Laser HAIR REMOVAL : THE FAQ
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL PAINFUL?
Laser hair removal should not be painful. Some treatments may cause sensitivity in some patients but should never be unbearable. If the treatment causes pain, let the professional know immediately. Pain could be an indication that the laser is not properly adjusted, and could potentially cause burns.
For most patients, laser hair removal is not a painful process, even if preliminary sessions can be more uncomfortable than subsequent ones. If you are extremely sensitive, and the first session is unpleasant, your doctor will prescribe an anesthetic cream. It is reassuring to note that hairs become increasingly fine as you continue the hair removal process, so discomfort diminishes with each session. The sensitivity of the skin in each zone is different.
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL DEFINTIVE?
Laser hair removal is considered permanent, since it destroys at least 80% of the hairs. The remaining 20% of hairs are fine, like down. Some regrowth may be observed in certain areas, due to hormonal fluctuation. This may be the case in facial areas for some women post-pregnancy, or during menopause.
Regrowth is more common in men due to higher testosterone production. If you are male and interested in laser hair removal, annual or biannual follow-up appointments may be recommended after the first treatment cycle.
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL APPROPRIATE FOR CERTAIN AREAS OF THE FACE?
For facial laser hair removal, doctors at our laser center at the Clinique de la Croix d’Or will advise you. Thick hairs can be treated with classic laser treatment. However, for extremely fine hairs, laser is strictly prohibited. Laser performed on downy hair can provoke the growth of thick wiry hairs, even where they did not formerly exist.
If your fine hairs bother you in your daily life, our specialists can recommend specific treatments for these types of hairs.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAIR REMOVAL WITH LASER AND PULSED LIGHT?
Laser hair removal targets areas with extreme precision, to effectively remove hairs. By contrast, pulsed light is unfocused and scattered. This technology is extremely useful in dermatology, especially for skin rejuvenation, but is less effective as a means of permanent hair removal.
At our laser center at the Clinique de la Croix d’Or, we advise you not to be seduced by false claims of permanent hair removal. Some unscrupulous practicians will promise perfect results at little expense. Often, the treatments offered are performed with pulsed light instead of laser. In addition to being a less effective method, this treatment can be dangerous for darker skin, with increased risk of burns.
IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL DANGEROUS ?
Laser centers have been using this hair removal technology for more than 25 years. Photon penetration does not exceed several millimeters. There are no adverse effects for the body. Thanks to the statistics available, we can guarantee that sensitive zones like breasts and ovaries will not be affected by permanent hair removal.
Laser is potentially dangerous in only one area: the eyes. It may seem obvious, but it is important to remind the patient and the practician to be careful, and to wear appropriate protective goggles.
DOES LASER PRESENT RISKS TO WOMEN WHO WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN?
Since laser hair removal is not dangerous for the breasts and ovaries, there is no risk for women who want to have children. This treatment is possible from the end of puberty, with no threat to fertility.
Hair growth can occur in new areas after pregnancy. It is common for some patients to have some unwanted hair growth after childbirth. In this case, a laser hair removal cycle may be necessary to get rid of the unwanted hair growth in these areas. Please contact our laser center, based in Geneva Switzerland, where our doctors can advise you.
CAN LASER HAIR REMOVAL CAUSE SCARRING ?
When practiced by professionals, laser hair removal does not cause scarring. In rare cases, small scabs can appear in the days following the session. These scabs are not dangerous and will disappear in 8-10 days. This usually occurs in people with extremely delicate skin or in those who have been exposed to the sun without telling the doctor.
For laser epilation, it is essential not to be tanned. The risk is permanent marks on the skin. However, immediately after hair removal sessions, sun exposure is permissible if you protect your skin with SPF 50.
AT WHAT AGE CAN WE START LASER SESSIONS?
One advantage of laser hair removal is that you can start as soon as you finish puberty. The younger you are, the more sessions you will need to have. But after that, hair removal will be a worry of the past and you will always be perfectly groomed.
In some cases, touch-ups will be recommended, but nothing compared to the frequency of monthly waxing sessions. Come benefit from the expert professionals at the laser center of the Clinique de la Croix d’Or in Geneva. Our doctors will advise you and take care of you and your skin.
