Health News / January 2008
Hair Today Gone Tomorrow
By Dr. Paul Blair
Laser hair removal might seem like the kind of treatment you don’t think of until it is nearly summer. The thought of shorts, sandals and swimsuits scares most of us into a frenzy of self-improvement, and getting rid of unwanted hair is part of the late-spring ritual. However, to take full advantage of the benefits of laser hair removal, it is important to start thinking about it in the cold days of winter. That’s because for most people, it takes about four treatments every four to six weeks to achieve maximum results. If you plan ahead, most patients will see an 80% permanent reduction in hair growth. That means all that time you save waxing, shaving and plucking you can instead spend sipping frozen drinks by the pool.
How does it work? The laser creates a beam of high-intensity light that penetrates into the skin. The laser targets the root of the hair growth by making the targeted hair follicle dormant. Because at any time a portion of the hair follicles are dormant, several treatments are required to reach all the hair follicles as they cycle through activity.
Does it hurt? Some patients will feel a little discomfort during the treatment, depending on the individual’s pain tolerance and the area being treated. However, the laser has a built-in system that delivers a cooling spray just before each laser pulse to help make the treatment more comfortable. Overall, almost everyone tolerates the treatments and in most cases it is a piece of cake compared to waxing.
How long does the treatment take? Depending on the area being treated, the treatment can take between ten minutes to over an hour. An upper lip is quick. A full back or legs can be well over an hour.
How many treatments does it take? For most people it will take 4-6 treatments to achieve maximum results. Factors that affect the results are skin color, hair color, certain medical conditions and your genetics (depth of the hair follicle and size of the follicle).
Paul A. Blair, MD is a board certified facial plastic surgeon. His office is at 3667 Teays Valley Road, Hurricane, WV. His phone number is 304-201-3223. Visit him on the web at www.drpaulblair.com.
Copyright © 2007 A Woman's View. All rights reserved.
Top • Home • Subscribe • Advertise • Submit • Distribution • Contact
Support Our Advertisers • Organization Resources • Women Owned Business
Send an Email About This Article