Tired of unwanted hair? Karen Reid-Renner, MD, and her team at Southern Indiana Family Practice Center and Rejuv Spa offer you the opportunity to bid farewell to razors and painful waxing and plucking for good with advanced laser hair removal treatments. If you’d like to learn more about how you can get rid of your unwanted hair, call the Bloomington, Indiana office, or book an appointment online.

Laser Hair Removal

What is laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is a procedure in which a laser emits light energy, penetrating the skin into hair follicles and destroying them. Each laser pulse destroys hair follicles, preventing them from growing hair again.

This is a simple office procedure that enables men to permanently reduce chest, back and abdomen hair, while women can eliminate unwanted hair on the upper lip, cheek, chin or neck, along with the legs, arms, bikini line, and underarms. Laser hair removal treatments are quick and don’t require anesthetics or downtime. Most patients describe the sensation as feeling like a mild rubber band snap.

How many treatments do I need to remove unwanted hair?

Fine hair can usually be removed with just one or two treatments, while dark or coarse hair can require multiple sessions to remove and prevent hair from growing back. Though it can be difficult to eliminate hair entirely, new hair growth is usually much lighter and finer than the original hair. The number of treatments needed depends on how quickly the hair returns. Fine hair typically takes several months to regrow; thicker darker hair returns more quickly. Still, in general, most people can expect to eventually decrease facial and body hair permanently by 85-95%.

To get the best results, you may need a series of treatments. Dr. Reid-Renner develops a treatment plan before you get started so you know what to expect. You may need up to six treatments. The interval in between each treatment depends on the area being treated and how quickly the hair grows back.

For unwanted upper lip hair, which grows in quickly, Dr. Reid-Renner may have you come in every eight weeks, while for back hair, which grows much slower, she may have you come in every 12 to 16 weeks.

Do laser hair removal treatments have side effects?

Most side effects that occur with laser hair removal treatments are minimal and temporary. Individuals with light skin occasionally experience redness or other skin discoloration, similar to a mild sunburn.

The treatment area also may feel warm to the touch, tingle, or incur slight swelling for a few hours following the procedure. Even though none of these side effects are serious, you should still report them to Dr. Reid-Renner so she can keep notes in your file for future reference.

Who is a good candidate for laser hair removal?

Other than those who have strong skin sensitivities to light, anyone in good health who has unwanted hair can safely benefit from laser hair removal. Unwanted hair on the hands or face can cause embarrassment and shaving or waxing underarm hair and bikini line hair can lead to painful ingrown hairs. These and other issues related to unwanted hair are easily remedied with laser hair removal.

Ask Dr. Reid-Renner if laser hair removal is right for you. Call Southern Indiana Family Practice Center and Rejuv Spa or request an appointment online.