Most women will spend a large amount of time each week in an age-old custom. Removing the hair from their legs is a part of everyday life for many women. Ladies will try just about anything to have smooth hair free legs, from waxes and depilatory creams to tweezing.

Did you ever stop to think there might be a better way to get the smooth legs that every woman strives for? Would you be surprised to find there is a procedure that will remove the hair from your legs for weeks on end and possibly permanently? The good news today is there is such a process and it is called laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal has been an accepted practice in the dermatology profession for more than 20 years. Initial testing of lasers for hair removal began in the 70s and was finally commercially available in the early 90s. Now it is one of the most commonly used hair removal practices in the nation.

What to Know

The long road from discovery to use is good news for consumers and makes this a safe treatment for unwanted leg hair. Nevertheless, before you run out to find a practitioner there are a few things you should be aware of.

Over the years, this process has continually been perfected; however, the best outcome will be for those with light skin and dark coarse hair to remove. The reason for this is in the manner in which the laser works. An intense light passes through the outer layers of skin with no damage, until it reaches the melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its dark appearance. Laser removal is activated when the light hits the melanin with heat, damaging the hair follicle and increasing the time it takes the hair to grow.

You want to choose someone who is experienced in the area of laser hair removal. They should be a board certified dermatologist who has been trained to perform laser treatments. Many times a nurse or assistant will perform these treatments and in this case, the physician should be present at all times throughout the procedure.

There are few if any medical procedures that are completely risk free. Some of the risks include darkening or lightening of the skin around the affected area, re-growth of hair or partial hair removal. Most of the time these are temporary but in rare cases the changes in skin pigmentation can be permanent.

Expectations

Your doctor should meet with you and discuss your expectations and the number of possible treatments you will require to meet those goals. Laser hair treatment of the legs is not a one-stop solution. You may require several treatments spread out over several months if you are seeking permanent reduction results.

Compared to many other hair removal options such as waxing, shaving or creams laser hair removal is way out in front. All of the above are temporary fixes for hair removal that do not hold a candle to laser treatments. You can reasonably expect weeks or even months of little or no hair growth after laser treatments. This is much more than can be expected with other treatments.