Laser hair removal

Over the last decade, laser hair removal has grown in popularity. It’s availability has also expanded. And that has added a little more risk to a procedure considered relatively safe. Dermatology experts say there are a few things consumers should keep in mind.

It can make your day to day a little easier. it can eliminate long time problem areas. occasionally used for medical purposes, laser hair removal is primarily about doing away with hair that bugs you.

Dr. Peter Vignjevic is a dermatologist: “It’s really an aesthetic service. That’s why people do it. I mean hair on people’s fingers and toes doesn’t hurt you. It just annoys some people and they want to get rid of it.”

The treatment has been around for well over 15-years. And the technology, the diode laser, hasn’t changed.

“It’s considered the gold standard for laser hair treatment and it doesn’t do anything else. IPL, a lot of spas will get an IPL machine because it can be used for red marks, brown marks and for hair removal, but it doesn’t work nearly as well for hair removal.”

The laser, a source of energy targets the root of the hair.

“The hair follicle the colour, the shaft of the hair which has colour absorbs that energy and heats up, kills the root of the air from which the hair is growing. The hair is dead and it doesn’t grow again.”

Dr. Peter Vignjevic and his dermatology team have been doing laser hair removal for years. That’s something not all service providers can claim. An unregulated industry, anyone can weild a laser: “I’ve seen some cases where people get bad scarring because who ever was doing it really didn’t have the skill to do it correctly.”

Scarring and pigmentary changes are the extreme. A more common pitfall is an inadequate result.

“Some people won’t see a result. And that’s really dependent on what kind of laser is being used. The settings being used and the skill of the technician..”

Most body hair can be lasered away in 4-treatments. Facial hair can take 6. And true laser hair removal doesn’t tickle.

“There are ways to minimize the discomfort. You can use numbing cream. We use a machine that blows cold air on the skin to minimize the discomfort. I mean i’ve had laser hair removal myself. I know it hurts.”

A couple of other things to keep in mind. The darker the hair, the better the result. Laser hair removal doesn’t work for white, blonde or grey hair. Reddish blonde has mixed results. Obviously, pricing varies depending on the treatment area. But going for the cheapest doesn’t always net the best results. The website for Dr. Peter Vignjevic is www.dr.v.ca.