Millions of women suffer from humiliating facial hair, and are considering laser facial hair removal to relieve them of this problem. They have tried everything from painful waxing and plucking to disgusting, smelly creams and bleaches. These are all great temporary solutions, but leave a person with unsightly stubble. These methods can also cause damage to someone’s already fragile skin, damage that can sometimes be more noticeable then the hair itself. If you are tired of facing another day embarrassed to leave your home because of your unwanted facial hair, then maybe you should consider laser facial hair removal as well.

Before you have the initial treatment, consult the doctor or esthetician that will be performing the procedure. This professional can tell you if you are an acceptable candidate for the treatment. This is also the time to begin asking a few questions of your own. How many patients has he or she treated? What is the rate of success? Ask as many questions as it takes to feel completely comfortable before making any decision.

Laser facial hair removal involves targeting specific areas of the face that are covered with unwanted hair. A concentrated beam of light is shot into a piece of hair, producing heat in the hair’s follicle. This heat causes the follicle to become inflamed. The inflammation tells the follicle to go into a dormant phase, and that causes the hair growth to cease. This is where the experience of the doctor, or esthetician, performing the procedure comes into the equation. There is a fine line between heating the hair follicle to the correct temperature needed to gain the intended result, and burning the pigment on the top of the skin.

The cost of the laser facial hair removal will depend upon a few factors. The first consideration is where you currently reside in the United States. In the Midwest, for example, a person will pay an average of $140 per session, compared to the almost $400 a session in the Southern half of the country. The number of times a patient will need to have the treatment performed also varies from person to person. The ideal candidate for the process is a woman that has fair skin and darker hair. If you have very light blonde or white hair, the procedure will have less of an effect. This is also true for people with darker complexions. On average, a patient will have to sit for at least four treatments, spaced three to four weeks apart, before seeing any results. Realistically, this procedure is not going to be 100% effective. It is more likely that laser hair removal will give you about a 60% reduction in unwanted hair.

The discomfort of the procedure is also a factor that varies from person to person, but for the majority of recipients of the treatment, the pain is minimal. There are also some possible side effects involved with laser facial hair removal. These include: burning or discoloration of the skin, white spots, formation of scabs, breakouts of acne, scarring, and purpura (a red and purple discoloration of the skin). If you have any questions or concerns about the aforementioned risks, consult your doctor.

After you have finished the initial round of treatments, you may have to receive one or two additional sessions of laser facial hair removal every year. Keep in mind that for a few recipients, the treatment can be completely unsuccessful, and the hair simply grows back. This is rare, and typically occurs when a patient has white or blonde hair.

Most people assume that laser facial hair removal is only utilized by women, but this is untrue. Every year, more and more men are riding themselves of unwanted facial hair by skipping the razor and shaving cream, and instead opting for a more permanent solution. A smooth face will make men look professional, polished, and well groomed. To achieve any kind of results, most men will have to sit for around eight sessions, which will cost anywhere from $150-$400 each, once again depending on geography.