What’s the Difference Between Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis?

Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis

Laser hair removal is the answer to any unwanted hair you have, pretty much anywhere on your body: legs, arms, underarms, buttocks, bikini line, back, neck, upper lip, cheek, feet, toes, hands, chest, abdomen, unibrow… Wherever you want smooth hair-free skin, Fox Vein & Laser Experts can help with the gold standard in laser hair removal, proven to be quick and easy, virtually painless, without any downtime, completely safe, and incredibly effective.

Like with all cosmetic treatments, laser hair removal is not without its competition. Another permanent solution to getting rid of unwanted hair is electrolysis. Both of these methods, laser hair removal and electrolysis, work to target and destroy the hair follicle underneath the surface of the skin so that it no longer continues to grow.

Electrolysis is Best Treatment to Get Rid of Unwanted Body Hair

laser hair removalElectrolysis used to be the only treatment used to permanently get rid of unwanted body hair, that is until around the mid-90s when laser hair removal came on the scene and became available for commercial use. Laser hair removal quickly took precedence as the more favorable of the two procedures and is now considered to be one of the most popular cosmetic treatments performed. We certainly feel that way in our Hollywood office at Fox Vein & Laser Experts, where our expert laser technician performs laser hair removal treatments on patients multiple times per day.

Difference between Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis

So what’s the difference between laser hair removal and electrolysis, and why would you choose one over the other? Let’s compare these two permanent hair removal procedures.

First and foremost, do the two treatments utilize the same kind of technology? Laser hair removal uses high-heat lasers to transfer energy through the skin and attack the hair follicle. The follicle absorbs the light from the laser and begins to break down. During each session, the follicle breaks down further and further, until it is completely damaged and stops producing any hair whatsoever. At Fox Vein & Laser Experts, we use a device called the GentleMax Pro®, which delivers extremely quick rays of energy to skin. Because of how fast the energy is emitted, there is significantly less pain and soreness felt when compared to other methods. Patients might see some redness after the treatment, but that will dissipate very soon after. Multiple treatments are needed for permanent results, and the amount of sessions varies depending on the area being treated.

Electrolysis also works to break down and destroy the hair follicles, but it uses shortwave radio frequencies instead of laser energy. An epilator device is used to emit these radio frequencies into the hair follicles and causes them to fall out. Just like with laser hair removal, this too requires multiple sessions in order to achieve permanent results.

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis

There are a lot of similar benefits for both laser hair removal and electrolysis. Both procedures can be performed anywhere on the body, and are safe and effective for all skin and hair types and colors. Both result in permanent results after a certain amount of treatments, however the similarities for this particular benefit ends there. Electrolysis could take as much as 30 treatments for specific areas because the treatments must be more spread out. For example, if you are getting electrolysis on your legs, your entire leg cannot be worked on during one session. Each session will focus on one small section of the leg at a time, meaning there are going to be way more sessions needed in order to permanently remove the hair from both of your entire legs. On the other hand, one laser hair removal treatment can include both legs, and the session lasts no longer than ten minutes.

laser hair removal vs electrolysisThere is no recovery time needed for either treatment, however, laser hair removal is said to be much less painful, especially if top-of-the-line technology is used as we have at Fox Vein & Laser Experts. Electrolysis patients might experience more discomfort during their sessions, and sometimes there might be an appearance of slight redness or irritation after treatment. This could potentially happen after laser hair removal as well, but in either case, the redness and irritation will go down within a few hours to a day. In some cases, there can be a risk for infection or scars during electrolysis due to unsterile needles being used. To minimize the risk for any side effects or skin damage, always seek out a board-certified professional for any hair removal treatment.

Aftercare for Laser Hair Removal & Electrolysis

There are definitive differences between aftercare for laser hair removal and aftercare for electrolysis. There are precautions that must be taken in order to protect the skin following laser hair removal because the laser energy puts the skin at risk for sunburn. Make sure to minimize your exposure to the sun after your procedure, and always wear sunscreen with at least 30 SPF. It is recommended that you keep the area being treated out of direct sunlight for six weeks before a laser appointment.

Follow-up and maintenance appointments are necessary for laser hair removal, and it is preferred to shave in between appointments. Do not wax the area being treated. You need follow-up appointments for electrolysis appointments too until the hair is completely gone. Laser hair removal appointments must be scheduled about six to eight weeks apart, whereas electrolysis may be scheduled every week or every other week.

electrolysis vs laser hair removalNeither of these hair removal methods is covered by insurance because they are considered optional cosmetic procedures. Costs vary depending on which part of the body you are having the treatment done and how many sessions are needed.

Both methods produce long-lasting, permanent hair removal, but there is a reason that laser hair removal is more popular and done more often than electrolysis. We believe that this method is much less painful and much more comfortable for patients, and we have seen drastic and impressive results. One important thing to note is that it is not a good idea to try both methods because they have the ability to disrupt one another.

Contact us at Fox Vein & Laser Experts Today

Do your research and educate yourself about each procedure before making a decision. If laser hair removal is your final choice, call our office at 954-627-1045 to schedule an appointment with our laser technicians and let us help you on your way to achieving smooth, hair-free skin.