Many men and women struggle to manage excess hair growth in areas where they don’t want it. While it’s possible to maintain a hairless appearance with shaving, waxing, tweezing, and plucking, these traditional methods can be uncomfortable and time-consuming.
Laser hair reduction is a medical procedure that can help you achieve the benefits of smooth, hairless skin without the inconvenience of doing it yourself or making frequent trips to a salon. Karl Trippe, MD, and the staff at Waco Primary Care in Waco, Texas, have the expertise necessary to help you achieve your goals with the Cynosure® Icon™ system. The technology used in this innovative in-office treatment allows Dr. Trippe to eliminate your unwanted body hair safely with minimal time and discomfort.
If Dr. Trippe determines that you’re a candidate for laser hair reduction, the treatment can be administered virtually anywhere on your body. In this blog, Dr. Trippe discusses five popular areas that are often targeted for laser hair reduction.
The basics of laser hair reduction
Laser hair reduction works by delivering beams of light to targeted hair follicles. The light then heats the follicles to a temperature that stops the hair growth process. The hair then falls out on its own. When administered by a trained provider, the laser doesn’t harm the surrounding skin.
Most areas require up to four treatments spaced four weeks apart for noticeable results, though some areas may require up to eight sessions depending on certain factors, such as hair color and thickness.
Popular areas for treatment
Laser hair reduction can treat many areas of the body, but here are five of the most requested areas for treatment:
1. Underarms
Many women and some men are embarrassed by underarm hair. For those who are self-conscious about underarm hair, the condition can interfere with wearing bathing suits or any type of sleeveless clothing.
Laser hair reduction can replace the need for daily underarm shaving, which is a practice that can result in bumps, ingrown hairs, or razor burn. The results can leave you feeling confident to bare your underarms in any situation.
As an added benefit, treating underarm hair with laser hair reduction can also lessen body odor, because hair absorbs and retains the moisture released when you sweat.
2. Chin, jawline, and neck
Laser hair removal on facial areas, such as the chin, jawline, and neck, is popular for women who are annoyed by peach fuzz on their face or darker hair around their upper lip. Men who have to shave more than once a day may also benefit from the convenience of laser hair reduction in facial areas.
During laser hair reduction on your chin, jawline, or neck, you can expect to wear goggles and a covering to protect certain areas. Since your facial areas are small, laser hair reduction on your face can often be completed in about 20 minutes.
3. Upper and lower back
Back hair is more common on men than women, but both can find it unattractive. The condition can easily impact your self-confidence when showing this area of your body.
However, having hair on your back can be more than a cosmetic problem. Coarse, heavy hair on your back can increase your body temperature because of the extra layer of coverage on your skin. As your temperature rises and your body sweats, your back hair can dampen and stick to your clothing, causing discomfort and damp clothing.
4. Chest and abdomen
Like back hair, chest and abdomen hair may be a nuisance for both men and women. While hair on the chest or abdomen is less often a cosmetic issue for men, the removal of this hair is common among athletes who want an advantage when competing in bodybuilding, cycling, or swimming.
Men may also benefit from laser reduction of chest or abdomen hair when hair growth is patchy or uneven, creating a look that impacts their self-confidence.
5. Upper and lower arms and legs
Laser hair reduction on the legs can make a dramatic impact for women, many of whom began shaving their legs before they were teens. For many women, it’s a daily chore that can consume countless hours across a lifetime. Laser hair reduction delivers smooth, hairless skin without the inconvenience and expense of frequent shaving or waxing.
While the removal of leg and arm hair has no health benefits, laser hair reduction can boost self-confidence without the mess, razor nicks, or burns from hot wax.
