The Bearded Lady and the Boy with the Unibrow

Children can be cruel and relentless throughout grade school. Sometimes there are specific instances that stick with us forever. Third grade was when my traumatizing experiences began. I was sitting at my desk when a boy called me the “bearded lady.”  Now, looking back on his remark it doesn’t seem fair considering he was sporting a “unibrow.” At any rate, that day will never be forgotten along with the countless other instances regarding my facial hair. I am still grossly self conscious about my dark and abundant hair growing in places it normally shouldn’t be seen. I have become diffident at times about my hairgrowth.
Eventually my mother tolerated taking me to the salon so I could temporarily rid myself of the coarse dark hair. After years of messy wax and last minute shaving routines, I knew there had to be a better way of dealing with unwanted hair. Having superfluous hair may seem like a trivial problem, but I know I am not the only 20- something girl with this insecurity. American Laser Skincare has over 135 locations nationwide. The center has provided more than 10 million treatments since the organization was founded 10 years ago. I am definitely not alone.
Who does laser hair removal treat?
Kelly Cochran, a licensed esthetician from American Laser Skincare, described the best candidates to be people with a lighter skin tone but dark hair. That is not to say if a person does not fit into that category he or she will not have a successful procedure. “We treat all skin types, heritages, men and women. Sometimes the waiting room is full of men,” Cochran said with a chuckle.
Treatment is customized by the esthetician evaluating the patient’s hair color and skin tone. Cochran said that as long as there is some color in the hair, the laser hair removal can be effective.
How does the procedure work?
            The laser is meant to actually kill the root of the hair. “The laser sees the bulb and the melanin, so we know that we are getting your hair in the active growth stage. The laser permanently disables the blood supply from the bulb,” Cochran said.
She explained that hair grows in three stages: active, resting and shedding. Because of these growth stages, an area is projected to need six procedures. “Women with hormone fluctuations can require more or less,” Cochran said.
Before a person is treated by laser hair removal, the area should be shaved the day before. By doing this, the root is left intact which allows the procedure to be “quicker and less painful.” If the hair is not shaved, the smell is “unpleasant and more painful,” Cochran said. The procedure has been described to cause mild discomfort. The sensation has been compared to the “snapping of a rubber band.”  Cool air is blown on the treatment area while the procedure is taking place, which can soften the sensation.
In between procedures the patient should trim the surface hair. It is important that the patient does not wax or do any sort of treatment that will remove the hair follicles themselves. Cochran described a trimmer that is about the size of a ball point pen to be efficient for trimming hair. “Don’t worry, you don’t need to get out the shaving cream and razor,” she said.
Depending on which area a person wants to treat will dictate how long he or she needs to wait in between treatments. Cochran divided the body into four parts: the face, the arms, the mid section, and the legs. There should be a waiting period between four to six weeks for the facial area, the arms six to eight weeks, the mid section eight to 10 weeks, and the legs 10 to 12 weeks.
What are the risks?
When executed properly, laser hair removal should have minimal risks. A person may risk a burn if he or she is on an antibiotic or has sunburn due to the exposure, changing the skin type. “If you have a rash we aren’t going to treat you,” Cochran said.
If there is a chance a person is pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant, American Laser Skincare will not take the risk of the exposure to the laser. A patient that is using Accutane “must discontinue use of product six months before beginning treatment,” according to the informed consent agreement.
Other risks include, “pain, infection, blistering, scabbing, scarring, drug reactions or interactions or unforeseen complications. There is also a risk of mismatch in the color or the texture of the skin, temporary redness, hive-like reaction or bruising, brownish skin discoloration, lighter skin discoloration, activation of fever blisters, temporary increased susceptibility to sunburn and persistent pinkness for months,” the informed consent agreement also said.
As with any medical procedure, these risks are not common but possible. American Laser Skincare recognizes each person is an individual; therefore, their treatment needs to be personalized as well, Cochran said.
How much does it cost?
The pecuniary aspect of this procedure will vary depending on where an individual chooses to obtain treatment. American Laser Skincare frequently offers promotional specials, so price can often vary within the establishment.
Price will fluctuate depending on the size and area of the treatment spot. People who wax often may find that in the long run this procedure will “pay for itself” over time, Cochran explained.
Laser hair removal provides a sense of relief for the self conscious, self examiners like me. Every morning when I look in the mirror, the harsh sunlight hits my face and every hair follicle seems that much more noticeable as I prepare to take on my day. I despise the fact that my facial hair is still on my mind as I depart my bathroom each morning. Knowing that my lack of self confidence concerning my facial hair can be drastically improved is a thrilling prospect.  If the boy with the “unibrow” noticed my insecurity when I was eight, I don’t see why with laser hair removal I shouldn’t be able to finally lay that memory to rest now.
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