Permanent Hair Removal - What's Behind the Phrase?

In recent years, laser clinics, medical spas, and plastic surgeons’ offices have been quite loose with their use of the term “permanent hair removal.” While lasers are FDA approved, the FDA does not allow for the marketing of technologies and services that state permanent hair removal. This is because technologies like laser hair removal provide a permanent reduction of hair growth up to 90%, give or take 10%. This means that you shouldn’t expect to permanently remove every single hair from the targeted area; however, you can expect to remove the vast majority of it. Hence, the FDA’s use of the term “permanent hair reduction” rather than permanent hair removal. For the few cases that hair does grow back, the hair that grows in is usually lighter and finer. Still we cannot say laser hair removal is permanent without acknowledging the possibility of that 10%. However, when you stack that 10% against waxing or tweezing, the reduction in hair and hair removal costs is mind-boggling. Simply stated, at the moment, laser hair removal treatments offer as close to permanent results as you’re able to get.

A hair removal treatment that can be considered completely permanent is electrolysis. Because electrolysis works follicle by follicle, utilizing a small needle with electrical current, it is safe to say that the individual follicle treated will be permanently removed. While electrolysis is considered highly effective for small areas such as the upper lip and chin, the advent of laser technology has made electrolysis less than ideal for larger areas such as full facial hair removal or bikini hair removal. Instead, laser hair removal offers control and efficiency for large areas, especially the back and full legs. Imagine having to sit through multiple sessions of electrolysis when you’re treating your full legs or back! Additionally, electrolysis can be quite painful and can cause skin discoloration in darker skin tones.

Check out what the FDA has to say about Laser Hair Removal and permanent hair reduction.

Take a look at your arm! Did you know that your hair grows in stages?