I’m not sure if my facial laser hair removal results can be considered normal or if there may have been a way to prevent what is happening to me. I have very fair skin and dark hair (ideal for optimal results). I completed my hair removal treatment two years ago (8 treatments using Alexandrite). I felt, at the time, that it was a success and was happy with the results. However, about a year ago, I started to experience re-growth, which has gotten exponentially worse in the last year.
I have known from the get-go, that “permanent” doesn’t really mean forever in the laser hair removal world. That’s fine, I anticipated some upkeep. What concerns me is the rate and thickness at which the hair has re-grown. Had I known that the hair would be twice as thick and grow 3x faster two years down the road, I might not have undergone the treatment.
My doctor has run just about every medical test available to rule out an underlying medical condition such as PCOS or Thyroid Dysfunction, so I know that’s not what is causing my hirsutism. The only other link I can come up with is a medication I used to take. I was treated with Valproic Acid (Depakote) for several years in my twenties (now almost 40), but permanently discontinued the medication well before undergoing laser treatment.
At this point, I am considering a new course of laser treatment, but want to vent out my concerns over the long-term effects of these procedures. I haven’t even started setting up consultations because I feel like I need to be armed with some research going in and, frankly, I am doing some avoidance because I remember how grueling it was to fight off the “hard sell” every time I went for a consultation.
Any thoughts? Do you think a different laser might bring a different result? Could it have been operator error? Or is this a completely normal outcome?
Answers (2)
From board-certified doctors and trusted medical professionals
MOST RECENT
June 10, 2018
Answer: Hair growth increase after laser hair removal
Burns due to laser hair removal are considered a risk factor that is a rare occurrence. This mishap usually occurs when the technician has mishandled the equipment due to lack of training. This incident can be prevented by doing some ground research and going to professional medical spas with...
Hi Arennison,
The answer to your question is yes, your laser hair removal treatments can be very close together if you want, as often as several days apart. But the reason you would not want to do this is that you would be wasting your money.
For laser hair removal to work, there needs to be a...
Thank you for your question. Sometimes temporary white spots can happen after laser hair removal if you were tanned or the setting was too high for your skin type. This occurs more often on darker skin types. This is typically temporary and reversible. I recommend having this evaluated by your...
