Laser hair removal is a method based on the principle of selective photothermodynamics. By rationally adjusting the laser wavelength, energy, and pulse width, the laser penetrates the skin’s surface and reaches the hair follicles at their roots. This causes the hair follicles to heat up dramatically, destroying the tissue and losing their ability to regenerate, thus achieving the desired effect. This method can remove hair from various locations, such as the lips and legs, and the results are generally long-lasting.
Applicable people
Laser hair removal is suitable for those with excessive hair that affects their appearance. It can also be used by those with light skin, dark hair pigmentation, or those who wish to permanently remove their hair.
Taboo groups
1. Those who have used waxing, electrolysis and other methods to remove hair within 6 weeks.
2. Patients who have used 13-cis retinoic acid within 6 months or photosensitizer within 3 months.
3. Patients with infection, herpes simplex, tattoos, or those who have undergone skin transplantation in the treatment area.
4. Patients with a history of keloids and hypertrophic scars.
5. People with diabetes, hypertension, severe heart disease, malignant tumors, blood diseases and coagulation disorders.
6. Women during menstruation, pregnancy and lactation.
7. Those with psychological or mental abnormalities.
Technical/surgical risks
1. Pain: Patients may experience obvious pain due to the failure of timely cooling and temperature reduction during the laser heating of hair follicles.
2. Erythema and edema: Patients may experience erythema and edema due to temporary thermal damage caused by partial absorption of laser energy by the epidermis and dermis. These symptoms usually last for several hours, and in some cases may last for dozens of days.
3. Pigmentation: Patients with darker skin may experience pigmentation due to stimulation of epidermal melanocytes. This is usually temporary and will disappear within a few months. Permanent pigmentation is generally not a problem.
4. Hypopigmentation: Patients seeking beauty treatment may experience hypopigmentation due to the suppression of melanin production in the epidermis. This is generally reversible but can last for a long time.
5. Acneform changes: Acneform changes are common after hair removal, but most are mild and short-lived. The specific mechanism of acneiform changes is unclear, but it may be caused by rupture of the sebaceous gland unit in the skin, secondary infection, and obstruction of the hair follicles, forming pustules.
6. Blisters and scabs: Patients seeking beauty may develop blisters and scabs due to excessive laser energy causing thermal damage to the epidermis, or due to tanning of the skin, which may cause melanin and other color groups in the epidermis to absorb the laser.
7. Scarring: Scarring may occur in the hair removal area due to excessive heat damage to the skin caused by excessive treatment doses, or secondary infection in the treated area. In addition, patients with scar-prone constitutions and those with diabetes are also prone to scarring.
8. Infection: The patient may suffer from wound infection due to the doctor’s non-standard aseptic treatment.
9. Eye damage: Patients may suffer from uveitis, visual field defects, iris atrophy and adhesion, cataracts and other eye damage due to improper operation by doctors.
Postoperative care
After the operation, attention should be paid to local care, diet adjustment and lifestyle behavior management.
1. Local care: After the treatment is completed, you can immediately use an ice pack for 10-15 minutes. Avoid getting the hair removed in water, rubbing it, or taking a sauna on the same day to prevent infection. Keep the hair removal area clean and hygienic, pay attention to hydration and sun protection to avoid pigmentation. Try to use cleaning products or skin care products that are less irritating to the skin. Do not handle the new hair by yourself.
2. Diet adjustment: Eat a light diet, eat more foods rich in vitamin C, and avoid greasy, spicy and irritating foods.
3. Lifestyle management: Follow the doctor’s instructions and the course of treatment to avoid affecting the effect of hair removal.
Preoperative precautions
1. Communicate with your doctor before treatment to understand the specific process and related risks of laser hair removal and be mentally prepared.
2. Complete preoperative examinations, such as blood routine, coagulation function, blood sugar, electrocardiogram, etc., to confirm that there are no serious systemic diseases and no history of photosensitivity.
3. Women should avoid special periods such as menstruation, pregnancy and lactation.
4. If the hair removal area has a recent history of surgery, trauma, or use of special medications, you need to inform your doctor in advance.
5. 1 to 2 weeks before hair removal, stop taking aspirin and other drugs as directed by your doctor to avoid reducing the coagulation function of platelets.
6. Avoid exposure to the sun before hair removal to prevent skin burns, redness, blisters, and affect treatment.
7. Check the skin of the hair removal area. If there are local infection foci, acute or chronic inflammation, etc., treatment should be temporarily suspended.
8. If you have plucked your hair before, you need to wait until the hair roots grow out before you can undergo laser hair removal.
9. Take a shower one day before hair removal and keep the hair removal area clean.
10. When removing hair, please wear protective glasses as directed by your doctor and take personal protection measures.
Surgical procedure
If you have excessive hair on your lips, armpits, limbs, bikini line, etc., you can undergo laser hair removal. Taking laser hair removal on your armpits as an example, the operation process mainly includes skin preparation, wearing protective glasses, applying gel, and irradiation.