How Long Will Laser Hair Removal Last?

If you’re sick and tired of having to shave all the time, you may have started to consider laser hair treatment.  But how long will laser hair removal last?  You may have heard that treatments can be painful, are inappropriate for those with darker skin and need to be repeated ad infinitum.  And if that’s the case, what’s the use?  But the fact is that laser hair removal treatments have benefited greatly from technological advancements.  The concerns of yesteryear are not really applicable today.  

How Long Will Laser Hair Removal Last?

In the past you were looking at a minimum of 10 treatments in addition to subsequent follow up sessions for upkeep purposes.  With today’s laser technology, which focuses on the hair follicle itself, some people are hairless after the first session.  And there are many cases where an initial round of treatments can result in permanent hairlessness.  

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

With today’s lasers, most every patient will be left hairless after eight treatments with four week intervals.  For about half of the patients, the desired results can be achieved with only four sessions.  Although hormonal changes, such as those caused by pregnancy or menopause, can produce a recurrence of hair growth, laser hair removal results are often permanent with only occasional touch ups.  

Does Skin Tone Matter?

It used to be that laser hair removal only worked well on lighter skin tones.  But that’s all changed.  Those with darker skin can also benefit from the treatment without any risk of burns or scarring.  That said, those with blonde, white or grey hairs have still not responded well to the advanced technologies of today.  Research is still being done to perfect the technique for those with light coloured hair.  Treatments also work better on coarse hair such as around the bikini line, underarms or the sideburns.  Fine hair doesn’t respond as well to laser treatment.

What About Recovery Time?

The after effects of laser hair removal have also been diminished with advancements in technology.  Most people experience very minor swelling and redness around the treated areas for about 24 hours.  Any discomfort can be treated with a simple ice pack.  The sessions are also much quicker than they used to be.  The entire back can usually be treated in five minutes with the sensation akin to being lightly snapped with a rubber band.