Laser Hair Removal finally stops the cycle of shaving, waxing, plucking or even the painstaking process of electrolysis, in which one hair is removed at a time. The laser allows large areas of hair to be treated at once, and it is the closest method we have for permanent hair removal. It is a popular treatment for both men and women.
At Cheng Plastic Surgery, our board-certified facial plastic surgeons use the Light-Sheer Diode Laser System, which is the “gold standard” for hair removal in the industry. Light energy from the laser device is absorbed by the pigment of the hair follicle, which results in the safe destruction of the follicle.
The Light-Sheer works on all skin tones without the risk of hypopigmentation, and it also works on most hair colors. Some very light colors may still be problematic, as they have no pigment to absorb the laser light. Most people require at least four to six treatments to see the maximum reduction of hair.
This is because hair grows in cycles, and not all hair is in the same growth cycle at the same time. The device can only work on hair when it is in a particular cycle of growth. Therefore, each time you have a treatment, the laser will affect different hair follicles.
The results from laser hair removal are near-permanent, which means that subsequent growth is usually lighter and finer than before. If you have any new growth of dark hair, you can have periodic touch-up procedures, but these are usually required no more than once or twice per year, if at all.
For men, the procedure is often done on the back, chest, or face. While it might not eliminate the need for shaving the beard entirely, it does make it possible to significantly reduce the number of days that shaving is required. This is especially helpful for men who experience significant skin irritation from shaving. For women, the procedure is most often done on the chin, upper lip, bikini area, legs, arms, and underarms.
