Hair Surgery Information

Over the last 20 years, laser hair removal has emerged as a reliable way to get rid of unwanted hair. This precise technique delivers heat energy right to the follicle, causing a dramatic reduction in the follicle’s ability to grow hair. Repeated treatments (ranging from 4 – 8) can usually completely eliminate hair growth for most people.

Like any medical procedure, however, there are some risks of side effects involved with the laser hair removal procedure. The most common (and almost always temporary) side effects can include:

Skin irritation
Crusting or scabbing of the skin in the treatment area
Change in skin color of the treatment area

There are risk of more serious sides as well, especially if the wrong type of laser was used, the laser was set to the wring levels, or the doctor or technician administering the treatments was careless or lacked skill:

• Blistering that can cause permanent scarring
• Other changes in skin texture (roughening or thickening of the skin)
• Permanent skin pigmentation changes (usually dark skin getting lighter)

There are some thing you can do to minimize your risk of side effect. First and foremost, do your research. Make sure you find a board certified, preferable a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. You also want him or her to have experience administering laser hair removal treatments. Sometimes, although you see the doctor for the initial appointment, it might be that the treatment is administered by a nurse, nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant or a laser technician. If that’s the case, make sure the Doctor supervises the procedure.

One thing you want to watch out for is beauty salons, day spas or other places that offer laser hair removal. Many times the person doing the procedure is not a medical person and might not be properly trained.

You should always see a doctor before getting a treatment. At that first appointment, there are several things you want to discuss your expectations for the procedure and your medical history, including injuries, diseases and any medication you may be using> You’ll want to set up a treatment plan and take before photos to keep track of your progress.

Once you’ve decided to go for the treatment, there are things you should do to be ready:

• Avoid the sun. Since darker skin absorbs more energy from the laser, you want you skin to be as light as possible.
• If the treatment area is tan, you need to wait for it to completely fade before getting the procedure
• Avoid activities that irritate the skin, such as plucking or waxing the hair.
• Shaving is OK, since it preserves the hair shaft and follicle. There are even some studies suggest that indicate shaving before laser hair removal can improve the result!

Once the procedure is complete, you’ll probably notice some redness and swelling. This usually goes away after the first few hours, although you may notice a stinging sensation along with some sensitivity that can last for up to a day. There’s also a chance you may see some scabbing.

It can take up to a week to completely heal from the laser treatment. During that time, wash your skin gently with soap and water. Don’t pick at the crust or scabs (if you have any) and avoid harsher soaps and scrubbing. You also want to avoid the sun until healing is complete.

Individual results from of laser hair removal can vary from person to person. Multiple treatments are typically required to accomplish long term hair loss. For most patients, 4 to 6 treatments spaced over a year or so are usually enough for them to see the results they want. Even then, you might require additional touch-up treatments every 12 – 18 months.

Despite the easy availability of laser hair removal treatment, always remember that it’s a medical procedure. Do proper preparation and you’ll minimize the potential side effects and increase your chances of a successful outcome.