Laser Hair Removal

Consultations offered at our five convenient locations in Harley Street, London, Princess Margaret Hospital, (Windsor), Spire Thames Valley, (Gerrards Cross), Kings' Oak Hospital, (Enfield) and Refresh Medispa, (Amersham)

Laser Hair Removal Refresh Medispa Amersham

Laser hair removal is a non-surgical treatment that prevents hair growth for smoother, softer skin. If you are struggling with hair growth on your arms, lip line, chest, back, or legs, laser hair removal can eliminate it. The treatment can help both men and women reduce unwanted body hair.

At Refresh Medispa, we can help you improve the quality of your skin with laser hair removal. Don’t let ingrown hairs and thick hair from shaving cause discomfort and affect your clothing options or lifestyle choices. Contact our office or call +44 0330 660 0979 to learn more about how we can help you meet your body goals at our Amersham location.

About Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is one of the most effective ways to reduce unwanted hair growth. Although lasers are well known for their anti-aging benefits such as eliminating wrinkles and resurfacing your skin, they are also a safe and effective solution for reducing unwanted hair growth. Laser hair removal treatments can:

  • Treat ingrown hair: We can target the hair follicles that are causing ingrown hairs to reduce inflammation and prevent future ingrown hair follicles. Ingrown hairs occur when your hair follicle grows at an angle beneath your skin, resulting in a hard, painful bump.
  • Reduce hair growth: We can prevent unwanted hair growth with laser treatments for smoother, softer skin. Unwanted hair in intimate areas affects approximately 50% of women aged 18-24. (1)
  • Improve hirsutism: Hormone-related hair growth can result in unwanted hair on the face, buttocks, and thighs in women. We can reduce it to help you achieve your desired look so you do not need to wax, shave, or pluck regularly. Improving hirsutism can enhance your quality of life, especially if you are a woman with unwanted facial hair.
  • Hypertrichosis: If you have excessive hair growth, shaving, waxing, and plucking can be hard on your skin. Excessive hair can capture sweat, increasing your chance of developing skin conditions. With laser hair removal, we can eliminate it to support your skin health.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Chromophores are pigments present in skin and hair that absorb laser energy (selective photothermolysis). (2) The hair pigment attracts the laser energy, allowing the treatment to safely disrupt the growth cycle of follicles and destroy them to help you achieve smoother, softer skin. The best candidates for laser hair removal have a lighter skin tone and darker hair. Since the laser targets the darker pigment of the hair, high contrast is ideal to allow the treatment to work effectively. If you have very fair skin and blonde hair or darker skin and dark hair, the treatment may not work as effectively.

Laser Hair Removal Benefits

There are several benefits to laser hair removal:

  • Long-lasting results
  • Thinner hair growth in treated areas
  • Short, effective treatments
  • No recovery time
  • Cost-effective solution
  • Minimal side effects
  • No scarring
  • Nonsurgical
  • Smooth skin
  • Increased self-esteem

Laser Hair Removal Candidates

The best candidates for laser hair removal wish to remove excess hair or achieve smoother skin with a non-invasive procedure. Candidates will need to take good care of their skin and avoid excessive sun exposure for the best results. If you are considering laser hair removal for thick hair and are a healthy nonsmoker, you are likely a good candidate for laser hair removal. Laser hair removal can work for all skin and hair types, but some may require more treatment sessions than others.

Personal Consultation

During your consultation, we will examine your skin to determine the best treatment plan and assess your risk factors. We will ask about your lifestyle, sun exposure, and current medications. We will also ask you about your aesthetic goals to determine whether or not a laser hair treatment will help you achieve your desired results. We will need to perform a physical exam of the treatment area to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for laser hair removal treatments. (3) If you have a history of skin cancer, we will discuss your options to find the best treatment plan for your needs.

How to Prepare for Laser Hair Removal

To prepare for your laser hair removal treatment, you will need to stop taking retinoids and avoid sun exposure. If you arrive at the office for your appointment with sun-related skin damage, we may need to delay your treatment until your skin has healed. To prepare for a laser hair removal treatment, you will need to:

  • Shave the treatment area 24-48 hours prior.
  • Take good care of your skin.
  • Avoid sun exposure.

Laser Hair Removal Procedure

Laser Hair Removal Refresh Medispa Amersham

During the procedure, we will apply a topical anesthetic and use the laser to target your hair follicles in the area you would like to treat. Please arrive at the office in comfortable clothes that you can easily remove for your treatment. When you arrive, we will provide protective glasses before we begin your treatment to prevent the laser from affecting your eyes. Next, we will apply the laser to your skin. The laser will safely damage the hair follicles to prevent future hair growth.

