Overview of Laser Hair Removal Treatments

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), only providers of electrolysis hair removal treatments are permitted to make the claim that they provide permanent hair removal. In actuality, there is not much of a distinction between electrolysis treatment and laser hair removal treatment, nonetheless, the FDA forbids laser hair removal specialists from making the same claim. Rather, the FDA provides that laser hair specialists can claim “permanent hair reduction.”

Granted, that distinction is confusing. But what’s not confusing is this: laser hair removal treatment is a viable option to electrolysis, and should be considered a good alternative which has its own distinct variables, as regards treatment, equipment, specialist training, and ultimate cost to the consumer.

The laser hair removal treatment process is fairly simple. Just prior to starting treatment, they will likely apply to your skin a protective cool gel. Then, the specialist holds a hand-held laser device to the skin. The laser’s light passes through the surface to the hair follicles and the heat which is generated from the laser destroys the hair follicle, which effectively suppresses future growth. How long the treatment takes depends on how much hair is removed, as well as the skill of the specialist and the quality of the laser.

In simple language, the laser hair removal equipment used by the specialist is a device that generates a thin light beam which “looks” beneath the skin for a cluster of hair follicles (as opposed to a single one) and destroys the root. There are three laser types, each one will provide better results given certain factors, such as an individual’s skin color, hair color or hair texture. You should trust that your specialist will know which one is best for you, and hopefully will have access to all three types, but even if they only have one type, it isn’t as though you would be excluded for treatment, just that the time and result may vary.

Unfortunately, laser hair removal training and regulation varies from state to state, and even salon to salon. At a minimum, you should look for a specialist who is medically trained; you are after all, going under a laser and in the event of a mishap, they will be capable of rendering assistance. It’s important that you check with your state licensing board to establish who qualifies as a practitioner licensed to provide laser hair removal treatment.

Finally, laser hair removal costs depend on a great number of factors, not the least of which is the location of the salon. Typically, salons located in major cities charge more, since they have higher overhead costs. Your own personal needs also affects the price, by that I mean, the area of the body from which you’re having hair removed, how much hair is to be removed, and how many treatments may be required, to capture all hair growth over a period of time, and how fast your hair grows depends on your own personal hair growth cycle.