My husband and I are interested in laser hair removal. Is it okay for men, and is the result permanent?

While relatively few men go for cosmetic surgery, a surprising number opt for laser hair removal, so please tell your husband that it is indeed okay for men.

The non-invasive treatment removes hair almost permanently from any given body area, using quick pulses of energy on dark hair follicles.

The gentle laser beam penetrates deep into the skin tissue to hinder follicle development with its heat.

It reduces overall hair growth with repeated treatment, although some follicles will continue to grow.

This is different than temporary hair-removal treatments, which allow the follicles to continue producing the same amount of hair. But you might need at least three treatments to kill the follicles in all phases of the hair's growth.

For example, only three or four treatments would be required for hair near the mouth, but it could take six to eight treatments for armpit hair, and another might be needed within one to three months to remove any new growth.

The best news is that the area where the hair is removed will remain smooth and even appear whiter, because the laser helps reduce skin pigmentation and stimulates collagen growth.

Thanisorn Thamlikitkul, MD, is a member of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and certified

in dermatological laser surgery.

Send your questions for her to info@romrawin.com.

Her column appears twice a month on the Fashion & Beauty Page.