August 10 2010, 10:50 am PT | Posted in: Other
Hi Doc,
I suffer constantly from razor bumps after shaving and just very sensitive skin in general. I get a very bad reaction if i shave more than once a wk. I was considering getting laser hair removal to permanently remove all stubble from my face. What is the success rate of this and have you come across anyone that has had this done with decent results. Thanks Doc.
I do not use the laser in my office, so I’m probably the wrong person to ask. I put in hair… I don’t remove it.
Removing facial (beard hair in men) with a laser can be time consuming and costly. I don’t know success rates off hand, but you can speak with a dermatologist experienced with using lasers for this purpose, or check with facial hair removal “specialists” online. I found one such site using Google that explains various methods, costs, and time involved — HairRemovalJournal.org.
I wish I could offer you more, but laser hair removal isn’t within my field of expertise.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
I had laser hair removal done (using a Candela Laser)on my beard several years ago. It took several treatments, but the hair remains substantially thinned. I dont get razor bumps anymore, and I can shave every two or three days. It was a great option for me. I will never be able to grow a full beard (I never wanted one anyway), but the time saving, no more facial irritation or 5 o’clock shadows was definetly worth the trade off.
I had this procedure done for my beard. I noticed two things:
1. The hair removal worked for several months, but came back. It did come back thinner and I no longer have the razor bumps I used to have.
2. I noticed a significant amount shedding on my crown after the procedure. My theory is there is less hair on by body, so there was more DHT available to interact with my head hair. DHT promotes body hair growth, as such the less body hair, the more DHT in the system. The more DHT in the system, the more available to bind to head hair.
That’s just a theory.
You need roughly about 6 treatments to get 60-80% permanent reduction in the area. Any hairs that do grow back will be far less dense. Some people will need more and some may not need 6. Your practitioner can give you an estimate of how many it could take after you have had your first treatment by seeing how you responded to treatment. Have you been for a consultation yet? I went to sk:n for mine but being a nurse myself naturally I was very inquisitive about how the treatment works