Laser hair removal is considered a permanent way to reduce unwanted hair. Although being called laser hair removal, the procedure does not remove all hairs, but permanently reduces the total number of hairs in the area treated.

The process of removing hair follicles is called selective photo-thermolysis. During the treatment, a laser is scanned over the skin, and 'zaps' of light enter through the top layer of the skin traveling down the hair to the follicle. By absorbing this laser energy, the hair follicles are damaged, impairing their ability to grow.

The hair follicle needs to be in an active growth stage in order for the laser to disable the growth. Hair follicles may enter their growth cycle after the treatment, thus multiple treatments are required to deliver optimal results. Treatments are usually given at intervals of 4-6 weeks, or when there is new hair growth in the area. On average, it takes from 6 to 10 treatments to reduce the hair and therefore most clinics will not guarantee removal, but will guarantee a percentage of reduction.

Any area with hair growth can be treated, but the most commonly treated areas are the upper lip, chin, neck, back, chest, underarms, bikini line and legs. The treatment is commonly described feeling as though an elastic band is snapping against your skin, but can feel painful in sensitive areas such as the underarms and bikini line. Therefore, it is possible to have an anesthetic applied to the skin before the treatment to reduce or remove the pain.

An ideal candidate for hair removal is someone with a pale complexion and dark hair, although darker skins can also get good results. There are a variety of places you can get a laser hair removal, occasionally a plastic surgeon will perform it, but it is common for a nurse or a dermatologist to perform it as well. Some clinics have estheticians with no medical training at all performing laser hair removal so it is very important that you carefully choose who performs your laser treatment. You must always keep in mind that a laser is a powerful tool that can cause damage if used by un-experienced hands so being selective is key.

To discuss your particular situation in more detail, consult with a plastic surgeon in your nearest area, please choose from the menu above or select one of the cities below. Your surgeon will discuss with you the procedure and the best approach to achieving the results you want.