Permanent hair removal with laser: how does it work?

The biggest limitations to laser hair removal in the past were firstly pain, and secondly, it was not safe if you had dark or tanned skin. However with the newer generation of diode lasers (which are the gold standard for laser hair removal worldwide), the treatments are more comfortable (some may say even painless), and also safe for dark skin types.

The procedure is quite a gentle process. Instead of the standard pulse method of treatment, the new diode lasers use an innovative in-motion technology that treats in a continuous sweeping motion. During the treatment, a high energy beam of light goes through the skin and is absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle. The laser energy does not go into the skin as a painful blast, but rather heats the hair follicles safely and gently until they no longer produce hair in the treated area.

How safe is laser hair removal

The removal of hair by lasers has been recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an effective and safe treatment. As the laser only destroys the ability for hair to grow and does not effect the surrounding skin tissues, it is generally deemed a very safe and popular way for removing hair.

How many sessions are needed for effective hair removal

The number of treatments depends on the individual as hairs grows differently depending on your age, metabolism, hormones, weight and several other factors. As a general guide about 4-6 treatments are required to achieve a permanent reduction of hair growth.

Several sessions are needed as the hair may be in a different growth stage. In the active growth stage (85% of your hair), which can last several years, the hair grows steadily and the hair contains melanin. When melanin is exposed to the laser, the hair follicle is destroyed which makes this hair growth stage ideal for hair removal.

However, after the growth stage there is the regression stage (3-4%) during which the hair stops growing, and the resting stage (10-13%) where the hair is getting ready to be replaced before falling out. During these 2 latter stages there is hardly any melanin present and therefore the hair will be difficult to remove through laser treatment. As the hair in the treated areas may be in different stages it is necessary to repeat the treatment at various times.

On what parts of the body can laser hair removal be used?

You can do laser hair removal on almost every part of the body, but the most common areas for treatment are the underarms, arms, legs, upper lip and chin.

Which laser hair removal method is used?

At our aesthetic clinic we like to use the Soprano XL that uses a unique IN-Motion technology which treats in a continuous sweeping motion. Instead of a pulsed movement of treatment where the laser energy goes into the skin as a painful blast, hair removal through the Soprano XL laser heats the hair follicles safely and gently until they no longer produce hair.

The emphasis is on having a pain free and effective treatment that makes the hair removal process a comfortable one. Some people even describe it similar to a “hot stone massage”.

Written by Dr Isabelle Yeoh from IYAC Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Clinic at Camden Medical Centre in Singapore. Dr Yeoh specialises in aesthetic & anti-aging treatments like fillers, botox, laser hair removal, IPL and laser skin treatments, hormone balancing and weight control.

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1. What is IPL hair removal?
2. Revlite laser treatment for smaller pores and even toned skin
3. What is a Pearl™ laser treatment and who benefits from it?

Tagged as: hair removal, permanent hair remoal