FACIAL HAIR
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Unwanted facial hair on women often appears on the upper lip, chin and sides of the face. Before you decide on the proper removal method first determine that the cause of the hair growth is not hormonal. If you are experiencing an abnormal growth of hair on these facial areas or if the hair is very thick, you should consult your physician to determine the underlying causes before you embark on a removal regimen.
If the hair growth isn’t caused by hormonal abnormalities, you have a number of different options for removal. I find that women often choose to tweeze the hairs. Overall, this is not the best solution because repeated plucking can cause irritation in the hair follicle and, on darker-skinned women, can also result in scarring. Unless you have just a few stray hairs that occasionally pop up, save the tweezers for other uses.
Laser hair removal is the newest weapon in the hair removal arsenal. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal has fair skin and dark hair, but good results can be achieved by an experienced laser practitioner on darker-skinned women. Overall, laser hair removal is not very effective on light blonde or white hair.
Before you begin treatment, you should consult a dermatologist to determine if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. You also want to make sure that the person treating you (whether it’s a doctor, registered nurse or licensed esthetician) is experienced. The three most important questions to ask during a consultation are:
- Do you own the laser or rent it? If the doctor owns the laser, that tells me they have a high level of commitment and experience.
- How many patients have you treated?
- What kind of results can I expect?
Although laser hair removal is often billed as permanent, a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction after three treatments, performed six weeks apart, is more realistic. On facial areas, maintenance treatments are usually necessary for complete removal. Depending on what part of the country you live in, charges for laser hair removal should range from $150 to $350 per facial area.
Avoid laser treatment around the eyes- - on the brow area and in between the eyes. Because laser rays can penetrate deeply, this is an area better treated by tweezing, waxing or electrolysis.
Electrolysis uses low-level electricity to kill the hair follicles. On the upside, results last longer than with waxing and depilatories. However, the process can be time consuming and costly. Finding a reputable practitioner is key, because electrolysis performed incorrectly can cause scarring. Before you begin treatment, ask for referrals from former clients, and make sure that a new needle is used for each session. I generally recommend electrolysis for women with white or very blond hair and for women who have areas with isolated hairs.
Depilatory creams dissolve the hair at the base of the follicle. They are ideal for widespread areas (like the legs), but can be problematic when used on the face because they irritate the skin and usually don’t remove all of the hairs. On the plus side, depilatory creams are a relatively inexpensive option. On average, results will last for one to two weeks.
Waxing is one of the most popular solutions among my patients. Generally, it is an effective method to remove hair on the upper lip and fine hair on the side of the face, but I don’t recommend it for the chin area, where hair tends to be more coarse. Waxing can also be problematic for darker-skinned women, who sometimes experience discoloration due to irritation and inflammation. Depending on the type of hair you have, waxing results should last from two to six weeks.
BIKINI LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Unwanted facial hair on women often appears on the upper lip, chin and sides of the face. Before you decide on the proper removal method first determine that the cause of the hair growth is not hormonal. If you are experiencing an abnormal growth of hair on these facial areas or if the hair is very thick, you should consult your physician to determine the underlying causes before you embark on a removal regimen.
If the hair growth isn’t caused by hormonal abnormalities, you have a number of different options for removal. I find that women often choose to tweeze the hairs. Overall, this is not the best solution because repeated plucking can cause irritation in the hair follicle and, on darker-skinned women, can also result in scarring. Unless you have just a few stray hairs that occasionally pop up, save the tweezers for other uses.
Laser hair removal is the newest weapon in the hair removal arsenal. The ideal candidate for laser hair removal has fair skin and dark hair, but good results can be achieved by an experienced laser practitioner on darker-skinned women. Overall, laser hair removal is not very effective on light blonde or white hair.
Before you begin treatment, you should consult a dermatologist to determine if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. You also want to make sure that the person treating you (whether it’s a doctor, registered nurse or licensed esthetician) is experienced. The three most important questions to ask during a consultation are:
- Do you own the laser or rent it? If the doctor owns the laser, that tells me they have a high level of commitment and experience.
- How many patients have you treated?
- What kind of results can I expect?
Although laser hair removal is often billed as permanent, a 50 percent to 70 percent reduction after three treatments, performed six weeks apart, is more realistic. On facial areas, maintenance treatments are usually necessary for complete removal. Depending on what part of the country you live in, charges for laser hair removal should range from $150 to $350 per facial area.
Avoid laser treatment around the eyes- - on the brow area and in between the eyes. Because laser rays can penetrate deeply, this is an area better treated by tweezing, waxing or electrolysis.
Electrolysis uses low-level electricity to kill the hair follicles. On the upside, results last longer than with waxing and depilatories. However, the process can be time consuming and costly. Finding a reputable practitioner is key, because electrolysis performed incorrectly can cause scarring. Before you begin treatment, ask for referrals from former clients, and make sure that a new needle is used for each session. I generally recommend electrolysis for women with white or very blond hair and for women who have areas with isolated hairs.
