Laser Hair Removal London

This article will answer all your questions about laser hair removal, a highly requested treatment in our clinic! Laser hair removal is the state-of-the-art treatment for permanently reducing the amount of hair in the face and body; it’s the most effective treatment currently available, and it can be used anywhere in the face and body due to its safety.

The most popular area includes facial hair, legs, underarm hair, chest hair, bikini area, and back hair.

How does Laser Hair Removal work?

Laser hair removal uses light energy to damage individual hair follicles permanently; it targets the roots using a medical-grade laser to prevent regrowth.

It’s suitable for men and women at any age and with all skin tones.

It used to works best for people with light coloured skin and dark hair; however, many advances have been made that we can now also treat people with darker skin and dark hair, as long as there is contrast for the laser to pick up.

During the treatment, the laser will attack the hair follicle and a particular area called the bulge, which is where new hair begins.

The benefits of laser hair removal? Not only hair reduction

You will not only notice a significant hair reduction, but also you will see that any red bump after the depilation process will disappear with time, leaving the skin smoother and brighter. The laser is, in fact, extremely beneficial to reduce the amount of ingrown hair, as the treatment encourages the hair to grow straight.

The skin will have a more even tone and pigmentation, with no more red bumps left behind from waxing and shaving.

What impedes the process?

You want to make sure you’re not plucking, waxing, or bleaching the hair. The laser treatment requires the hair follicle to be there, which doesn’t happen with the waxing or plucking process, as they’re removed from the root. Bleaching the hair will also remove any contrast with the skin, making the hair “invisible” to the laser. Make sure you only rely on shaving!

I have dark skin; will laser hair removal work for me?

Short answer: Yes. There have been advancements in laser hair removal, and if until some years ago it wasn’t working for darker skin tones, nowadays things have finally changed.

The hair just needs to be dark enough to be seen by the laser; we use the best quality lasers available, which are safe and effective for any skin tone.

Compared to electrolysis, the laser can be done on any area of the body and can target bigger areas at the same time.

Unlike IPL (intense pulsed light), the laser is suitable for those areas more difficult to reach, and it’s suitable for darker skin tones.

Older technologies were, in fact, not recommended for Black or Asian skin, for example, as it could have created burns due to how the laser wasn’t able to read the hair and might have targeted the skin instead!

Luckily, this is a thing of the past, and we would love to have a consultation with you should you be unsure if you’re the right candidate for the procedure.

What skin type do you have?

Find out your number on the Fitzpatrick scale below:

Type 1: always burns, never tans (pale, freckles).

Type 2: usually burns, minimal tanning.

Type 3: sometimes burns mildly, tans uniformly.

Type 4: burns minimally, always tans well (moderate brown).

Type 5: very rarely burns, tans very easily (dark brown).

Type 6: Never burns (deeply pigmented dark brown to darkest brown).

How to prepare for laser hair removal

Before the treatment, it’s essential to shave the area about two-three days before it; ideally, there should be little stubble but not long hair. Any type of aggressive treatment such as scrubs, retinol, or glycolic acids must be avoided at least 48 hours before the treatment.

We suggest preparing the skin with a lot of hydration, so adding an extra step in your regime to hydrate your skin is advised. ( Skin may get a bit dry after the procedure). Any chemical peel should be avoided for at least two weeks before the procedure.

During the laser hair removal treatment

We will initially assess the area and ask you about any change in the hair, as after each session, you will see less hair growing back.

You will then be given a pair of sunglasses to wear during the whole procedure, and we will mark the area that needs to be treated with the laser.

The biggest question that we get is, “Does it hurt?”

Before starting the laser, you will be given the option to use a numbing cream for the more sensitive areas, such as the bikini line or the armpits. It will need to be applied about 20 minutes before the procedure.

The very first treatment is where the skin is going to feel more sensitive to it; the sensation is usually reported as a tingly- warm feeling or a snap of a rubber band; although it’s a very quick moment that goes away immediately.

The treatment usually takes anything between 10 to 20 minutes depending on the area treated and if more areas are required.

Immediately after the procedure, you should expect some redness in the area treated and some swelling around the hair follicle, but it will be barely noticeable overall.

You will be given an ice pack and a corticosteroid cream for the swelling (if applicable).

What happens after laser hair removal treatment

Two weeks after having the procedure done, the hair will start to fall out.

Patience pays off with laser hair removal, and you will start seeing results after two to three weeks after the initial treatment; it will take 8 – 12 treatments to see the full result.

It’s crucial to keep up with the appointment as the hair follicles grow at a different rate, so having the laser done regularly will make sure every single hair follicle is targeted.

The hair follicle must be targeted at a specific time during its growth cycle to prevent the hair from returning. The laser hits the hair at the “active growth stage”.

As hairs could be in different stages of the hair growth cycle at any one time, you will need several sessions to see long-lasting results.

When to repeat the treatment, and how many sessions does it take?

It’s tricky as it will depend on how big the area is and how many hair follicles are there, but in general, it’s suggested to do 8 treatments in total every 5 weeks for maintenance; after each treatment, you will notice fewer hair; and in our practice, we noticed that usually after a complete course of 5, there is a reduction of about 90-95% of hair in total.

After-care laser hair removal instructions

It’s important to follow the after-care instructions to make sure the skin doesn’t get affected by any negative reaction, as it will be more sensitive right after the laser.

It’s crucial to avoid the sun (and always wear sunscreen in general!), avoid getting a tan in the area, and be gentle to the area, so avoid the application of any friction or aggressive products like peelings or scrubs.

The gym is also not recommended for the first 24 hours, as the heat remains in the skin for that amount of time.

If you’re a fan of fake tan and spray tanning, we suggest avoiding it for 1-2 weeks after laser before resuming with it.

Always make sure you ask us all the questions you need; we’re here to make your treatment relaxing and make you feel comfortable.

Request a consultation, and we will be happy to follow you through your journey.

Is the laser hair removal treatment permanent?

The treatment must be maintained to keep the results achieved, which requires very little effort compared to depilation and epilation. You will come to maintain depending on the body area and on the situation, the average for the body is once a year, whereas for the face, it’s more like every 4 to 6 months. Laser hair removal saves time and money in the long run, as you won’t need to shave or wax again. It’s an investment in yourself.

Dermamina – Our medical expertise for laser hair removal

We use the top standard of laser hair removal to get the best results, and we will choose the right machine for you based on your skin type.

Laser hair removal machines are very powerful, and therefore it’s crucial choosing a provider that is fully insured and trained; at Dermamina we pride ourselves in offering only the safest and most effective treatments, and we achieve health, safety, and hygiene standards.

We can help with medical conditions such as Hirsutism and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

We can also prescribe hair reduction cream to complement the laser treatment and boost the overall results.