"Doctor,

how long do I have to

keep getting beard laser hair removal?"

— A question I got just yesterday, too

Last Tuesday, a man in his mid-30s

came into the clinic.

He had already had 6 beard hair-removal sessions somewhere else,

but he still shaves every morning.

"How many more times do I have to get this before it ends?"

Honestly, this is one of the most common questions

I get in the clinic.

The tricky part is,

the answer is different for everyone

Beard laser hair removal targets the melanin in the follicles with a laser

to permanently weaken the hair roots themselves.

Unlike underarm or leg hair removal, the beard is

an area directly affected by hormones, so

the follicles are much thicker and deeper.

So even with the same device and the same settings,

beard hair is 2 to 3 times more stubborn than leg hair.

Why do some people finish in 6 sessions,

while others go all the way to 15?

It depends on beard thickness and density,

but usually about 8 to 12 sessions are needed.

What matters is not the number of sessions, but the process of optimizing

each session by recording the energy and number of shots.

It depends on beard thickness and density,

but usually about 8 to 12 sessions are needed.

But there is one important thing here.

More important than the number of sessions is

the process of optimizing each session by recording

the energy and number of shots.

If the energy level is exactly the same every time, then as sessions go on,

the follicles with stronger remaining resistance

will keep surviving.

Beard follicle depth is usually 4 to 5 mm,

and only when energy reaches that depth properly

are the hair roots destroyed.

Ten sessions with the energy adjusted and recorded each time and

ten sessions shot with the same settings produce completely different results.

Director Wi Youngjin's Key Takeaway

Rather than asking, "How many sessions do I need?"

ask, "How is it adjusted each session?"

Energy optimization determines the quality of hair removal.

Estimated number of sessions by beard condition

Beard laser hair removal tends to be fairly painful,

and for a few days after the procedure, redness or

folliculitis-like reactions may appear.

That said, when the settings are done properly, it is one of the

most satisfying procedures among male treatments.

In the clinic

the three questions I get most often

Q1. How should the treatment interval be set?

Usually we recommend intervals of 4 to 6 weeks.

That's because the laser only responds to follicles in the growth phase

of the hair cycle.

Q2. Once it's done, will it never grow back?

Most follicles do not regenerate, but

it is not a 100% lifetime guarantee.

The daily stress of shaving definitely goes away.

Q3. Are there any special precautions after the procedure?

Avoid saunas and alcohol on the day, and

be diligent about sun protection.

It is best to take a break from shaving for about two days.

That was Wi Youngjin.

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