Depilatory creams dissolve the hair at the base of the follicle. They are ideal for widespread areas (like the legs), but can be problematic when used on the face because they irritate the skin and usually don’t remove all of the hairs. On the plus side, depilatory creams are a relatively inexpensive option. On average, results will last for one to two weeks.
Waxing is one of the most popular solutions among my patients. Generally, it is an effective method to remove hair on the upper lip and fine hair on the side of the face, but I don’t recommend it for the chin area, where hair tends to be more coarse. Waxing can also be problematic for darker-skinned women, who sometimes experience discoloration due to irritation and inflammation. Depending on the type of hair you have, waxing results should last from two to six weeks.
UNDERARM HAIR REMOVAL
Underarm laser hair removal is a common procedure for patients seeking to remove unwanted under arm hair. Each pulse of laser light removes the unwanted hair in the underarm region. The laser targets those hairs which are in their growth phase, and as hairs go through cycles, multiple sessions may be needed to remove all hair permanently. Since there is usually a small area to treat armpits, removal of underarm hair is one of the fastest procedures in laser therapy, requiring only several minutes of treatment time. The procedure is generally without much pain and the average cost per session is $100 to $250.
BACK HAIR REMOVAL
Hair on the back can be more than just an aesthetic issue. Occasionally the hair can become irritated, and itchy, and the hair follicles may become infected. The discomfort is worsened with exercise, warm weather and associated sweating.
The hair presentation can vary from very dense to sparse. Either way, laser hair removal can be extremely helpful in reducing, or eliminating, undesired hair. As with other areas of the body, the type of laser used must be chosen and applied to the patient carefully to receive the maximum potential outcome. Physician offices that have the greatest experience in the field are most likely to be sufficiently knowledgeable in selecting and treating with the appropriate laser or light source.
Other options, such as shaving, waxing and using depilatory creams, have limitations on the back. Since the back is difficult to reach, the help of an assistant is almost always necessary when shaving or applying depilatory creams. Of these three hair removal approaches, waxing offers the longest time for hair-free skin--lasting several weeks. But waxing the back can be irritating to skin, which can even result in pigmentation of the skin and, of course, can be a fairly uncomfortable procedure.
Laser hair removal for back hair may not be perfect, but there are important advantages for every patient. Several potential lasers and light sources are available, each having a specific benefit for the patient, depending on the patient's skin color, hair color, hair thickness and hair density. Those physician offices offering the greatest selection of lasers, and other light sources, will increase the likelihood of having the best choice for the patient and the best final outcome.
One laser session can cover the whole back and is relatively well tolerated by the patient. In four to six treatment sessions a permanent reduction in the majority of hair can be achieved. With continued treatments, most hair may become permanently smaller or totally eliminated. Even those patients with thicker, coarse hair may have a significant permanent thinning of the diameter of many of the hairs, in addition to achieving a reduction in hair density. Those hairs that remain may be much less of a concern to the patient. This is especially important to those patients who have recurrent irritation from their back hair. The use of the laser, and other light sources, have allowed for a real advance in the treatment of these patients.
LEG HAIR LASER REMOVAL
Leg laser hair removal is a popular and effective option for removing hair on the legs. As the legs have a relatively large surface area, laser hair removal on the legs may take up to an hour. A patient seeking lasting hair removal may need 3 to 5 treatment sessions. The price per session can very widely depending on the patient’s hair thickness, density, and surface area. The area of the country you live in also may affect the price you pay. Average per session cost for leg laser hair removal is generally between $450 to $800. Unlike with waxing, however, price is not the only factor in treatment. Often the lowest price is offered by offices with outdated technology or inexperience staff so be sure to ask questions before undergoing any treatment.
CHEST AND ABDOMINAL REGION HAIR REMOVAL
Chest laser hair removal is quickly becoming a popular solution for unwanted chest hair removal. Laser hair removal is a relatively quick and pain-free solution for unwanted chest hair, taking approximately one hour for a single session. After 3-6 treatment sessions most men are satisfied with their results. An average treatment costs approximately $300 to $600 depending on hair thickness, density, region of the country you live in and other factors. The best option is to have a consultation with a physician who can answer your questions and let you know what to expect.
ARMS HAIR REMOVAL
Unwanted arm hair can be unattractive, unsightly and cause many people to be insecure about their appearance. Often traditional remedies like shaving or waxing offer only a short term solution to the problem. In many cases by the time the irritation of waxing or shaving has passed, the problem hair has begun to return. Laser hair removal now offers a lasting solution to unwanted arm hair.
A patient may receive lasting results in 3 to 5 treatments, with typically less pain or discomfort than waxing. Treatment sessions last less than one hour, though treatment time may vary based on your hair thickness, density, surface area being treated and other factors. Cost may range per session from $250 to $500. Annual maintenance treatments may be needed to ensure the hair does not grow back. Consult with a physician prior to receiving treatment to evaluate your skin and hair type as well as to understand the procedure and its potential benefits for you.
