Laser Hair Removal in Lenox Hill, NY
Unwanted hair is a common skin problem that is treated by a dermatologist. In the past, electrolysis was the only treatment option. Today, Laser Hair Removal has become the go-to solution to reduce or remove unwanted hair. One of the benefits of Penstein Dermatology is that we offer both cosmetic and medical dermatology services, which makes it much more convenient for you as a patient.
Understanding Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that utilizes a laser to remove unwanted hair. During your treatment, a laser beam will pass through the skin to an individual hair follicle. The intense heat of the laser then damages the hair follicle, which inhibits future hair growth. Although laser hair removal effectively slows hair growth, it does not always guarantee permanent hair removal. However, it will typically take several laser hair removal treatments to provide an extended hair-free period with periodic maintenance needed.
Goals of Laser Hair Removal
Hair removal and hair reduction are the two goals achieved with laser hair removal. Whether you achieve hair reduction or hair removal depends on hair and skin color.
- Permanent hair reduction removes some hairs to decrease hair density, but the hairs will regrow. You will need ongoing laser treatments.
- Permanent hair removal removes all hairs and they won’t grow back, so ongoing laser treatment is not necessary.
How Lasers Work
Lasers use focused beams of laser light to damage the hair follicle, so hair doesn’t grow back. Lasers can reduce or remove hair from small or large areas of the body, including the legs, back, bikini line, underarms, sideburns, chin hairs, and upper lip hairs.
Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Laser treatment has many benefits compared to electrolysis, including:
- Increased comfort, because only the hair follicle is damaged, not the skin around it
- Safety, because lasers have been extensively tested in many medical disciplines, and are approved for use in hair removal
- Fast results, because each pulse of the laser is only a fraction of a second long
On average, 4-8 laser hair removal treatments are needed for maximum results, and are also performed once every 4-8 weeks depending on the area of the body being treated. If you have any questions about the procedure, please don't hesitate to call our office.