Laser Hair Removal

Plastic Surgery in Charleston, SC

Most people have unwanted hair. The face, back, underarms, bikini area, and legs are all areas where people often have unwanted hair. There are many ways to get rid of unwanted hair, but most of them are time consuming, temporary, or painful. Have you wished there were a better way to get rid of your unwanted hair? Laser hair removal is relatively quick, highly effective, and after your treatments you will see a permanent reduction in hair density and darkness.

If you want to learn more about laser hair removal, please call or email Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse at Port City Plastic Surgery.

A Better Hair Removal Method

If you have tried to get rid of unwanted hair, you have probably tried more than one method. Shaving is the most common method, but it has several disadvantages. It can be uncomfortable, result in skin irritation, and must be repeated frequently. It can also be hard to shave some areas.

Tweezing can remove small amounts of hair, but is painful, tedious, and impractical for large areas.

Waxing can treat large areas and gives results that last for a month or more, but it can be painful. Some people have allergic reactions to waxing or experience inflammation of the hair follicles.

Electrolysis uses electric shocks to eliminate hair, follicle by follicle. It is a permanent hair removal method, but is time consuming and can be painful.

Laser hair removal is quick, relatively painless, and results in a permanent reduction of hair.

The Laser Hair Removal Procedure

When a hair follicle is in its active, growing stage, it contains pigment. This pigment absorbs more light energy than the skin around it. When a laser is shined on hair follicles in this active phase, the follicle heats up and dies, while the skin around it only experiences mild heating.

People typically describe the sensation of laser hair removal as being like a rubber band snap. Heating of the skin is reduced by the laser's contact-cooling handpiece. A topical anesthetic can be used, but most people do not need it. After laser hair removal, your skin may be reddish and sensitive, but discomfort does not usually last after the procedure.

Each laser pulse lasts only a fraction of a second. The overall length of treatment depends on the area to be treated, and can range from five minutes to remove hair from the upper lip to about 30 minutes for the underarm area to significantly longer for the back or legs.

Since laser hair removal only affects hair in the active phase, more than one treatment is necessary to remove all follicles. The majority of hair is in the active phase at any given time, so immediate hair reduction is immediately visible. Laser hair removal results in virtual hairlessness for up to six months and a permanent reduction of hair by up to 80% in treated areas. Remaining hairs tend to grow in finer and lighter in color.

To learn more about laser hair removal or other cosmetic laser procedures, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Brian G. Widenhouse at Port City Plastic Surgery in Charleston, South Carolina today.