The British woman, for so long satisfied with a quick underarm shave and a bikini line pluck in summer, is finally waking up to a new reality. Britons spend over £50 million yearly on razors, £15 million on waxes and creams, and probably even more on depilation at private clinics. Now, professional hair removal, once a painful and time consuming procedure which at best lasted for a month or so, has undergone an earthquake with the advent of new laser hair removal methods.
THE BENEFITS OF LASER HAIR REMOVAL.
Although waxing is still the most popular method of hair removal, laser hair removal is gaining in popularity due to the tantalising promise of permanent results, and new laser hair removal clinics are opening throughout the UK like mushrooms after rain. According to salon specialists, women as young as 16 and as old as 65 are among regular clients, with the favourite areas treated being face, bikini line, underarms, back and buttocks. The benefits for those who are suitable for laser hair removal are great.
First of all, laser hair removal is much less painful than waxing, plucking or electrolysis, although many people like to use an anaesthetic cream to reduce the prickly feeling that can be annoying during treatment. Additionally, in the best cases it really can be permanent, and even after only one treatment a vast reduction in the amount of hair growing back can be seen.
WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH LASER HAIR REMOVAL?
The area is shaved and cleaned, and an anaesthetic cream applied. The laser then produces pulsed beams of highly concentrated light which is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles, damaging the surrounding follicle.
The procedure can be uncomfortable, but it is not usually painful. The length of a laser session may be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated.
Any redness and swelling of the affected areas usually disappears in a short time. And most people return to normal activity right away.
ARE THERE ANY RISKS?
Laser hair removal is a safe procedure if carried out by an experienced person.
Possible complications include:
- darkening or lightening of the treated skin
- burning/blistering of the treated skin
Since darker skin is more susceptible to changes in pigment, tanning before laser hair removal should be avoided.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
Most treatments require 2-3 sessions for permanent hair removal in any one area. The procedure can be repeated at monthly intervals. |
