Laser Hair Removal Risks - Know the Facts

Although laser hair removal is an excellent option for long-term removal of unwanted hair, it is not without its risks. Because it is a medical procedure, be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor before deciding to undergo the procedure. Weigh the risks against the rewards to determine whether it is right for you. The good news is that laser hair removal has a very low risk of complications.

The possible risks include:

Incomplete hair removal. This is the most common risk you take when undergoing the procedure. Sometimes, laser hair removal simply won't work as well as you had hoped. 6-8 treatments are necessary to treat all of the hairs in the area. Some hairs may regrow after treatment, especially if you have very light hairs or the laser was not calibrated correctly. Although some people believe that the procedure can cause more hair to grow, this is simply incorrect. There are actually no recorded incidents of increased hair growth following laser hair removal treatments.
Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation. Lightening or darkening of the skin is usually temporary, although it could last for a few months or even become permanent. This is an important risk to consider if you have dark skin, because the lasers used to treat hair on dark skin carries a higher risk of skin lightening.
Changes in skin texture. This is a rare complication resulting from using lasers against the skin.
Bleeding. This rarely occurs during the actual procedure. It is usually due to incorrect settings on the device, or not using a protecting gel on the surface of the skin.
Infection. Following the procedure, there is a remote possibility of infection. This is more common if the treated area blisters as a side effect of the treatment. Cover the affected skin with an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Scarring. Rarely, blisters or burns that occur as a side effect of treatment may turn into scars. Whether they scar depends on your body's ability to heal. The type of laser used can affect the possibilities of scarring, as some lasers are more intense than others. If you experience excessive pain during the procedure, alert the technician immediately. It may be a sign that the device settings need to be adjusted.

To minimize your risks during laser hair removal, choose an experienced doctor. Fully trained doctors will be able to choose the right laser for your situation and adjust the settings accordingly. Look for a doctor who offers the latest technology, which tends to be safer than older lasers. If you use a qualified doctor, the risk of complications associated with laser hair removal is very low.

Louise Bently is the author of homelaserhairremovalsystems.com Home Laser Hair Removal Systems which has more advice about the many aspects of laser hair removal at home. Discover more about how to minimize any homelaserhairremovalsystems.com/general-advice/home-laser-hair-removal-side-effects laser hair removal risks.