I Never Want to Shave Again: Is Laser Hair Removal the Answer?

Summer is here, and you know what that means – shaving your legs, bikini area, back, or armpits to look your best. But daily shaving is time-consuming, causes skin irritation, and is a hassle.

Both men and women have to deal with shaving daily, even when they don't want to, but there are other options. Laser hair removal is an excellent solution for eliminating unwanted hair for weeks or months at a time.

At Meridian Plastic Surgery in Meridian, Mississippi, Dr. Lee K. Thornton and Dr. Mark S. Elliott are our two board-certified plastic surgeons who help our patients look and feel their best. Laser hair removal is just one of the noninvasive options we offer to help you gain confidence in your appearance.

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is an excellent option when you want less noticeable hair in a particular area. It's a noninvasive technique that uses laser energy to heat hair follicles, causing them to die and fall out.

The laser we use targets the cells that contain pigment, which is why it works best on dark hair colors like brown or black. These colors include a lot of pigment, which absorbs heat the best. The hair then transfers the heat to the follicle to destroy it and keep hair from growing back.

Each hair is in a different growth stage, making it difficult to catch each one at the right time to get optimal results. That’s why multiple treatments are needed. 

You can have laser hair removal on just about any area of your body, but the most common treatment areas are:

• Back
• Legs
• Armpits
• Bikini area
• Chest
• Face

Anyone can have laser hair removal, though you’re a prime candidate if you have hirsutism or hypertrichosis. 

Do I still need to shave?

Laser hair removal isn't a permanent alternative to shaving. Still, it significantly decreases the amount of hair in an area and causes it to grow lighter and finer, considerably reducing the need to shave.

Many factors play into how laser hair removal works for you, including:

• Skin color
• Hair color
• Thickness of hair
• Area of the body

Unfortunately, you may still have to shave occasionally, even with several rounds of laser hair removal. However, you won't need to shave every day, every week, or even monthly in some cases.

Duration of laser hair removal results

We can perform laser hair removal on any hair or skin tone, but your unique needs may require more sessions to achieve your desired result. Targeting every hair follicle in every growing cycle is impossible, so laser hair removal should be a part of your periodic cosmetic routine.

Most people need at least four laser hair removal sessions that are spaced about six to eight weeks apart, but others may require up to eight sessions for optimal hair removal. You can expect a 10 to 25% reduction in hair growth after your first treatment.

However, many people discover that they don't have to shave regularly, have far less noticeable hair in the treatment area, and only require touch-ups every once in a while.

Give your razor a rest and find out if laser hair removal is an option for you. Call Meridian Plastic Surgery today at 601-693-7742 or request an appointment on the website.