What are the advantages of laser hair removal?
Works on the entire body: Laser hair removal can be performed anywhere on the body.
Save time: Although treatment time will vary between different areas, laser hair removal treatment is almost as quick as shaving. Today's hair removal lasers can treat an entire back in as little as 15 minutes. Once treatment is complete, you will no longer need to spend time waxing or shaving.
Save money: In the short term, laser hair removal will cost more, but in the long term, you will save money by removing hair permanently compared to other hair removal methods.
Less pain and skin irritation: Once the treatment is complete, you will no longer be bothered by ingrown hairs, red bumps, and skin soreness, which often occur when using other methods of temporary hair removal.
How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal works by directing a laser beam with a specific wavelength at the skin in the area where unwanted hair growth occurs. The wavelength of the hair laser causes the energy from the laser to be absorbed by the melanin (color) in the hair root.
When this energy is absorbed through the hair shaft, high heat (thermal effect) is generated in the hair follicle itself, which in turn causes it to die and no longer be able to produce hair.
It is important to remember that the laser can only destroy hair follicles that are in the active (anagen) growth phase. Therefore, several treatments with weeks in between are necessary to remove all hair.
Is laser hair removal painful?
Permanent hair removal with laser is not very painful, but you will feel the laser working when it is fired at the skin and the heat is absorbed into the hair follicles. As mentioned earlier, this is a good thing, as we want to destroy the hair follicles so that they no longer produce hair. Today's lasers also cool the tissue around the hair follicles while trying to increase the temperature in the hair follicle itself, which makes the treatment virtually painless. It is also important to remember that some areas of the body are more or less sensitive, so the pain experienced will vary depending on the area being treated.
Some tips to make the treatment less painful:
· If desired, you can take a Paracetamol 30 minutes before treatment.
· Avoid using medications that make your skin sensitive to light before treatment.
· Avoid exposure to the sun for 4 weeks prior to treatment. The lighter your skin, the less painful the treatment will be.
Can hair be permanently removed with laser treatment?
The short answer is yes, but the longer answer is more complicated.
First, some facts:
· Hair follicles are only formed during fetal life. After we are born, no more hair follicles will be formed on our bodies. This means that you are born with a certain number of hair follicles on your body and you cannot get more later in life.
· Only a fraction of the hair follicles you are born with will produce hair during your lifetime.
· The older we get, the more hair follicles will be activated and start producing hair. Other external factors also play a role in when and whether a hair follicle will produce hair (hormones).
· A hair laser can only destroy hairs that are in the active growth phase (anagen phase).
· The hair laser permanently destroys the hair follicle, so that this specific hair follicle can no longer produce hair.
A hair laser can remove hair from hair follicles that are currently active, but cannot remove hair from hair follicles that will become active in the future. It may therefore be necessary to undergo further treatment to remove hair from hair follicles that become active several years later.
How many laser hair removal treatments are necessary?
There is no exact answer to how many treatments are needed to remove hair with laser. It varies from person to person, hair type and skin type. Some people get very good results with only 4 treatments, while others need a few more. If you expect to be 100% hair-free, in some cases as many as 6-8 treatments may be necessary.
Are there any side effects of laser hair removal?
It is extremely rare to experience any side effects with this treatment. In some cases, redness and slight swelling may occur for a few days after treatment. Hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation were more common with older hair removal lasers and so-called IPL "lasers." Read more about the difference between IPL and laser and why we do not use IPL for hair removal.
How should I prepare for laser hair removal treatment?
Do not wax or pluck hair 4 weeks before laser treatment. Shaving is perfectly fine.
Do not use oils, creams, or makeup on the area to be treated before a treatment. Wash the area with regular soap with a neutral pH.
What lasers do you use for permanent hair removal?
TBL Medical has one of Norway's largest and most modern laser parks for permanent removal of unwanted hair growth. We actually have seven different lasers, the newest of which is Soprano Titanium from Alma.