Laser Hair Treatment: Cost and Side Effects

Laser therapy is a kind of medical treatment that makes use of focused light. Focussed light that comes out from lasers can be tuned according to fixed wavelengths. Laser light can be focussed into strong beams of light. The lights from lasers are so intense and powerful that it is capable of shaping diamonds or cutting steel. Laser therapy allows the surgeon to work with a high level of precision. The surgeon must focus on a particular tiny region. This enables him to cause little damage to the adjacent tissues. As opposed to traditional forms of surgery, laser surgery methods will be less painful, will be less scarring and will be cause less swelling.

Laser therapy is costly and needs several follow-up treatments. Laser therapy is used for a number of reasons such as for the elimination of kidney stones, elimination of prostrate, it improves vision, repairs retina that has become detached, mitigates signs of cancer, treats loss of hair that occurs as a result of alopecia or because of old age.

Lasers have a sealing effect and can be used to lower pain post surgery in nerve endings, laser therapy can be used to seal blood vessels for the prevention of blood loss and lymph vessels for the reduction of inflammation and also to stop spreading tumor cells. During cancer, laser treatment is used additionally with radiation, surgery and chemotherapy.

In order to eliminate excess hair a beam of light will need to pass via the skin towards the follicles of hair. The hair follicle becomes damaged because of the powerful heat from the beams. This stops the growth of hair in the future. Laser hair treatment is mostly sought after by people who are lighter skinned and have dark black hair. Common hair removal areas include upper lips, chin, underarms, the line of the bikini and the legs. It can eliminate unwanted hair from practically all locations except the adjacent area of the eyelid or the eyelid itself.

During the time of the surgery the supervising surgeon will press a laser instrument to the skin. Some laser instruments have a device on the very tip that allows for cooling. A gel with a cooling effect might also be used for the protection of the skin. For treating small areas of hair such as upper lip or underarms the time taken can be less, such as a few minutes at the most. But for treating larger areas of the skin such as the legs or even the back can take up to a couple of hours.

People who have excess body or facial hair to the extent that it makes them feel exceedingly self-conscious or people who are light-skinned but have really dark hair or those looking for alternative methods for shaving, waxing, electrolysis or bleaching are eligible to go for this treatment.

People who are prone to suffering from bad overall health condition are not eligible to go for this treatment.

The most commonly seen side effects of laser hair include changes in pigmentation such as lightening or darkening of the skin area. Skin allergies in the form of redness, swelling, discomfort are also noticed.

During the post-treatment period application of ice is necessary in order tackle the swelling and the redness. If there is an immediate allergic reaction post hair removal treatment then the doctor will ask you to apply a steroid cream to heal the pain. After the laser therapy, avoiding exposure to sunlight is absolutely necessary. Also, after your complete recovery from the surgery application of sunscreen is mandatory whenever you are exposed to the sun.

If you are planning to undergo laser hair removal treatment then you are not allowed to go for hair waxing or plucking for at least six weeks prior to the scheduled surgery date. Also, you are not allowed to be out in the sun for another six weeks both before and post treatment of the surgery.

The price of a laser treatment session can cost you anywhere between Rs. 2000-4000 in India.

The results of laser hair treatment is not permanent. However, the result varies from one person to the other. It requires periodic follow-ups in the form of repeated laser hair treatments from time to time.

The alternative of a laser hair removal treatment includes the traditional methods of hair removal such as waxing or lucking. But the effects of these methods are not very long-lasting and the hair tends to grow back in three to four weeks time.