A Younger You is a medical spa that currently has two locations in southeastern Wisconsin: Burlington and Brookfield. It offers a variety of medical and spa services that include the following:
- Acne treatments
- Chemical peels
- Dermal fillers
- Ultherapy
- Microdermabrasion
- CoolSculpting
What does laser hair removal involve?
Laser hair removal is a popular cosmetic procedure. The dermatologist will use a handheld device that emits a laser that harmlessly passes through the skin to reach the hair follicles. The dark pigment in the follicle attracts the laser that heats up the follicle and destroys it. Laser hair removal, however, only works on follicles with actively growing hair. The laser will miss hair that is either dormant or about to be shed. Consequently, most clients will need to undergo more than one session in order to get the desired results. If that is the case, the client should wait six weeks between treatment sessions.
Laser hair removal can be done on most parts of the body including the following:
- Face
- Chest
- Back
- Arms
- Legs
- Bikini area
In fact, the only part of the body that can’t be treated with laser hair removal is the eyebrows.
The dermatologist may begin treatment by trimming the targeted hairs with a pair of scissors. They will give the client protective eyewear to shield their eyes from the laser. In some cases, the doctor may apply a topical anesthetic to reduce discomfort. Most clients, however, find the procedure quite tolerable and describe the laser as feeling like a rubber band being snapped against their skin.
The length of treatment will depend on the size of the treatment area. A small area, like the upper lip, will take only a few minutes, but a large area, like the back, can take hours. After around three weeks, the hair in the treated area will start to fall out.
Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal?
The ideal candidate for laser hair removal will be a healthy adult with dark hair and light skin. Laser hair removal works by targeting the melanin or dark pigment in the hair. It, therefore, does not work well on blond, red, gray or white hair.
Dark skin can be problematic, for it also contains melanin – and the laser can’t tell the difference between melanin in skin and melanin in hair. It will target both, and that means people with dark skin risk getting burned. Fortunately, scientists have developed lasers like the Nd: YAG laser that can be safely used on clients with dark skin. Such lasers have longer wavelengths that let them jump over the melanin in the skin and head straight to the hair follicle.
Given the difficulties with dark skin, a client with tanned skin should wait until their tan has faded before undergoing laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal also works best on coarse, thick hair. It doesn’t work as well on fine, thin hairs and has no effect on “peach fuzz.” Contact A Younger You in Milwaukee today to schedule an appointment!
