Laser Hair Removal
- Dr Shraddha Deshpande
- February 7, 2019
Waxing is painful, epilators even more, and shaving is a bit cumbersome. These days, more Indian women are opting to go in for laser hair removal. It has long-lasting effects, isn’t harmful and lets you wear short skirts or bikinis without a care in the world. If you’re thinking of taking the plunge, we asked Dr Shraddha Deshpande, cosmetic surgeon, Wockhardt Hospital for some expert advice. Here’s what she had to say:
It will take a couple of sittings
If you thought this would be a one-time procedure, you’re wrong. Dr Deshpande reveals: “The most important thing to understand is that it is not a single stage procedure and requires at least six to eight sessions. One of the biggest mistakes people commit is not completing the necessary amount of sessions.”
It isn’t that painful
“Lasers are actually much less painful than waxing or threading, and the experience can be compared to snapping a rubber band. For certain delicate areas like the bikini area, a numbing cream can also be applied before the procedure to alleviate the pain.” She also reveals that with the ever-evolving technology such as Cooltip, the procedure has become much simpler.
It works best for thick, coarse hair
Lasers work on the principle of selective photothermolysis and their target chromophore is melanin. In simple words, the darker the hair, more effective the treatment. That is one of the reasons why it isn’t as effective on fine hair like sideburns or the upper lip in women.
You will have to stop waxing and start shaving
Before you go WHAT–there’s a reason behind it all, explains Dr Deshpande. “Waxing and epilation will remove the root of the hair bulb on which our lasers need to act, and thereby the treatment will be ineffective. So when you are planning to start the procedure you need to stop waxing for at least one month to allow full growth and for better results.”
Load up on SPF
Laser treatment can produce an exothermic reaction causing erythema, blistering and minor burns. Using ice packs post procedure can alleviate the side effects. Laser hair removal should be avoided during active skin infections. Also, it is important to use sunscreens with SPF 30 and above while undergoing the treatment.