Most people are aware that permanent facial hair removal is done via laser. However, there are many other facts that you might not be aware of regarding removal. Before you head off to book this procedure, it is recommended that you find out as much as possible. Here are a few things that you may not know:

Permanent Facial Hair Removal Is Not As Painful As It Sounds

Permanent facial hair removal works by sending light from a laser through the pigment of the hair. The light converts into heat which will damage the hair follicle and bulb. This process sounds like it will be painful and there actually is a bit of pain when this happens.

However, most people find that the pain is not only easy to handle, it is also over very quickly. Generally the thinner the skin, the greater the pain will be when removing the hair such as around the nose and temples. Fortunately, most lasers will have a cooling mechanism which reduces the pain.

Results Are Not Instant

A lot of people assume that the results of permanent hair removal will be instant, but this is not the case. Depending on your hair, the amount of time that you will have to wait in order to see results will differ. You also need to complete a number of treatment sessions before the results start to be more obvious.

Some people find that they are able to see results after 2 treatments which will generally be 8 weeks. Keeping to the treatment schedule is also important if you want the full results. Your hair follicles are all at different stages of growth which means multiple treatments are required to remove all of them. If you stop the treatment after the second session, you are likely to see facial hair growth from the follicles that were not treated initially.

You Cannot Go To The Gym After Permanent Facial Hair Removal

If you are thinking about heading to the gym after your hair removal session, you need to reconsider this. It is generally recommended that you avoid the gym, saunas and hot showers for 24 hours after the treatment. The reason for this is the heat from the laser and the gym or sauna will interact.

For 24 hours after the treatment, the heat from the laser will remain in your skin. When you go to the gym or another hot area like a sauna, you will create a warm environment in your skin. This will be an environment that bacteria loves and where it will multiply resulting in pimples.

Reconsider Getting Some Sun

In the time leading up to the treatment and after, you might have to avoid getting too much sun. Of course, this is something that will vary depending on the person and your dermatologist should be able to advise you on this. Sunbathing will darken the pigment of your skin and this will affect the laser treatment.

If you already have a tan, you might have to wait for it to fade before you can proceed with hair removal. This is something that you need to discuss with your dermatologist before the treatments start. You also need to tell them about any holidays you might have coming up which could affect any of your follow up sessions.

Laser Treatment Can Trigger More Hair Growth

With all forms of hair removal, there are some risks that you need to know about. Permanent hair removal could stimulate more hair growth in some cases. This is something that you should talk to your dermatologist about before you start this treatment.

Laser treatments work extremely well for certain kinds of hair and not as well for others. These hairs will grow longer and thicker when exposed to laser light. Fortunately, your dermatologist will be able to determine if you have this type of hair when they assess your eligibility for this treatment. If you have this type of hair, you will probably not want to continue with this treatment but look for an alternative option.

You May Think That The Process Will Take Longer Than The Reality

When you talk to your dermatologist, they will lay out the treatment schedule for you. The number of sessions that you need will vary depending on two things. Firstly, the type of hair that you have. And secondly, the amount of removal needed. While you can spread the schedule over multiple weeks, each appointment is actually shorter than you might imagine.

It takes approximately 20 minutes to complete a single session. This will include the removal of any makeup at the start and some time to go over what will happen in the session. The first session that you have might take longer,  as you will probably want a longer explanation from your dermatologist on exactly what is happening.

There Is More Than One Benefit To Laser Hair Removal

The primary benefit of permanent facial hair removal is that it removes hair from places that you don’t want. However, there are other benefits that laser treatments give you that you might not be aware of. Of course, these additional benefits are not something that everyone will get, but it is good to know what they are.

The first additional benefit is the fact that laser treatments can provide clearer and smoother skin. This is partially due to the removal of the hair on the face, but it also reduces irritation in the skin. Irritation is what causes pimples and other skin problems.

Another benefit that you should be aware of is the reduction of ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can be a nightmare for a lot of people, but laser treatments will reduce this. This is due to the fact that the laser treatment will encourage the hairs to grow straight.

There are a lot of facts about permanent facial hair removal that you need to know before you book an appointment. You are recommended to have an in-depth discussion about this with your dermatologist before the first treatment. This discussion will help you determine if this is the right treatment for you and cover all the facts that you need to know.