Laser Hair Removal Disclaimer

Laser hair removal is appropriate for any area where there is excess hair, with the important exception of the eye area. Since the laser works on more than one follicle at a time, larger areas like the back, arms or legs are just as easily treatable as smaller areas like the upper lip or bikini line. However, because the hair is targeted on the basis of color, the hair must be darker than the underlying skin for the laser to be effective.

Although the FDA has approved several types of laser for permanent hair reduction, results can vary. Each individual has a different metabolism, hormonal level, hair quality and number of hair follicles, all of which can influence the outcome. Moreover, normal hair goes through a growth cycle in three stages: the anagen, or growing phase; the telogen, or resting phase; and the catagen, or transitional phase. During the anagen phase, hair is susceptible to the laser’s energy, but during the telogen and catagen phases, it is resistant. At any one time, various percentages of body hair will be in each of these phases, making complete removal unlikely without multiple sessions.