Mens Laser Hair Removal
Mens Laser Hair Removal
Mens Laser Hair Removal. More men now opting for permanent hair removal of their chest, back, legs, and underarms. A good friend of mine has a full, admirable mustache and beard. He admitted to being tired of shaving once (or sometimes even twice) a day, every single day. He’d rather have a face as smooth as a baby’s bum than face the dreaded razor and risk nicks and cuts daily. Most of my permanent hair removal clients are ladies obviously, but I’m seeing more men nowadays coming for hair removal of their chest, back, legs, underarms, and even, nether regions. Perhaps it’s the metrosexual movement, or maybe it’s just a matter of personal preference or hygiene, but more and more men are coming into permanently reduce their undesired body hair.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures anywhere in the world. High concentrated beams of light target hair follicles, which permanently deactivate and destroy them. Lasers can be used for any body part. It can selectively target hairs without harming the surrounding skin. The advantage of laser hair removal is that it is a speedier process compared to electrolysis. Small areas such as above the upper lip could take a minute or so while larger areas such as the underarms could take 10 minutes. Most patients would have permanent hair reduction after less than six sessions.
How to Prepare the Treatment
If you wish to undergo laser hair removal, you should not pluck or wax for six weeks before your laser session. That is because laser targets the hair follicles, which are temporarily removed when you wax or pluck. Try to limit or avoid sun exposure prior to or after the procedure. This is because your skin would be more sensitive to light after any laser procedure, thus creating a higher risk of getting complications such as pigmentation.
Before The Procedure
Your hair should ideally be a few millimeters in length. It should be long enough for the laser to target on, but not too long, as that would increase the chances of getting burnt. You can achieve this by shaving a few days before the procedure so that by the day you arrive at your doctor’s office, a short stubble would have formed. Or you can have the hair trimmed in the clinic just before the procedure is started. You and the doctor will be wearing safety goggles to protect the eyes. A special cooling device would be utilized during the procedure to minimize discomfort and to reduce the risk of overheating and burns.
During The Treatment
The procedure would then commence with the doctor delivering appropriate amounts of laser energy, based on your skin color, the thickness of the hair and hair color. We usually need to use lesser energy for those with darker skin because colored skin absorbs higher amounts of the laser rays. The procedure is repeated once a month, and you will notice your hair getting lesser and finer after each session. Only doctors are allowed to operate laser machines as there can be side effects and complications with untrained hands.
IPL Is Not Laser
IPL machines produce a broad spectrum of light wavelengths. Unlike lasers, IPL cannot be focused to a concentrated beam. Because a range of different wavelengths is dispersed at a variety of depths, only some of these will be effective for hair removal. IPL hair removal is offered by most beauty salons and can be performed by trained non-doctors. The shallower penetration of IPL means that hair removal is not as effective as lasers, especially for deeper, thicker hair. There is also a higher risk of excessive energy being absorbed by those with darker skin, increasing the risk of burns. This is because some of the IPL wavelengths are absorbed into the surrounding skin.
Compare
Comparing lasers to IPL systems, the former produces more heat directed at the hair follicle than the latter, which is why lasers give better results.The laser energy is absorbed by the hair follicle, not the skin, so there is a lower risk of burns when using laser machines. For this reason, lasers are safer than IPL for those with darker skin tones. Laser hair removal is more expensive than IPL, but the results are better, with fewer sessions required.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a hair removal method that requires multiple sessions to achieve good results. A small electric current is applied to a fine needle-shaped electrode or metal probe into each hair follicle to permanently destroy the root. The disadvantage of this procedure is that numerous sessions are needed.Up to 30 sessions may be necessary to permanently get rid of the hair. Each session could easily last 30 minutes to an hour. As it is a slow, time-consuming process, it also tends to be more expensive.Those undergoing electrolysis often describe the experience as a stinging sensation, and each hair follicle has to go through it. Some people may find the sensation unpleasant.