PCOS is a condition that affects women’s hormones. It’s estimated that 1 in 10 women of childbearing age has PCOS, many of whom go undiagnosed. PCOS is a pretty complex syndrome because it affects women differently, and the cause can be variable. But the medical community can agree that PCOS causes:

• Cysts on the ovaries
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Elevated male hormone levels

These things can cause:

• Infertility
• Male pattern hair growth on the face and body
• Acne
• Weight gain
• Male pattern baldness (talk about cruel – hair loss where you want hair and hair growth where you don’t!)

An area of PCOS that we can help with, and that we see a lot of, is hair growth on the face and body. We have countless female clients that talk to us about how their hair growth makes them feel less than feminine and causes them to be self-conscious. 

But is laser hair removal actually effective for women with PCOS? 

In short, yes! Laser hair removal is an effective method of hair removal for women with PCOS, but it comes with some nuances. 

Base Treatments

At New Image, we offer laser hair removal packages what include 5 treatments. These treatments are given every 6 weeks to align with hair growth cycles. For many women with PCOS, laser hair reduction will require more than the standard 5 treatments.

Booster Treatments and Maintenance

It’s important to understand that laser hair removal doesn’t eliminate all hair in the treated area for our PCOS clients or clients with typical hormone levels. It will kill 85-95% of the active hair follicles, but your body will produce more over time. It’s frustrating, to say the least, but it’s how we are made! Many clients find that the hair that does grow after they receive their first 5 treatments is considerably lighter, finer, and grows more slowly.

In our 13+ years we’ve seen some PCOS clients get great results after 5 or 6 treatments, but others will need ongoing treatments every 3 to 4 months to keep the hair growth repressed. Because of this, we see many of our clients for booster or maintenance treatments after a period of time. Each person is different, so while some of our PCOS clients can get a booster treatment once or twice each year, some clients require a booster treatment every 3 or 4 months. 

If you think you might have PCOS, chat with your gynecologist or see an endocrinologist. We can help you manage some of your PCOS symptoms, but a specialist will better assist you with a diagnosis and treatment.

Send us a note or give us a call at (740) 774-7444 to schedule your consultation to discuss hair removal and find the right treatment plan for you!