How long does a laser hair removal session last?

A body free of hair and unsightly bulges - that's the dream of many people. Aesthetic professionals offer two solutions: laser hair removal and cryolipolysis.

Laser hair removalalso known as definitive or permanent, involves removing the hair root by emitting a beam of light.

How laser hair removal works

The technique uses infrared rays to target the melanin in the hair. This transforms into heat which destroys the bulb, the agent responsible for hair regrowth. A few precautions should be taken before starting the treatment:

• consult a physician beforehand;
• Do not expose yourself to the sun, as tanning is contraindicated due to the thermal effect of light rays;
• do not wax 3 weeks before treatment, but shave the day before;
• do not take photosensitizing drugs to avoid skin reactions.

The session must take place in a fully-equipped medical practice and be performed by a dermatologist or other qualified specialist.

How long does it take to remove hair?

A session generally lasts between 15 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the area to be depilated and the type of hair. For best results, and depending on the patient's hair cycle (18 months on average), the operation should be repeated several times. For a complete and effective treatment, you need to plan between 4 and 10 sessions spaced several weeks apart.

The face

Laser hair removal is best suited to the hairy areas of the upper lip and chin. The technique is less effective on the cheeks. This is because the beam of light is particularly effective on hair with a high concentration of melanin, such as black or chestnut down. The darker and thicker the hair, the easier it is to remove.

As a result, the procedure on the face takes slightly longer than that on the body, for two reasons: the density and thickness of the hair. An anaesthetic cream applied to the targeted area 2 hours before the session reduces pain.

For the face, pre-shaving is not necessary.

The body

Laser hair removal can be performed on any part of the body: underarms, abdomen, back, thighs, legs, bikini line, etc. Several parameters influence the length of time the laser will be applied: age, skin type, hormones, regrowth cycle. This information is gathered by the doctor during the consultation prior to the session.

An average session lasts :

• 45 min for the back ;
• 15 min for underarms ;
• 20 to 30 min for full bikini line.

When it comes to frequency, there's no standard - everyone's different. The important thing to remember is that the more sessions you have, the better the results. A minimum of 5 sessions is ideal, whatever the area treated.

How does the treatment work?

Laser hair removal is performed in an aesthetic center by a licensed physician. First, he gathers as much information as possible to determine when, how and with what type of laser he will use. He then draws up an estimate. All institutes have their own rates, but prices vary from 50 to over 500 euros.

During the operation, both parties must wear protective eyewear to avoid the laser coming into contact with the eyes. The doctor or esthetician disinfects the surface to be treated, sets the laser parameters and applies anesthesia. Then he or she performs laser scanning on the area to be treated.

Intervals between sessions vary from 4 weeks to 3 months, depending on the areas to be treated. Results are seen progressively. Hair becomes finer, sparser and lighter, and stops growing.