Does laser hair removal only work if you feel a zap during treatment?

Question

If you feel like a poke or a buzz on the spot on your face, or does it still work even if you don't feel it?

Morris Westfried, MD · Answer

It is difficult to answer about an individual system but some the discomfort is very mild and you would feel very litle

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear bebemona,

Thank you for your clinical
post.  In general, laser energy used to
treat hair removal can be quite uncomfortable. 
The use of the Alexandrite, the diode or the neodymium YAG is associated
with some superficial skin pain in trying to drive the laser energy down deep
enough to permanently kill hair follicles. 
Topical anesthetic cream with or without a chiller is often used to
minimize the discomfort.  Other
applicators have a direct contact water cooled tip which also helps and
finally pre-administration of cryogen spray to numb the skin and then applying
the laser energy can greatly minimize the feeling and discomfort.

So, depending on the area the kind of
laser used and the kind of discomfort control used by the clinic you may not
feel much in the way of a zap at the time of the treatment.  You should, however, smell the smell of photocoagulated
hair shaft and have some periphilic edema and swelling around the hair
shaft to indicate a good treatment.  Easy
extractability with a tweezer and, of course, ongoing improvement in permanent
reduction with each treatment should be present.

I hope this information is of some
assistance and best of luck.

To find out more, please visit the
link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

Does laser hair removal only work if you feel a zap during treatment?

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Does laser hair removal only work if you feel a zap during treatment?

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Everything you need to know about Laser Hair Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.