Permanent hair removal procedures are no longer just for women

More men now opting for hair removal of their chest, back, legs, underarms, and even nether regions.

A good friend of mine has a full, admirable moustache and beard. Imagine Russell Crowe in the movie Gladiator, and you should get the picture.

Many guys would give anything to have that masculine kind of facial hair, which would make many a girl’s heart skip a beat.

So I was rather surprised when he approached me for permanent facial hair removal.

The hairs adorning his face grow faster than you can cook Maggi Mee. He admitted to being tired of shaving once (or sometimes even twice) a day, every single day.

He’d rather have a face as smooth as a baby’s bum than face the dreaded razor and risk nicks and cuts daily.

Most of my permanent hair removal clients are ladies obviously, but I’m seeing more men nowadays coming for hair removal of their chest, back, legs, underarms, and even, nether regions.

Perhaps it’s the metrosexual movement, or maybe it’s just a matter of personal preference or hygiene, but more and more men are coming in to permanently reduce their undesired body hair.

There are three popular methods of hair removal in Malaysia, namely, laser, Intense Pulse Light (IPL) and electrolysis.

If you don’t have the time or patience to undergo shaving, waxing or tweezing, then laser hair removal is something you should definitely consider.

Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures anywhere in the world, including Malaysia.

High concentrated beams of light target hair follicles, which permanently deactivate and destroy them.

Lasers can be used for any body part. It can selectively target hairs without harming the surrounding skin.

The advantage of laser hair removal is that it is a speedier process compared to electrolysis. Small areas such as above the upper lip could take a minute or so while larger areas such as the underarms could take 10 minutes.

Most patients would have permanent hair reduction after less than six sessions.

If you wish to undergo laser hair removal, you should not pluck or wax for six weeks before your laser session. That is because laser targets the hair follicles, which are temporarily removed when you wax or pluck.

Try to limit or avoid sun exposure prior to or after the procedure. This is because your skin would be more sensitive to light after any laser procedure, thus creating a higher risk of getting complications such as pigmentation.

Before the procedure, your hair should ideally be a few millimetres in length. It should be long enough for the laser to target on, but not too long, as that would increase the chances of getting burns.

You can achieve this by shaving a few days before the procedure, so that by the day you arrive at your doctor’s office, a short stubble would have formed. Or you can have the hair trimmed in the clinic just before the procedure is started.

You and the doctor will be wearing safety goggles to protect the eyes. A special cooling device would be utilised during the procedure to minimise discomfort and to reduce the risk of overheating and burns.

The procedure would then commence with the doctor delivering appropriate amounts of laser energy, based on your skin colour, thickness of the hair and hair colour. We usually need to use lesser energy for those with darker skin because coloured skin absorbs higher amounts of the laser rays.

The procedure is repeated once a month, and you will notice your hair getting lesser and finer after each session. Only doctors are allowed to operate laser machines as there can be side effects and complications with untrained hands.

IPL is not a laser. IPL machines produce a broad spectrum of light wavelengths. Unlike lasers, IPL cannot be focused to a concentrated beam. Because a range of different wavelengths are dispersed at a variety of depths, only some of these will be effective for hair removal.

IPL hair removal is offered by most beauty salons and can be performed by trained non-doctors.

The shallower penetration of IPL means that hair removal is not as effective as lasers, especially for deeper, thicker hair.

There is also a higher risk of excessive energy being absorbed by those with darker skin, increasing the risk of burns. This is because some of the IPL wavelengths are absorbed into the surrounding skin.

Comparing lasers to IPL systems, the former produces more heat directed at the hair follicle than the latter, which is why lasers give better results.

The laser energy is absorbed by the hair follicle, not the skin, so there is a lower risk of burns when using laser machines. For this reason, lasers are safer than IPL for those with darker skin tones.

Laser hair removal is more expensive than IPL, but the results are better, with less sessions required.

Electrolysis is a hair removal method that requires multiple sessions to achieve good results.

A small electric current is applied with a fine needle-shaped electrode or metal probe into each hair follicle to permanently destroy the root.

Hair grows in three different stages, namely, growing, resting and shedding.

At any given time, some of our hair would be in the growing stage, some are at rest and others are shedding. Electrolysis only works on hair in the growing stage, which is why multiple sessions are necessary to catch the hair at this stage.

The advantage of electrolysis is that it has the best overall results compared to any other method in ridding hair permanently.

Electrolysis targets the hair root itself, unlike laser, which also targets hair pigment. Therefore, electrolysis is safer for those with darker skin tones as it gives lower risk of burns.

The disadvantage of this procedure is that numerous sessions are needed.

Up to 30 sessions may be necessary to permanently get rid of the hair.

Each session could easily last 30 minutes to an hour.

As it is a slow, time-consuming process, it also tends to be more expensive.

Those undergoing electrolysis often describe the experience as a stinging sensation, and each hair follicle has to go through it. Some people may find the sensation unpleasant.

> Dr Chen Tai Ho is an experienced aesthetic doctor who chills by the pool sipping espresso latte when he’s not attending to his beloved patients. For further information, e-mail [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the reader’s own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.