For those looking for a long-lasting and pain-free way to get rid of unwanted body hair, laser hair removal is the right choice to make as this is a noninvasive, cosmetic procedure that is recognized to deliver long-lasting results for removing unwanted hair from the face and body. While it is a very commonly used and famous hair removal method, there are still many concerns in the minds of people like ‘Does laser hair removal last forever?’

To understand the life of laser hair removal, it is important to have a close understanding of the entire process and many other factors. So let’s begin.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal is a revolutionary treatment that is performed using light to target the pigment in individual hairs. As the light travels down the shaft of the hair and into the hair follicle, it results in destroying the hair follicle, and hair can no longer grow from it. For those who are new to laser hair removal, understanding the life cycle of hair is very important because hair follows a unique growth cycle that involves resting, shedding, and growing periods. The hairs that are in the resting phase may be not visible to the technician or laser, so it is very important to wait until it regrows before removing them.

This is the reason that laser hair removal treatment requires multiple sessions so that each hair on the particular body part can be destroyed. For many people, several laser hair removal treatments may be required over the course of 2 to 3 months.

Is laser hair removal permanent?

When you see any commercial advertisement for laser hair removal, it will clearly show ‘permanent hair removal’, but it is important to have a close understanding of this topic before making any perception. It is a fact that hair removal from a destroyed hair follicle is permanent. But there are still many body parts where hairs are likely to grow back even after the laser hair removal treatment is done. But it doesn’t mean that laser hair removal is not effective in these areas. It is possible to treat the area again to reduce the number of hairs that regrow. And it can be also possible to eliminate all hair completely.

Whether the hair will grow back or not, largely depends on various factors such as the type of hair that regrows and the skill of the person removing the hair. Even if the hair starts to grow back, it is relatively lighter and less noticeable than it was before as the laser may damage the hair follicle even when it fails to destroy it.

In case the hair follicle is only damaged and not completely destroyed, there are chances for the hair to eventually regrow. It is mostly with the people having light-colored hair. While it is not possible to destroy a single hair follicle, it can be done when the hair regrows, so people who want to remove all the hair may need several treatments.

Does laser hair removal last forever?

The simple answer to ‘Does laser hair removal last forever?’ is “YES”. Laser hair removal is a permanent solution, but only when the hair follicle is permanently destroyed. In case the hair follicle is only damaged, there are chances for hair to regrow. Depending upon the unique hair growth cycle of an individual, the amount of time required for the hair to regrow may vary for individuals. For example, some people will have their hair grown quickly while for others, it takes a lot of time for hair to grow back. This can also make an impact on the number of laser hair removal sessions required as well as the interval between the hair removal treatment sessions.

Apart from this, when a particular body part is hair-free, it is likely to stay that way for months or years. According to specialists in the field, laser hair removal can surely offer long-term results, but it’s rarely a lifelong fix as the exceptions are always there. The reason here is that laser hair removal technology only tends to just damage hair follicles, it doesn’t destroy them.

Can you do anything to prevent hair from growing back?

Yes, there are ways to keep the results permanent, or at least for years, and the best way to ensure this is to have laser treatment touchups as needed. When you initially visit for consultation, the doctor will closely analyze your skin color and type, hair thickness, hair growth cycle, etc. Based on the initial consultation, you can be also suggested to visit for laser hair removal touch-up sessions to maintain the results once your laser hair removal treatment is completed.

For people dealing with conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), things may be different because the hormonal imbalance is very common in this situation. Since hormones have a huge role to play in the hair growth cycle, it is important to visit your doctor to get medical support to balance these hormones with medications or with dietary modifications, such as a low carbohydrate intake.

Final Words

No doubt, laser hair removal is a long-lasting way for eliminating unwanted hair on various body parts like hands, legs, underarms, bikini area, back, chest, facial area, neck, etc. But the results may depend on person to person as not every individual is the same when it comes to skin condition, hair growth cycle, hair thickness, etc. This is why many people see great results and do not even have to visit for touch-up sessions while others may need more laser hair removal sessions along with a few touch-up sessions annually. This is more likely to occur on the body than on the face.

Initial consultation plays a vital role as this is the time when the doctor will closely analyse the factors that can make an impact on results. What matters here is choosing a certified and professional laser hair removal clinic.