Having excess, unwanted body hair can be annoying. Especially for women, having facial hair, underarm hair, hair on the legs, and the bikini area can mean a lot of extra time spent each trying to get rid of it.
Traditional methods of hair removal include waxing, shaving, using hair removal creams, threading, and using an epilator. Unfortunately, these methods are only temporary, which means you’ll be doing it every day for any real result.
For permanent hair removal, IPL treatments might be the answer. Using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) for hair removal has grown in popularity over the years and has proven to give patients long-term results.
How Does IPL Hair Removal Work?
An IPL hair removal treatment utilizes pulses of light energy. This beam of light is projected over the target area for hair removal. A laser is essentially a beam of light that has a narrow, but focused spectrum. It can be tightly concentrated into one area or expanded to cover a larger area.
It heats the hair follicle to the point of destroying it. This, in turn, stops the growth of hair, leaving only the smooth skin behind. It is a safe and highly effective procedure that can precisely target specific areas of the body.
When you undergo a laser hair removal treatment, a focused beam of light will be guided through your skin. This light energy will then be absorbed by the body hair and translated into heat energy.
This heat energy heats up the hair follicle and damages it so that the follicle is unable to produce any new hair in that spot. This energy is more readily absorbed in areas of the body with high pigmentation.
Hence you will find that IPL hair removal is extremely effective if you have fair skin and dark hair. In cases like this, the hair has a lot more pigment when compared to the skin, giving the machine the ability to more precisely treat the hairs in the region.
Undergoing the IPL Hair Removal Procedure
Most patient find the procedure a bit uncomfortable but not painful. The Skin Care Center at Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery using topical numbing cream to ease any discomfort. If a large area, like the back, needs to be treated, patients may opt to use nitrous oxide sedation.
After the treatment is completed, it is common to experience some redness, numbness, and skin irritation in the area, but this will fade away within a few hours. You should do your best to stay out of the sun as it poses a greater threat immediately after undergoing this treatment. Spend some time inside for the day or make sure to wear sunscreen.
The amount of body hair on one’s body depends on a variety of factors that varies from person to person. Each treatment is customized to fit the needs of each individual, so the time it takes to perform the treatment and the amount of sessions required can vary.
As is with any treatment, do your research and speak to people who have undergone the treatment so that you can make an informed decision.
Contact Our Office
The Skin Care Center at Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery can help you get rid of that excess hair so you can enjoy a life with smoother, more beautiful skin. Interested in learning more? Contact our office to schedule a FREE consultation today!
