By Nasrin Mani, M.D.
For women and increasingly for men, hair removal is a constant problem. There are many hair removal options, but most of them are painful, inconvenient, require repetition often, or all three. Laser hair removal is better because it involves only minor discomfort, is a relatively quick procedure, and gives long-lasting hairlessness (and permanent hair reduction). Now there are a number of at-home laser hair removal systems, but are these systems just as good as professional laser hair removal?
At Home Laser Hair Removal: The Good News
The good news about at-home laser hair removal systems is that they do work, because they’re based on the same physical principles as professional laser hair removal. They’re also significantly less expensive than professional laser hair removal treatments.
At-Home Laser Hair Removal: The Bad News
However, at-home laser hair removal systems are not directly comparable to professional systems. They tend to be less powerful than professional systems, so it often takes more treatments to get the same results (ten or more at-home treatments compared to three in-office treatments). Often times, too, they are not approved for all areas. Most are not approved for hair removal on the face.
Another problem with at-home systems is that they are hard to use successfully. In order to achieve the results you want, you have to pulse all the areas where you want to remove hair, and if you miss one you’ll have the unfortunate consequence of a regularly-shaped hairy patch grow in. If you’re going to use at-home laser hair removal, it’s recommended that you have a friend help you to make sure you don’t miss a spot.
Overall, at-home laser hair removal is a reasonable option, but for many women the advantages of professional laser hair removal make it a better choice. If you want to get the same or better results with fewer treatments, make sure the procedure is completed with a high degree of accuracy, and enjoy the ease of having someone else perform the treatment while you just sit back and relax, the professional laser hair removal remains the best option.
To learn more about laser hair removal in San Diego, please contact La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic today for an appointment.
