Excess and unwanted hair for many years has been an annoying, embarrassing ongoing major problem for many people all over the world. Apart from negatively affecting social and professional life of individuals, this problem reduces the quality of their lives and causes loss of self-confidence.
Source of Problem
Although the formation of unwanted hair and pilar reasons differ from person to person, in general the reasons can be summed up as:
- Epilating methods such as waxing, tweezing, etc.
- Puberty and menopause,
- Changes which occur in hormones after childbirth,
- Birth control pills,
- Hair glands problems,
- Cortisone,
- Depression,
- Adrenaline secretion
Do not worry! You are not helpless…
Worry no more, getting rid of this adversity is very easy with laser hair removal…
Moreover, unlike epilating wax, epilator and similar conventional hair removal methods it is not painful. More importantly, laser hair removal is a permanent treatment method.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
First of all, laser hair removal is the most effective method of getting rid of unwanted hair. The aim of the laser beam is a pigment called melanin. Laser beams which have reached melanin destroy hair follicles by heating them. As a result, the desired epilation occurs.
Notwithstanding that laser Hair Removal is a reliable method which has been applied for years; treatment should be avoided in some cases. Those are:
- Patients at younger ages who have not completed their pilar structure development yet
- Hepatitis-B diseases
- Pregnancy
- Skin and dermis diseases
Areas where laser Hair Removal application is not allowed or considered to be undesirable:
- Scars and open wounds,
- Areas affected by eczema or fungus diseases,
- Moles,
- Hair roots,
- Inner part of nose and ears,
- Around eyes and lashes
- Over tattoos (since laser targets the tattoo pigment it can cause the pigment to scatter)
The laser hair removal efficiency varies for different people and even from one body part to another of the same person. Therefore, devices that can send beams of different wavelengths are required.
- Nd:Yag Laser
- Nd:Yag Laser
Nd:YAG (1064nm) laser beams maintain Hair Removal by concentrating on hemoglobin and effecting capillary vessel s which feed the hair roots.
Which laser is more effective for different hair/pilar depth?
As the depth of hair and pilar increases, devices with greater wavelengths become more effective. As the thickness of pilar/hair increases Alexandrite (755nm), Diode (810nm), Nd:Yag (1064nm) are preferred respectively. But with deeper treatment, sensed pain will also increase. Laser to be preferred after considering the pilar and hair structure is the Alexandrite Laser.
Before starting any treatment, our patient's clinical history is listened by our specialists, and according to what has been previously done, and how the patient responded to certain procedures, a diagnosis is being determined. Experts conclude whether a superfluous body hair is of genetic or hormonal nature. Type of treatment is determined by examining the skin and hair structure. After that the treatment begins. This process will be completed within a very short time. Provided that all other conditions are favorable, the treatment may be started on the same day.
Concerns with the aesthetic side of their looks, and the problem of excessive hair growth in female population of Turkey and the world in general, push women to seek solutions with the help of tweezers, wax, epilating creams and hair removing devices. Laser hair removal, the result of cooperation between medical science and electronic technology, became an independent sector due to the huge demand.
The most common laser hair removal areas in women are:
- Uni-brow
- Above the browline
- Sideburns
- Upper lip
- Chin
- Neck
- Face
- Axilla
- Arm
- Leg
- Breast
- Nipple/ between breasts
- Bikini area
- Genital
Despite being less favored by men, yet it was noted that in recent years men have been paying more attention to their appearance, and the problems of excessive hair growth.
- Over beard
- Uni-brow
- Ear
- Nape
- Neck
- Shoulders
- Chest
- Back
- Arm
- Leg
Are the most popular areas for laser epilation among men.
It should be mentioned that due to the hair structure, laser hair removal for men is more successful than for women.
Firstly, we must remember that to get rid of unwanted hair in one session of laser hair removal is impossible, because our hair passes through three stages - growth (anagen), resting (telogen) and exuviation (catagen). If the laser is applied to the hair in its growth phase, it is possible to get rid of the hair using laser. If not in the growth phase, its loss cannot be achieved. Therefore, laser hair removal sessions are plentiful with 1 to 2 months intervals.
Laser epilating session durations change according to the area of hair growth and genetic properties of a person. Laser epilation lasts between 15 minutes and 45 minutes. While 4-8 sessions with 1-3 month intervals may be required for body areas, one per month total 6-12 sessions may be necessary for the face epilation. Face epilation sessions may be longer compared to the body epilation. As soon as the hair length reached 0.5 cm the procedure of laser epilation should be applied without waiting for the further hair growth.
Of course those precautions will be explained to you when you come to our clinic, but you can adjust your treatment start time by using this information. Before Laser epilation:
- Practices which will tear hair and pilar from their roots such as epilating wax, epilator, pincer, yarn etc. should be avoided. These methods make roots thinner and decrease the hairs' sensitivity to laser. If any of these were applied, treatment should start after 3 weeks interval.
- Sunbathing and especially solarium should be avoided before the laser epilation.
- Hair should be shortened by scissor or shaved. There is no problem with using epilating creams, but hair and pilar should be waited for to appear above the skin surface. Even it is less, heat occurs during epilaton therefore longer hair and pillar causes unnecessary creation of more heat and energy.
- Bleaching or other similar procedures should be avoided.
- Medicine "Roaccutane" should not be used at least six months before laser epilation.
Slight irritations and redness may occur after the treatment. Burning skin sensation will disappear in a few hours. Similarly, redness will go within a day. After laser epilation;
- You should not be exposed to sunlight or solarium for a few weeks, and if it is not possible, protective creams with highest protection factor should be used.
- While taking a shower you need to make sure that water is not hot, but as cool as it is possible to bear.
- After laser hair removal it is necessary to avoid the removal of the remaining hair using waxing and epilators, tweezers, thread, depilation creams, etc. The most you can do is to cut the hair with scissors or remove with a razor.
- Peeling, exfoliation and other skin irritating techniques should be avoided.
- The patient is required to visit the following laser hair removal session on its assigned day.