Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
Laser hair removal is a noninvasive cosmetic treatment used to eliminate undesirable body and facial hair.
Laser hair removal on the body might produce permanent or near-permanent outcomes for certain individuals. Others may see a significant decrease in the number and thickness of hair that regrows over time.
While permanent results are unlikely for the face, regrowth may take years.
The outcomes vary depending on a number of variables. These include the locations that are being treated as well as variable hormonal levels.
How long does it take for hair to regrow?
Understanding hair development patterns may help you estimate how long it will take for your hair to regrow.
Hair growth stages
Hair passes through four phases of development. They are as follows:
The growth phase is catagen, the transitional phase is telogen, the resting period is exogen, and the shedding phase is anagen.
At any one moment, you have hairs in all four stages.
Laser hair removal vaporizes existing hairs under the epidermis and at the root.
As a result, it can only target hairs during their anagen (growing) phase. That is why it requires numerous treatments, spaced apart, to reach all of the hair that develops in a certain area.
Body regeneration
During laser treatments, you will continue to see hair. Some of this will be regrowth, but the majority will remain untreated hair.
After your treatment is over, you may not notice regrowth for several years.
Laser hair removal on the body may produce permanent or extremely long-lasting results. Any hair that grows back should be sparse and thin over time.
Face regeneration
Laser hair removal on the face isn’t usually permanent, although it may be.
Some individuals claim that no hair grows back after ten years or longer. Others have faster regrowth and depend on yearly touch-up procedures to keep unsightly hair at bay.
Does hair come back quicker in particular regions of the body or on the face?
Hair will most likely come back on the chin, neck, and other parts of the face after laser hair removal.
This might be related to hormonal swings and androgens like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone-reactivating hair follicles.
Hair regrowth on the chin, neck, upper lip, and sideburns may occur in some women after menopause when estrogen levels fall.
Body hair regrowth is also possible. It may be more common on the arms, legs, or chest in certain persons than on the bikini line, stomach, or underarms.
When hair grows back on the body, it is usually sparse and fine.
In rare cases, laser hair removal may result in thicker, darker hair growing or regrowing in an area next to the one being treated. This is referred to as paradoxical hypertrichosis. Anywhere on the face or body might develop paradoxical hypertrichosis.
Does the color of one’s hair or skin make a difference?
Your hair or skin color may influence how successful laser treatments are for you at first, but they have no bearing on how fast your hair comes back once treatments are completed.
Laser hair removal is currently not considered effective for blond, white, or gray hair.
Is there anything you can do to prevent hair growth?
Hair regrowth may be controlled using laser therapy touch-ups as required.
Electrolysis is another option if hair growth is minimal. Electrolysis treats individual hairs rather than whole regions.
Keeping your hormones regulated if you have a disease like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) will help lessen the probability of hair regrowth. You may help regulate these hormones by taking drugs like Metformin or making dietary changes like limiting your carbohydrate consumption.
Will repeated laser treatment sessions ultimately hinder hair growth?
Laser treatments are sometimes marketed in bundles of four or more sessions. It may take 12 treatments or more to entirely stop hair growth.
Following that, touch-ups should be minor. Initially, some individuals may need semiannual treatments. Others may discover that they don’t need a touchup for five years or more.
