Time Between Treatments For Laser Hair Removal?

I am getting Laser hair removal for my cheekbone area. The skin is light and the hair is thick and dark. Each laser session is supposed to be at least 4 weeks apart, according to most sources, because of the recovery time for the follicles. The hair is quite resilient. If the stubble reappears a week after the session, is it OK have the next session earlier, because wouldn't the reappearance of the stubble be an indication of recovered follicles, as how did the hair regrow and reach the skin surface?

update: 5-11-12
Due to certain perquisites, my Laser Hair Removal treatments are free. Would it be 'counter-productive' to have fortnightly sessions? Would they help the eventual thinning and loss of hair along even by 10%?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by kmakl74

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Timing laser hair removal treatments

Increasing the frequency of laser hair removal treatments will not increase the effectiveness of these treatments. That is because the laser is only effective when the hair follicle is in its active growth phase. Repeat sessions are necessary to treat those follicles only when they re-enter their growth phase. Laser hair removal treatments with longer pulse durations may leave behind many hairs which appear to “grow” following treatment. These “growing” hairs are... more

Laser hair removal treatments on your face are repeated at monthly intervals.

You may be seeing stubble sooner than 4 weeks after your treatment, but this may just be a dead follicle extruding it's hair for the last time. You should notice 1 month after your 1st treatment that your hair growth is decreased. Hope this helps. Dr. Joseph

Eric M. Joseph, MD

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West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Time between hair removal treatments

Body and facial hair grows at all different rates. Facial treatments are usually done 4-6 weeks apart, while legs are more like 8-12 weeks. It's important that treatments are done at specific times because it helps treat follicles in a specific time of the hair growth cycle. See the link below. Stubble doesn't mean "recovered follicles" and no, changing the timing to sooner is simply going to treat the same follicles again, and not get any different ones, so you'll be... more