What is Permanent Hair Removal

In recent years, laser clinics, medical spas, and plastic surgeons’ offices have been loose with their use of the term “permanent hair removal.” The query is what do they mean by permanent? While lasers are FDA approved, the FDA does not permit 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” than permanent hair removal. For the few cases that hair does grow back, the hair that grows in is usually lighter and finer. Still they can't say hair lasers are 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. Basically stated, laser treatments at the moment offer as close to permanent results as you’re able to get, making it the most permanent solution on the market.

A treatment that can be considered permanent is electrolysis. Because electrolysis works follicle by follicle, utilizing a tiny 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 tiny 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. Lasers, on the other hand, offer control and efficiency for massive areas, 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 painful and can cause skin discoloration in darker skin tones.