Laser hair removal is a technique that has advanced tremendously over the past decade. It is now one of the most common, non-invasive cosmetic procedures offered in aesthetic clinics with a high rate of success and patient satisfaction. However, despite these positive numbers and feedback, there is a small population of people who have undergone laser hair removal, yet are not seeing the results they were expecting because their hair grows back. Thus, if you are currently experiencing this frustrating problem, read on to learn about possible causes.
First, the number of sessions completed is a factor. If you have only attended a few sessions, one of the most likely reasons to why you have yet to see a desired response to laser hair removal is that you need more treatment sessions. This is usually the case if you are noticing a reduction in hair or thinning of hair. A complete laser treatment for hair removal can take up to 6 months, so it is important to have patience. Sometimes, the initial treatment plan included too few sessions and should be readjusted to include more sessions if the individual is responding differently than expected.
Next, the laser treatment may not be working well for you because you are not a suitable candidate. Of course, there are still other methods for removing hair and we would be happy to discuss the options available.
Laser hair removal results can be highly individual. There are some patients who are candidates for the procedure but are not experiencing a positive response to the laser hair removal because of multiple factors that contribute to hair growth. Genetics and lifestyle can play a huge part in how a patient responds to a certain of treatment. Hormones are very important stimulators of hair growth and underlying medical issues can contribute to its excess. The type and number of hormone receptors in the targeted area of treatment can cause variation in responses between patients and contribute to the lack of effect. This is a problem that could be fixed with adjustments to the laser treatment or, if the hormonal imbalances are a serious medical problem then the patient should see an endocrinologist prior to continuing with laser hair removal.
Lastly, laser hair removal may not be as effective as intended for some patients due to inappropriate wavelength that is not targeting the follicles, underpowered laser that cannot deliver enough energy to destroy the follicles and/or poor technique from the provider. It is important to choose a well-accredited and professional clinic that offers laser hair removal with experienced practitioners to avoid treatment failure, and waste of money and time.
At Philosophy of Beauty, we use the Lightsheer Diode laser, developed by Lumenis, and a leader in laser hair removal technology, as well as the state of the art Fotona laser systems. Our medical staff have the experience and expertise to carry out effective laser hair removal for people with ranging hair and skin types. We would love to invite you into the clinic for a consultation to see how we can use this technology to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
Laser technology works to remove body hair by emitting a specialized beam of light with a wavelength that selectively targets melanin in the hair and its follicle, without affecting surrounding skin. Melanin is a naturally-occurring compound within hair responsible for its colour. The follicles are the hair growth centres of our bodies. When the papilla in the hair follicle absorbs the laser energy, the follicle is damaged to the point of being unable to grow more hair. This results in gradual removal of hair because of arrested hair growth at the follicular level.
Lasers made their appearance in medicine nearly 50 years ago, in the 1960s. The use of this technology for the purpose of hair removal began approximately 15 years ago and has become a common and trusted procedure in the past decade.
Most people choose to remove their unwanted body hair with laser technology because it produces a long-lasting, and sometimes permanent result. Traditional hair removal methods like waxing, shaving, tweezing etc., provide only a temporary solution, with some lasting fewer than 24 hours. A problem associated with these traditional methods of hair removal is that they often stimulate more coarse hair growth because stimulation of the follicles and surrounding tissue leads to increase blood flow and deeper roots.
Hair which has been cut off bluntly, as with shaving, will feel rough to the touch as well. Razor bumps, ingrown hairs and the pain of waxing make these methods consistently more troublesome compared with the long-term results from laser hair removal.
The three main benefits of using laser technology for hair removal are:
- Precision – the lasers work by selectively targeting the undesirable body hair while leaving the surrounding skin perfectly healthy
- Effectiveness – clients who have undergone laser treatments to remove hair have witnessed a noticeable reduction in further hair growth
- Comfort – using lasers compared to other traditional hair removal methods prevent the development of ingrown hairs that could be uncomfortable or painful