Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

Removing unwanted hair isn’t a fun experience for anyone. Between the potential for painful razor burn to ingrown hairs from plucking or even damaged skin from waxing, hair removal treatments leave a lot to be desired. Fortunately, the experts at Sun City Laser in El Paso, TX know that one of the best, most comfortable, and longest-lasting treatments to remove unwanted hair is laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal is a non-invasive treatment that quickly and painlessly removes unwanted hair from virtually every area of the body. Safe for all skin types, these treatments have completely revolutionized hair removal. If you want to enjoy long-lasting results and enjoy silky-smooth skin all year round, then you may want to schedule a consultation with one of our providers.

Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?

This is the most frequently asked question about laser hair removal. Are the results permanent? The answer is both yes and no. A permanent treatment is generally one that will not have to be done ever again, or at least for several years. The results of this laser treatment can absolutely last for several years, or as long as the hair follicle is damaged, which will stunt the normal growth of the hair follicle.

But the only way to achieve permanent hair removal is by completely destroying the hair follicle. This may not be medically possible since hair follicles are capable of healing after several months or years. Essentially, hair removal treatments are actually hair reduction treatments. After several treatments, the amount of hair regrowth you have will be significantly reduced by up to 75% to 90%.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Does This Treatment Work?

The laser technology used for this type of hair removal generally works by utilizing the power of special wavelengths of light. The light from the laser treatment generates a small amount of heat. When the light hits the hair shaft, the energy travels down the shaft to the hair follicle, and then “zaps” or shocks the hair follicle. The small amount of damage will stun the hair follicle and prevent hair growth for several months. Over time, stunning the hair follicle can create damage that will prevent future hair growth entirely.

The laser technology for your treatment is designed to detect pigment that is darker than your skin tone. When the technology detects that darker pigment, it sends out the laser energy to the hair shaft to damage the follicle. This ultimately means that you can treat unwanted hair without any damage to the surrounding skin tissue.

2. What Is Treatment Like?

Your appointments will last for 30 to 60 minutes based on how many areas of the body you are treating. Patients find this treatment very tolerable. Most of the time, the sensation of this treatment is compared to a snapping rubber band; many patients find this treatment much more comfortable than waxing.

For your appointment, you should wear loose, comfortable clothing. You should not wear any perfume, lotion, or make-up on any of your desired treatment areas. You will be able to drive yourself home after your treatment and return to most of your normal daily activities.

3. What Should You Do Before Treatment?

Before your treatment, you should not wax, tweeze, or use any depilatory creams for at least two weeks. We encourage patients to also avoid direct exposure to sunlight, tanning booths, and self-tanning products during this time since these activities may trigger melanin production during laser treatment.

You should shave your treatment area one to three days before your appointment. This treatment works best when there is a short shaft of the hair, so stubble is the best condition for your desired treatment area on the day of your appointment.

4. What Should You Do After Your Appointment?

One of the cardinal rules of laser hair removal is the aftercare steps, which generally means taking care of your skin after your appointment. You should do your best to keep your skin moisturized after your treatment by using simple, fragrance-free lotion.

You will also want to gently exfoliate or scrub your skin starting two or three days after your appointment. Exfoliating will help shed the unwanted hair that has been treated, as well as improve the tone of your skin after your laser treatment.

5. What Is Recovery Like?

The recovery process for this treatment lasts a few days. During this time, you should do your best to avoid direct sunlight unless you are wearing SPF. You should avoid excessive heat, hot water, and sweating, as all of these activities may irritate your skin after your treatment. Some patients like to use cold compresses after their treatment, but this may not be necessary for you.

6. When Will You See Initial Results?

After your first treatment, it may take up to two to four weeks before any of the treated hair falls out. Even after your skin recovers from the treatment, the hair removal portion will require patience and several treatments to achieve your desired results.

7. When Will You See Final Results?

It will take several months before you will see the final results of your treatment. Because everyone needs a different number of treatments to achieve their desired results, there is no predicting when your final results will be achieved after your initial appointment. For some, final results can happen in four months and for others, it may take eight months.

That said, you will generally see the final results of your treatment about one month after your last appointment. By this time, the last of your unwanted hair will be shed after your skin has fully recovered from your treatment.

8. How Many Treatments Will You Need?

Most of the time, patients will need four to six treatments to achieve their desired results. Of course, the number of treatments you will need will depend on how many areas you are treating and the density of your hair. People who have very dense or thick hair may need more than six treatments to achieve the desired results, while people who have hair that grows more sparsely may be able to see final results more quickly.

This is because each treatment appointment treats a different follicle of hair. Because hair grows at different cycles, it will take several treatments for each follicle to be zapped by the laser system. The more hair follicles you have in any given area, the more treatments you will need.

9. Will You Still Need to Shave?

Even after you have achieved your desired results, will you still need to shave? Yes, it’s likely that you will still need to pick up a razor every once in a while. But the hair reduction you will achieve with this treatment means that your hair growth will be much more sparse and much slower than before your treatments. Instead of shaving every few days, you may only need to shave once a month.

10. Can This Treatment Be Used on All Skin Tones?

Laser treatments are generally compatible with all skin tones, even medium and dark complexions. Because this treatment works best for people who have hair growth that is darker than their skin tone, even people who have deeper skin tones will be able to benefit from this treatment. Our skin experts will be able to assess whether laser treatments are compatible with your skin tone during your consultation.

11. Can This Treatment Be Used for All Hair Colors?

This treatment is generally most effective for people who have dark brown or black hair growth on the body or face. However, even people who have dark blond, red, or grey hair may be able to use this treatment. More likely than not, if you do not have dark hair, you will simply require more treatments to achieve your desired results. A consultation will be able to determine whether or not this treatment can be used with your hair color.

Enjoy Long-Lasting Hair Reduction

Laser hair removal can effectively reduce unwanted hair growth on any area of the body, from the legs to the upper lip. This treatment is well-tolerated and can be used by virtually all people who want to simplify their hair removal routine. If you think this treatment is ideal for your needs, please contact Sun City Laser in El Paso, TX today to schedule your initial consultation. We are happy to help you achieve all of your aesthetic goals.