Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Center of Houston, Texas

We see hair on our head, eyebrows and other common places -- almost our entire body is covered with hair. Most of it is fine and pale, and not visible to the naked eye. However, some people have darker, coarse hair in places they wouldn’t want hair, or don’t expect to have hair. These places include neck, arms, breasts, back and other places. Hair grows and often leaves people self-conscious about going to the beach and wearing shorts, or a bathing suit. Some find this excess body hair embarrassing and bothersome.

So many of us spend time removing unwanted hair. Whether it is shaving, cutting, or waxing, these are only temporary solutions to the problem. Some spend money on products that also leave temporary results. However, hair removal techniques provide a way to save time and help people gain the appearance they desire. Laser hair removal provides a quick, virtually painless solution.

Laser Hair Removal Benefits:

Electrolysis has been used as a permanent hair removal procedure. During electrolysis, a very fine probe is inserted into each unwanted hair follicle. Then an electrical impulse cauterizes the blood vessels and destroys the hair's ability to grow. The hair is released from its follicle and permanently removed, but other options are available. Lasers, used in many other cosmetic procedures, are now also being used to help permanently remove hair from unwanted areas.

Laser hair removal is a procedure is much shorter than electrolysis. Lasers target hair follicles and eliminate or significantly impede hair from growing back. This is a quick, virtually painless procedure, and the patients are able to return to their normal activities soon after treatment.

Laser hair removal has become very popular. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 600,000 patients underwent laser hair removal in 2003 in the United States alone. This is a 6% increase from the previous year.

With the increasing popularity of various cosmetic surgery procedures, including laser hair removal, it is important that the prospective patient research and understand different issues like what the procedure can and cannot treat, inherent risks, costs, and other factors. Keep in mind, cosmetic surgery is just that – a surgical procedure whose results cannot simply be erased. While the information contained in this website will provide you with a good introduction to laser hair removal, when considering this or any other cosmetic procedure, we recommend that you consult a qualified provider with significant experience. Some important elements you should understand regarding laser hair removal include the following:

Who be an ideal candidate for laser hair removal?

Any person looking to remove unwanted body hair would represent an ideal candidate for laser hair removal. There are many reasons why a person wants to undergo this procedure. Even though reasons vary from person to person, the more common include:

Enhancing appearance and boosting self-confidence
Becoming less self-conscious about their appearance
Achieving smoother looking skin
Saving time and money on temporary hair removal practices (i.e. shaving, cutting, waxing)

However, the prospective patient must also be aware that cosmetic surgery is designed for improvement not perfection. Patients should have realistic goals and expectations for their laser hair removal treatment. Be sure to discuss your reasons for wanting hair removal with the doctor during your consultation visit. This will also help determine your candidacy for the procedure.

How is laser hair removal performed?

The length of the procedure can be a few minutes, or an hour, depending on the size of the area.

A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. Different types of lasers produce different colors of light. The color of light produced by a particular laser is the key to its effect on hair follicles.

During the laser hair removal procedure, the light emitted by the laser passes through the skin and gets absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicles. The laser pulses long enough to vaporize the pigment, disabling several follicles at a time. This results in eliminating or significantly hindering any hair growth in the treated area.

For most patients, multiple sessions are usually needed to optimize results. Typically three or four treatments, six to eight weeks apart, may be needed. However, some patients find significant improvement after one visit, enough to be satisfied with their appearance.

Patients need to wait about a year to see the full effect of the laser hair removal. This is due to the fact that hair growth cycles are about six months. Waiting through two growth cycles would be best in order to see the final results.

Risks and Limitations of laser hair removal:

While laser hair removal is a minimally invasive procedure, the procedure is not totally free from risks. Patients may experience some short-term side effects, which are usually minor. These conditions may include slight reddening of the skin or local swelling that goes away within a few days.

While laser hair removal offers many benefits, it may not be for everyone. The procedure may not work on certain hair colors. The procedure doesn't seem to work very well on light-haired people, whose hair contains little melanin. Skin may also be a factor in this treatment. If you're tan or have a darker skin tone, the laser gets absorbed by the pigment in the skin and doesn't reach the hair follicle, limiting the effect of the treatment and potentially damaging the skin. Again, please check with your doctor during your consultation to see if you can benefit from laser hair removal treatment.

Activity limitations, are not a factor with laser hair removal. Patients can go back to work and return to normal activities soon after treatment. Limited sun exposure is recommended for a few days because the treated area will likely be sensitive.

What are the costs associated with laser hair removal?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the national average cost for laser hair removal is $429. Fees within various regions may vary depending on whether the doctor’s practice is in an urban, suburban or rural area. This fee only covers the physician’s costs, and does not include other miscellaneous costs. Plus this fee is only for one treatment session and multiple sessions may be needed for optimal results. A comprehensive cost figure may be obtained while consulting with the physician. Make sure this figure includes any and all associated costs.

Unfortunately most medical insurance providers do not cover cosmetic surgery procedures. However, most surgeons do offer multiple financing options. Click here for our laser hair removal pricing.

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