Laser Hair Removal Recovery

During your recovery from laser hair removal, you will need to take proper care of your skin for the best results. Moisturizing your skin, wearing SPF, and avoiding sun exposure will help you maintain long-lasting results. After your treatment, you may notice that your skin feels warm and it might appear to be slightly red. This is temporary and will resolve over the next few days. During your recovery, you must:

  • For the first few days, avoid using makeup, scented lotion, or other products on the treatment area.
  • Use sunscreen each day for approximately 1 month.
  • Avoid tanning beds for 4-6 weeks.
  • Avoid reflective light in cold weather, which can result in UV exposure.
  • Wear protective sunglasses, hats, and clothing.

If you need additional treatments, we recommend that you schedule them at a convenient time when you will be able to avoid UV exposure. It is best to prevent scheduling around ski trips or holidays when you know you will likely be in the sun.

Laser Hair Removal Results

After a laser hair removal treatment, you can enjoy smoother skin and a beautiful new complexion. It may take a few treatments for you to enjoy the full effects of laser hair removal. However, you will see noticeable results after just one treatment. If you have thick, stubborn hair growth, you may need a treatment series to eliminate hair growth. Most patients can enjoy a reduction in hair growth by 60-80% after six months. (4)

Corresponding Treatments

We offer several medispa treatments to restore your complexion and help you meet your body goals. Our skin rejuvenation treatments treat sun damage, brighten your skin, soothe rosacea, and eliminate fine lines with medical-grade skin care products to help you look your best.

Ultherapy Face Lift

Ultherapy (Ulthera) is a skin-tightening ultrasonic energy treatment that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a more radiant complexion. Ultherapy is well-known for its ability to provide a nonsurgical facelift and tighten sagging skin. The ultrasonic energy penetrates the skin barrier to stimulate collagen production without anesthesia, surgery, or downtime. With Ultherapy, we can improve the appearance of wrinkles and skin aging on the face and neck.

Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Anti-wrinkle injections improve the appearance of frown lines, droopy eyebrows, crow’s feet, and chin creases for smoother, more youthful skin. As you age, the collagen in your skin decreases which can lead to the development of wrinkles and fine lines that make you appear older than you are. We can use dermal (soft tissue) fillers, hyaluronic-acid-based injectables, to restore volume to your skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. We can also improve their appearance with injections that contain botulinum toxin to limit the repetitive muscle movements that result in wrinkles and fine lines.

Morpheus8

Morpheus8 is a radiofrequency treatment that reduces signs of facial aging and lifts your skin for a younger look. During the treatment, we will penetrate your skin with several tiny needles (microneedling) that deliver radiofrequency energy and stimulate collagen production to renew your skin. We use a topical anesthetic for your comfort during the treatment. The heat from the radiofrequency and the collagen production the treatment stimulates will tighten your skin for a younger look. See the blog to learn more about our corresponding procedures.

The Cost of Laser Hair Removal in Amersham

The cost of your laser hair removal treatment will depend on the number of laser treatments you need for your desired look and whether or not you need corresponding treatments. We can provide a quote after your consultation and discuss financing to suit your budget. Contact our office or call +44 0330 660 0979 to learn more about how we can help you meet your body goals.

FAQ

Will laser hair removal hurt?

No, laser hair removal will not hurt, but your skin may feel warm snapping sensations during the treatment. Afterwards, you may notice some slight, temporary skin irritation.

How can I make the results of laser hair removal last longer?

For long-lasting results, we recommend that you take good care of your skin and wear sunscreen. Moisturizing your skin will be important for maintaining your results and keeping your skin healthy as well.

How often will I need to come back to the office for laser hair removal treatments?

Depending on your treatment plan and the type of hair growth you have, it may take a few treatments to see results.

Can I have a laser hair removal treatment if I do not have a high contrast between my hair and skin tone?

If you have fair skin and fair hair, we can discuss the best laser for your treatment. We will need to adjust the wavelength for your specific skin and hair type.

Do laser hair removal treatments cause hyperpigmentation or skin spots?

We are careful to adjust the wavelength of the laser for the best results to lower the risk of hyperpigmentation. During your consultation, we will examine your skin to determine whether or not the treatment is the best fit for you. After your treatment, you will need to avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen consistently for the best results.

References

  1. DeMaria AL, Flores M, Hirth JM, Berenson AB. Complications related to pubic hair removal. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2014;210(6):528.e1-528.e5. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2014.01.036
  2. Tanvi Vaidya, Dinesh Kumar D. Laser Hair Removal. Nih.gov. Published June 2, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507861/
  3. Lim SPR, Lanigan SW. A review of the adverse effects of laser hair removal. Lasers in Medical Science. 2006;21(3):121-125. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0377-y
  4. Ghnnam W, Hafez D. Laser hair removal as adjunct to surgery for pilonidal sinus: Our initial experience. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2011;4(3):192. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2077.91251