Considering laser hair removal? We take a look at the procedure and weigh up the pros and cons

Unsightly, excess body hair can make you feel uncomfortable, may be difficult to remove, and often grows back quickly, no matter what method of hair removal you use. Laser hair removal can offer an effective, long lasting, less painful hair removal treatment. For women, it can be used on several areas; face, neck, bikini line, underarms, arms and legs. Men are more suited to the face, neck, ears, back and chest areas.

Laser technology

Modern laser hair removal technology is sensitive, extremely precise, and effective for all areas of the body, from large to small areas. It is a fast procedure with little or no pain, leaving you with fabulously smooth hair-free skin.

Basic biology

Hair grows in cycles. These cycles are known as anagen (growing), catagen (resting) and telegen (dying). In order for the most effective treatment, hairs need to be in the anagen stage. Not all of our hairs will be in the anagen cycle at one-time. All three cycles are occurring every day. This is why multiple treatments are recommended, so that all hairs are treated during the anagen cycle for the most effective results.

Suitability

It is recommended that you have a patch test done before you start a treatment programme in order to determine skin response.

The best results are obtained when there is a large difference between the colour of the hair, and the colour of the skin i.e. black hair on fair skins. For this type of person, the laser can be used very bright, with little risk of harming the skin. Brown hair gives less effective results, with red hair responding poorly. Blonde or white hairs are the least effective.

Mediterranean, and far eastern skin types can be treated with extra care. The darker the skin type, the larger skin pigmentation is and therefore absorbs too much laser light, potentially causing unwanted damage to skin.

Safety

It's essential that you attend a registered clinic, and have a consultation prior to treatment by a registered practitioner so that a tailored treatment programme can be designed for you. They should discuss your options in detail, and should take into account your needs and desired results.

Goggles should be worn by you during treatments, as the laser light is extremely bright and could cause damage to the delicate eye sensors.

How does laser hair removal work?

The lasers produce a high-intensity ray of pure light, which is absorbed by the hair. This creates a heat energy that destroys the hair root without damage to the skin. The laser light passes through the outer layers of the skin and is selectively absorbed by the melanin pigment in the hair follicle.

The laser light is quickly passed over an area of skin, treating multiple hairs with one pulse, as the laser flash is typically one centimetre in diameter. The light heats the pigment and effectively disables the hair follicle. The hairs gradually slip out over the next 7-10 days, leaving you with smooth, hair-free skin. Subsequent re-growth will be finer and sparser.

Duration of treatment

Laser treatments can take between 15 and 45 minutes, depending on the size of the treated area.

Pre-treatment preparation

You are advised to be as pale as possible before a laser treatment. If you have a tan, you should wait at least two weeks after your last UV exposure. If you are plucking or waxing, stop two weeks prior to treatment, changing to shaving, or cutting.

Avoiding deodorants, perfumes, talc or moisturisers containing sunscreen on the day of treatment is advisable. Also avoid alcohol, aspirin, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (such as Brufen) 48 hours before treatments. This reduces the risk of skin reactions.

Techniques

State of the art technology makes laser hair removal extremely precise and effective. Many clinics use IPL (intense-pulsed light) systems that incorporate multi-filter heads, giving multiple treatment and long-pulsed applications, and intense-pulsed light.

IPL systems are an advanced generation of technology. Clinical trials have proven this to be effective in permanently reducing hair growth, while patented technology filters out the ineffective wave lengths, providing a safer option for those with darker skins.

Feedback

'After years of embarrassment and shame, suddenly the hairs were falling out and I had a lovely feminine neck to show off! It was as if suddenly someone shook the life back into me. I regained all my confidence and finally the old me was back.

'The hair still hasn't gone completely, but it looks so much better. I feel as though I can meet people now and talk to them face to face. When I used to look in the mirror, I would feel disgust. Now, for the first time in years, I can hold my head up high.'
Tracey Webb, Cumbria

More information

• The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons gives information about aesthetic surgery and has a facility for accredited surgeons.
• www.hairfacts.com is an informative web site on hair removal and includes guidance on choosing practitioners.
• Consumer Guide to Laser Hair Removal. The American Institute of Laser Medicine offers a fact sheet on laser hair removal with common questions asked.