Last month's 39-minute beard laser hair removal

What became clear after the consultation

Because of the dark shadow that appears after shaving

men coming to the clinic

have increased sharply.

"I already had

8 sessions elsewhere, but it's still the same"

There are really many people who say this.

Today I'll explain the reason

step by step.

What on earth

makes it different is

Male beard hair removal

uses laser to heat the melanin in the hair follicles

and weaken the hair root function.

The basic principle

is the same as armpit and leg hair removal.

But there's one important thing here.

Unlike women's arm and leg hair, men's beards

have roots that are much deeper and thicker,

so with the same device and settings, the energy

does not properly reach the end of the root.

Why do some people

remain the same even after 10 sessions?

Men's beards have deep, thick roots

so the approach differs from regular hair removal.

Record the number of shots and energy for each session

and adjust the settings by session

to get a clean result.

A man in his mid-30s who came last month for his chin beard

came in, and

he had already had 10 sessions at another clinic.

But after shaving

the shadow was still there.

When I asked for the chart,

there was no record at all of the shots and energy by session

at all.

Honestly, this is the biggest problem.

Male chin and upper-lip beard follicles are usually

from the skin surface

buried 4 to 5 mm deep.

Much deeper than arm and leg hair (2 to 3 mm).

So rather than a 755nm Alex laser,

a longer-wavelength 1064nm Nd:YAG

is often more advantageous,

and the energy also needs to be increased as the sessions go on.

How much the J value was set at the first session,

which area the patient complained of pain in,

and how much hair fell out after two weeks —

all of this must be recorded so that in the next session

we can raise the energy here,

and change the pulse width there.

If you fire with the same settings every time without records

it won't show even after 10 sessions.

Director Wi Young-jin's key takeaway

Men's beards are deep and thick

so regular hair-removal settings don't work.

Record the shots, energy, and response for each session

and based on that, adjust the next session's settings

so that only around 8 to 10 sessions in

you finally feel, "Oh, shaving has become easier."

In my exam room

I divide them like this

It depends on the case,

but I usually classify them like this.

But this isn't all good.

If the beard disappears completely,

even if you later want to grow it,

it's hard to grow back again,

and that's something I have to mention.

So if you're going for complete removal,

think it over carefully

before starting, I recommend.

In the exam room

the three questions I get most often

Q1. There are some white beard hairs mixed in

— can those be removed too?

This is a bit tricky because,

lasers react to melanin,

so white hairs hardly respond at all.

Only the black hairs fall out selectively, so in fact

the white hairs may stand out even more.

If you're in your mid-40s or older and have a high proportion of white hairs,

it's best to discuss it before treatment.

Q2. How many sessions do I need

and how much does it cost?

If it's just a shadow concern, 6 to 8 sessions,

and if you want complete removal, 10

to 12 sessions is realistic.

The interval is 4 weeks for the first 3 to 4 sessions,

then it is extended to 6 to 8 weeks.

The cost varies depending on the area and session package,

so I usually explain it directly during consultation.

Q3. After the procedure, what is the most

important thing to be careful about?

On the day, avoid washing with hot water

as well as sauna and alcohol,

and for about 2 to 3 days,

shave gently.

The beard area has a lot of sebum

and is prone to folliculitis,

so for a few days after treatment, pay extra attention to moisturizing and sun protection

more than usual.

Rarely, burns or

hyperpigmentation can occur,

and this usually happens when the energy settings

are not right.

I hope today's post was helpful.

This was Wi Young-jin.

Read also

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▶Five criteria for recommending a Hongdae dermatology clinic, explained directly by a specialist

▶[Beautystone Clinic] Dr. Wi Young-jin explains Juvelook Glam body treatment

▶[Beautystone] Dr. Wi Young-jin's guide to telling apart a "properly priced Ulthera"

GentleMax Pro Plus hair removal treatment details

This month: GentleMax Pro Plus

Frequently asked questions

Q. There are some white hairs mixed in; can those be removed too?

A. The tricky part is that lasers react to melanin, so white beard hair hardly responds at all.

Q. How many sessions do I need, and how much does it cost?

A. If you’re dealing with mild shadowing, 6 to 8 sessions is realistic. If you want complete removal, 10 to 12 sessions is more realistic. The cost varies depending on the treatment area and the number of sessions in the package, so we usually provide the exact details during a consultation.

Q. What should I be most careful about after the procedure?

A. On the day of the procedure, avoid washing your face with hot water, using a sauna, and drinking alcohol. You should also shave gently for about 2 to 3 days.

Q. How long is the interval between laser beard hair removal sessions usually?

A. Generally, it is best to start with the first 3 to 4 sessions at 4-week intervals, and then gradually extend the gap to 6 to 8 weeks. Spacing out your treatments this way is highly effective as it aligns with the natural growth cycle of your hair follicles.