Laser Hair Removal for Face: Is It Worth Getting?

The average price of laser hair removal in Australia ranges from $20 to $250 per body part per session. Depending on a person’s hair thickness and color, the session may take 3 or over 10 with gap weeks in between. To an average income earner, the cost may take a substantial cut from the monthly budget.

Since unwanted hair (especially on visible areas) takes a toll on my body image, I decided to try laser hair removal. While waxing and shaving practically deliver the same result, laser hair removal is more convenient and results in a smoother skin.

Does Laser Hair Removal Permanently Remove Hair?

The short answer is no. Laser hair removal sends pulses of light energy that convert to heat. The heat then hits hair follicles that results in inhibition or delayed growth of new hair.

Laser hair removal does not permanently remove all unwanted hair, but it does help keep some hair stop from growing, and some others become thinner over time.

I first tried laser hair removal for underarms and I noticed the new hair strands were thinner after the second session. The difference is very minimal.

If you are not observant, you probably would say there was no change. However, after the fourth session, I was happy to report significant reduction of hair.

I was told that for some people, significant results were sooner (say after the second or third session). This is due to individual differences in hair thickness and response to treatment.

Seeing the results, I then decided to try it on my face.

Is Laser Hair Removal Safe on Face?

Yes, it is generally a safe and effective treatment. I have read about the risks for laser hair removal include slight redness, irritation, and pain.

I noticed about the redness immediately after the session. But it dissipates over time. Major risks such as burns and scars rarely happen.

Our face skin is more sensitive, so clinics adjust the energy level of the laser device. I also wore protective goggles throughout the process to avoid eye damage.

During initial consultation, I was asked safety-related questions, such as whether I was pregnant or I had heightened sensitivity to pigmentation.

Laser treatments are not advisable to pregnant women or to hyper-reactive skin. Be honest with your doctor during assessment.

How Long Does Each Session Take?

Each session is pretty quick. It would take me about 15 minutes only to complete one visit. Between visits, there is a 6-week gap you need to observe.

Book an appointment in advance to avoid long waiting hours. Clinics prioritize scheduled appointments over walk-in customers.

Before the session starts, though, I had an initial consultation. The skin doctor performed an assessment, set my expectations, and determined the number of sessions for my underarm laser hair removal.

Depending on my response to treatment, the number of sessions may vary. It can be shorter or longer. I had a separate assessment done for my upper lip hair removal when I decided to have one later.

Was the Procedure Painful?

No, it was not at all painful. I found the treatment painless for both my upper lip and underarm hair removal, although I felt tingling sensations every time the laser hits my skin. I was grateful for the skin specialist who handled my treatment gently.

Also, in every visit, skin specialist shaves the area, then applies the cooling laser gel, which prevents burning of the skin and ensures uniform application of heat. If anything, I found the process ticklish.

Is Laser Hair Removal Worth It?

The results may not be permanent but after your full sessions, you will see significant change. You barely need to shave or wax at all. Your skin is smoother, too!

Touch-up sessions may be required to keep the condition of your skin. You can practically get your treatment then later meet your friends. That is how convenient laser hair removal is. It is worth the price and the effort.

4 Things You May Not Know About Sports Massage

I cannot blame people who think that a sports massage is only for athletes and other sports-minded folks. I once had the same belief.

After talking with a friend of mine who also happens to be a sports massage therapist, it would seem that there are a lot of things ordinary people do not know about this kind of massage. Here are 4 of them.

1. Great for Managing Sciatica and Low Back Pain

Let’s face it: Most of us complain of low back pain more than once in our lifetime. This is especially true for people who spend almost 8 hours every day sitting behind their desks.

It is okay to sit all day long if you have an ergonomic chair. Unfortunately, not all offices can afford to give us an expensive ergonomic office chair.

There are also some of us who are diagnosed with sciatica. It often results from the degeneration of one of the disks in between our vertebrae. They experience excruciating pain in the back, their hips, and the outer side of their legs.

In both instances, sports massage can provide relief to both pain and inflammation. It can help reduce the swelling while increasing the gap between two opposing bony structures.

It would be unwise to think that sports massage can cure these health problems. It only offers symptomatic relief so you get to carry on with your activities in a more normal fashion.

2. Can Help Alleviate Fatigue

Athletes are not the only persons on earth who experience fatigue. All of us somehow have this feeling that we can no longer complete our everyday tasks. You can call it exhaustion or tiredness. However, one of the most crucial factors here is that our muscles are not functioning very well.

I have read quite a number of studies that show sports massage can help people who experience chronic fatigue. They feel more energetic.

I am not sure how massage can help them feel less fatigue. What I do know is that massage improves the circulation of blood through the tissues. This delivers critical substances that the cells can use as energy.

As such, if the cells are able to get their energy, then you should not feel fatigued at all.

There are, however, contradicting studies that say massage does not improve blood circulation nor does it facilitate the removal of lactic acid from the muscles. It would seem that the positive effects of massage, in general, have more to do with the improved mood that it brings.

3. Increases the Mobility of the Joints

Have you ever seen athletes performing a lot of warm-up exercises before a game? Most of us think that this is to get their muscles all primed up. However, there is another reason why they do this.

Warm-up exercises can also improve the range of motion of the joints. It allows people to become more flexible.

Among us ordinary humans with no athletic gifts, sports massage can help us improve the mobility of our joints. This can translate to better movements.

When we pick up something on the floor, we will not hear the sudden creaking sound from our back, hips, or knees. We can also walk a lot easier.

Improving the mobility of the joints can also help stimulate the continuous production of cartilage cells. They can help strengthen the joints and save you from more serious health problems.

4. Improves Our Sense of Well-being

You will feel a lot better about yourself after a session of sports massage. It stimulates the increased production of neurohormones which can help boost our mood and help us feel more relaxed.

It is not uncommon that some people fall asleep during the massage session. This is proof to the relaxing effects of sports massage. And when they wake up, they will feel more refreshed.

Sports massage is not only for athletes. It can also work for ordinary people like you and me.