cells in the hair, heating this area up and destroying the cell clusters in each hair. Hair coloring without pigment will not be affected by the laser, so blonde, grey, and white hair will not respond to this kind of treatment.
However, the treatment works perfectly on brunette or darker hair, and the darker the better. Melanin gives hair its color and is the key target of laser treatment. Dark hair has lots of melanin and therefore is especially impacted by the laser. Clients with dark hair can expect very good results from laser treatment.
Does Hair Coarseness Matter?
Fine hairs are typically also light-colored and not very susceptible to the laser’s heating impact. Since heat is the primary mechanism for destroying the individual hairs below the skin, fine hair will not likely respond to treatment.
Coarse, dark hair has lots of melanin and will definitely respond to the laser’s heat. After a few treatments, clients with coarse hair can expect very noticeable and lasting smoothness in areas where the treatment has been applied.
Will There Be Discomfort?
Laser treatment is often much more comfortable than waxing and can be more comfortable than shaving for clients who have sensitive skin that is prone to razor burn or other post-shaving skin conditions. We use numbing creams when appropriate to aid in client comfort during the procedure.
Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others. Hair density can play a role in sensations during the procedure, as well as hair location. Dense hair in the bikini area will be more sensitive to treatment than upper lip treatments, for example.
Why Should I Delay or Avoid Treatment?
Recent electrolysis, waxing, or plucking typically removes the part of the hair follicle that is treated with the laser, so clients should delay treatment until at least 10 days after waxing or plucking in the area to be treated. Shaving or depilatory creams do not have the same effect and, in fact, can be done the day of the laser treatment.
Other treatments and activities, such as tanning or sunbathing and use of accutane, may warrant a delay in treatment depending on the recency of the activity or treatment. And some diseases or conditions may cause the doctor to recommend alternatives to laser treatment. See our website FAQ for more information and to schedule an appointment for a consultation to get a professional and detailed opinion.
How Many Treatments and How Often?
Most situations require an average of six treatment appointments to see complete results, depending on the client’s goals and physiology. Some hairy areas of the body where hair growth is rapid (such as facial hair) may require up to twelve treatments to achieve full results.
Treatments typically take place at least 28 days apart. So, most treatment plans happen over a six month window or more. But don’t worry – clients see results very quickly after the first treatment. And you can shave treatment areas without impacting the treatments which means you can augment the treatment plan with shaving until your treatments are complete and the undesirable hair is nearly permanently gone.
How Long Do Laser Hair Removal Treatments Take?
The typical laser treatment session takes about 60 minutes, depending on the size and location of the treatment area and whether numbing creams are used.
What is the Cost?
Costs of treatment plans vary depending on the treatment location and number of sessions required. It is difficult to provide detailed estimates without consultation, but you can expect the treatments to range in cost from a low of around $100 per session to a high of around $500 or more per session. Laser hair treatment is rarely covered by insurance plans. Let our staff help you arrange payment and financing, if necessary.
Contact Us Today
Laser hair removal treatment plans can be much cheaper, more comfortable, and more effective over time than at-home or other hair removal options. Contact our professional staff at Reno Sparks MedSp in Reno, NV and schedule a consultation to see if this treatment is right for you!
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