Hair removal surgery

There are a lot of options for removing unwanted hair, but most are short lived, lasting a day or two to a few weeks. Surgery however, is a permanent, or semi-permanent way of getting rid of that unsightly hair in areas you do not want it, or where it should not be growing. Let's take a look at the most popular forms of hair removal surgery, how they work, and more:

The basic concept behind hair removal surgery is to use a laser to kill hair follicles. This is what is referred to as laser hair removal surgery, and while there are a few other options, this is the most popular, and the one with the best approvals for devices and procedures from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

The way that this procedure works is that a technician will focus laser beams at the hair follicles. If you are a good candidate for hair removal surgery, what should happen is that your hairs should absorb the energy from the light, because they are darker than your skin. Your skin should be left unaffected. The energy from the light should be more than the hair can handle, and thus, the follicle should die. Your hairs will then fall out. It often takes multiple treatments to get complete results.

The best candidates for hair removal surgery are those with fair skin and dark hair, such as black or brown hair. Of course, there are new technologies being developed and this is leading to more and more people being able to get laser hair removal surgery, including those with dark skin, although these are still in the rudimentary stages.

Before you get hair removal surgery a physician should do a consultation with you. At this time they will evaluate whether or not you are a good candidate for hair removal surgery, and when the optimal time to perform said surgery would be. The results are far more effective if the surgery is done at the right time. When is the right time? Well, because human hair has cyclical growth, laser surgery is most effective if it is done during the growing phase, as the follicle is more susceptible. This means that you will need to go in for multiple sessions because due to the delicate nature of the skin, and the high energy of the lasers, it is not possible to cover all such hair in one session. So, the sessions are spread apart, and have to be done five or six weeks apart so that they are done during the growth part of the hair cycle. It generally takes anywhere from two to eight treatments to get rid of the unwanted hair, depending on the area being treated, the hair type (coarse, thin, etc.) and the equipment being used.

Hair removal surgery is not typically painful above a normal person's ability to handle. Most describe the process of being like a rubber band flicking against your skin with each laser pulse. Because it is considered tolerable pain, anesthesia is not given normally. However, in some cases the treating physician will administer a numbing cream. Every clinic has a different policy, and in many cases a local anesthetic is used to eliminate all pain.

Depending on the area being treated, the process may take anywhere from several minutes to several hours to complete. However, this too depends on the technician using the laser. Most of the time the lasers used are what are called a low energy laser beam. The technician moves the laser over your skin in the area being treated, and this laser beam passes through the patient's skin and is attracted to the pigment of the hair. The energy passes down the hair shaft and is absorbed by hair follicles that are in the active growth phase. The energy disables the hair follicle in the deeper layer of the skin, and they will fall out within a few weeks. Not all hair grows at the same rate or time though, and thus the hair follicles that are in dormant phase are not affected by the treatment, hence the reason for multiple treatment sessions.

Generally there are very few side effects that come with getting laser hair removal surgery. Most of the time the effects are minor, such as redness or slight swelling in the area that was treated. Thus, this is considered a same day surgery, and there are no rules about not driving yourself home, etc. In fact, most people resume work the same day.

This form of hair removal is relatively costly, but with the long term nature of the results, most justify the expense. The cost really depends on where you live, the clinic you visit, and the experience of the practitioner. However, the average cost is estimated to be about $400 per treatment session.

It is wise to take some precautions before and after the surgery in order to get the best results. Your clinic will give you a list of things to do and consider, but for the most part you want to make sure your skin is not tan, as this will make the results less effective. In some cases you may have to bleach your skin beforehand. Then, after the surgery you have to stay out of direct sun contact in the treated areas, and you can't go tanning until the practitioner okays it. Your skin is going to be sensitive, and your need it to stay pale to help the results. Because most people like to have a tan, it is best to begin your laser hair removal processes in the winter so that you can be finished with them before you want to break out your swim wear.

What are the benefits of hair removal surgery?

The benefits really are personal, but most people agree that the benefits of using a laser hair removal surgery are as follows:

It is a non-invasive, gentle technique that reduces undesirable hair from most parts of the body, and in some cases eliminates it all together.

It is a good way to treat larger areas effectively and easily, as unlike electrolysis, where each hair must be targeted individually, laser hair surgery disables more than one hair at a time.

It has the potential for positive side effects such as it may make skin color and complexion more uniform.

It offers minimal discomfort that can easily be taken care of with a local anesthetic.

It is a great alternative to waxing, electrolysis, shaving and bleaching

There is no downtime or recovery period needed.

How safe is this procedure?

While initially it was considered dangerous, the lasers and equipment now used is all approved by the USFDA, and it actually is quite safe. It has been used with superb effects for many years, and if you choose the right physician, with enough experience there is little threat of ill effect. You may, as mentioned previously, experience some redness, swelling, or even a slight burn, however, there are typically no lasting ill effects as long as you were evaluated to be a good candidate to begin with. For example, someone with dark skin may see some skin discoloration, however, it is likely they were not a good candidate to begin with. So, all in all, it is a safe procedure, that while it may take some time, it offers permanent or semi-permanent results and the great benefit of no more need for shaving, waxing, etc.

Electrolysis:

This is another form of hair removal surgery. This particular form of laser hair removal surgery is most often done is a spa-like setting, not in a clinic. This is considered a permanent hair removal surgery option as well. In this technique an ultra thin needle is inserted into each hair until it reaches the follicle, then a pulse of energy is admitted to kill the follicle, so the hair will then fall out, and not regrow. This is a procedure that takes some time because each hair must be treated individually. Usually you have one session a week, lasting about 10-20 minutes per session, and it can take up to a year to get the whole area treated, and the desired results. This is, however, the most permanent form of hair removal surgery. Usually the person performing the procedure will administer a local anesthetic, and you will per session. The cost is about $40 per session.

Electrolysis is considered to be slightly painful, and there are risks such as scarring, although this is fairly rare.

These are really the only options for hair removal surgery, and today, with modern technology and an outcropping of clinics, laser hair removal is by far the more popular option. So, if you are considering permanent hair removal, look into both options and see which is best for your time frame, budget, and personal priorities.