Laser hair removal is now one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world. Celebrities such as Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian swear by it because it works and in many cases, permanently. As a laser hair removal expert, my patients are always asking the question “is it permanent” and there are several answers I can give to this question for various reasons.
Laser hair removal utilises special wavelengths of light energy, when emitted into the skin and hair follicle, can permanently stunt it’s growth. Many patients find that in a course of treatment, laser hair removal can offer permanent results.
However, there are several factors that can contribute to a less-than permanent solution for excess hair growth.
Hair Growth and permanent laser hair removal
Hair grows in different phases (anagen, catagen and telogen). Laser hair removal only works on hairs that are in the anagen (growth) phase and around 30 percent of our hair is growing in this phase at any one time.
If a patient misses a scheduled appointment or does not complete the course of treatment as advised by the laser expert, the hair will not all be affected by the treatment, and therefore will seemingly grow back. This isn’t actually the case, it’s simply that a certain amount of hair has not been affected at all, as it wasn’t in the anagen phase at the time of treatment.
Hormones
Another reason for a laser treatment not proving permanent in its results is that of hormone changes in the body of the patient, such as pregnancy or menopause. At the time of treatment, we could achieve a superb result and this could last many years. However, if a patient undergoes a hormonal change, this could trigger new hair growth.
A superb example of this is someone with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As this is a hormonal condition which does not go away, laser hair removal will need to be repeated fairly regularly as a maintenance treatment, rather than eliminating hair growth completely. Ask us at the clinic about hormonal conditions and how laser hair removal might affect the longevity of your laser hair removal treatment.
Aftercare
What the patient does when they leave the clinic can also affect the treatment. Laser hair removal will only work on hair follicles that are intact (even though you will need to shave prior to each treatment).
Therefore, if you leave the clinic after a session and then wax, epilate or use depilatory cream afterwards, there will be no target for the laser to effect! This means that you’ll be wasting your money on a treatment that isn’t effective, and hey-presto, your hair will seemingly grow back!
Permanent laser hair removal – down to the practitioner?
Poorly executed treatments using sub-standard devices can also have an effect on your laser hair removal and it’s important that you attend a highly-reputable clinic with expertly-trained practitioners, using high-quality equipment to maximise the results of your laser hair removal treatment.
At Skin Perfection, London we have years of experience in professionalism and knowledge of state-of-the-art technology behind us. We were one of the first to introduce medical-grade laser hair removal with our Gold Standard Cynosure laser equipment and continue to maintain the highest level of standards within the industry. We always strive to give you a realistic outlook on your treatment, so that you can make an informed and educated decision on if laser hair removal will be right for you. We do this in a pre-treatment, no-obligation consultation.
To book your consultation to find out more about laser hair removal with Skin Perfection, London, call our reception team who will be happy to help you.
