Laser hair removal is highly effective in permanently removing unwanted pigmented hair follicles. All skin types are candidates for laser hair removal. Thicker hair follicles respond better than fine or thin follicles. All patients on average require five to eight treatments for a 60 to 80 percent permanent reduction in hair follicles. The vast majority of patients see a substantial improvement and are happy with the treatment after five to eight treatments. In a small percentage of patients, less hair is reduced after multiple treatments. The reason for failure is unknown. Typically, if a patient does not see some improvement after two to three improvements with a laser , we try an alternate laser hair removal device in our office.
The overwhelming number of patients have no side effects with laser hair removal. As with all laser devices side effects can occur. The most common ones include – increased pigmentation( hyperpigmentation), loss of pigmentation (hypopigmentation), scarring, and infection. Risk of side effects can be reduced by using the appropriate laser for a patient’s skin type, energy, pulse duration, and technique .
In summary, laser hair removal is a highly effective treatment for removal of unwanted pigmented terminal hair follicles. Currently, there are no lasers that permanently remove unwanted gray, blonde, or red hair follicles. The patient satisfaction is high; the treatment is safe with low risk of side effects, which can be minimized with appropriate laser and candidate selection.
