Laser hair removal has become one of the most popular and common cosmetic procedures of our time, and has led to millions and millions of satisfied clients who no longer have to be embarrassed about unwanted hair. However, while this procedure in general is a safe treatment, it does come with potential risks, especially if the person who performs the session is not experienced enough.
One of the more common, yet harmless risks when it comes to laser hair removal is that the procedure simply doesn’t work. Most cosmetic procedures cannot guarantee results. In other words, whenever one chooses to undergo a cosmetic procedure there is always a risk that the outcome will not be as desired. Luckily, there are steps one can take to avoid that the laser hair removal is not successful, and those steps include finding the best clinic possible, making sure that the practitioner is experienced, and that the right laser type as well as a fairly new machine is being used. An old machine or an improper laser setting can be completely inefficient.
Another risk when it comes to laser hair removal is that there could be some sort of temporary or permanent damage to the skin. While permanent damage is very rare, there is still a small risk, no matter how tiny. This is because it is sometimes hard to predict how the skin will react to the laser, and certain individuals have sensitive and reactive skin that is more prone to damage, and that can be more vulnerable to a laser treatment. An example of permanent damage that could occur is hypo- and hyperpigmentation, which means lightening and darkening of the skin. While these two conditions can certainly go away on their own, there is a small risk that they can stay permanent.
Other risks to laser hair removal include burning, blistering and scarring of the skin. While blistering and scarring are very rare risks, burning is slightly more common. Burning can occur when the laser machine setting is too high. In order to avoid these and other risks, potential clients should make sure they are being treated by a highly experienced practitioner. Cheap clinics with rates that are too good to be true should be avoided, as these places often have inexperienced staff and subpar laser machines.
Individuals with tanned and dark skin need to be extra careful in choosing the right laser clinic, because not every practitioner has experience in treating all skin types. Darker skin tends to absorb more of the laser light and caution is required in order not to burn or damage the skin. While there certainly are a few risks when it comes to laser hair removal, it is important to remember that any lasting damage to the skin is very rare, especially in the hands of an experienced practitioner.
