Laser hair removal has been FDA-approved since the 1990s. So it’s obvious that the procedure is safe. There have also likely been several innovations since then that have made the procedure more comfortable for clients.
But what else can you expect when you get laser hair removal in St Pete or another city? And what can you do to prepare for such a session? This article will answer those questions for you.
Read on to learn how to prepare for laser hair removal.
What Is Laser Hair Removal: FAQs
Laser hair removal is a laser treatment that removes hair from the human body. A laser hair removal technician uses targeted lasers to kill follicles. This does not damage the skin.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Selective photothermolysis is the process by which laser hair removal works. During this process, hair cells will absorb heat from a laser. The heat then transfers to the hair follicles and destroys them.
For the procedure to work, hair follicles need to be in their growth stages. Different follicles can be at a variety of different stages at times. This is why most people need multiple laser treatments to fully remove all the hair in the treatment area.
Where Is Hair Removed?
People can get their hair removed via laser hair removal on any part of their body. However, the most popular areas to get hair removal are the following:
- Legs
- Back
- Chin
- Upper lip
- Underarms
- Bikini area
- Places with pubic hair
How Many Sessions for Laser Hair Removal Are Necessary?
Most patients need two to six initial hair removal treatments. These should take place once every four to six weeks. Many patients may also need maintenance appointments to treat hair that has grown back.
Above all, listen to your dermatologist’s laser hair removal advice. He or she will tell you when it’s safe to return for another appointment.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Take?
The length of time each session lasts depends on the size of the targeted area. Treating an area like your upper lip can only take a few minutes. Larger areas such as your back and legs can take an hour or more to fully treat.
As far as seeing results go, you can see some results right after your treatment. But the results vary based on a variety of factors. These include the area getting treated, the type of laser used, and the color of the patient’s hair and skin.
In general, you can expect a 10 to 25% reduction in hair after your first session. The sessions that follow should remove the rest.
Are There Laser Hair Removal Side Effects?
Yes, laser hair removal can have some side effects. However, the most common ones are minor. You can also expect them to only last for around 1 to 3 days.
Some of the most common side effects include the following conditions:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Discomfort
You may also experience some rarer side effects. However, it’s less likely that you’ll experience these when a dermatologist or someone under a dermatologist’s direct supervision treats you. Rarer side effects include these:
- Scarring
- Blistering
- Infections
- Skin lightening or darkening
- Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks
If your skin has turned lighter or darker, don’t worry. Your skin should turn back to its normal color over time. It’s only in rare cases that skin color changes permanently.
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
Laser hair removal is not permanent. It can delay hair growth but usually doesn’t permanently destroy it. But, don’t worry, the situation isn’t as hopeless as it may seem.
These hair growth delays can be substantially long. Many patients do not see their hair regrow for several months or even years. And if the hairs regrow, they’re usually lighter, finer, and less numerous.
Do Laser Hair Treatments Work For Everyone?
In the past, laser hair treatments only worked for people with light skin and dark hair. These days, people with a variety of different hair and skin tones can get fairly effective hair treatments.
Still, dermatologists need to take special precautions for patients with dark hair and skin or light hair and skin. Individuals such as these must choose highly experienced dermatologists. These doctors will know the precautions they need to take for this type of hair removal.
How Much Is Laser Hair Removal for Legs, Back, Etc.?
Most people pay an average of $200 to $1,600 in total for each laser hair treatment session. The total cost can vary for each person depending on several factors. These include the following:
- Laser Type
- Surgeon’s Fee
- Chosen body area
- Anesthesia cream
- Post care products
- Any equipment needed
- Medication prescriptions
- Size of chosen body area
- Location of your specialist
- Number of necessary treatments
Are At-Home Laser Hair Treatments Effective?
At-home laser treatments are cheaper than going to a dermatologist. However, the former treatments are less effective than the latter ones. To start with, they’re smaller and that makes it difficult to cover a lot of territory.
In addition, at-home treatments can put certain people at risk. For example, dark-skinned individuals are at risk of getting burns.
How to Prepare for Laser Hair Removal
Most of the steps that you need to take before a laser hair removal appointment are simply things you need to avoid. Other things are small steps that you can do to help your appointment go by smoothly. Below you’ll find a list of these steps:
Go to Your Consultation
Before you set up a laser hair removal treatment at our med spa in St Pete FL, you should go to a consultation. During this session, your dermatologist will discuss your healthcare history and current state. They will also tell you about your options and the best course of treatment.
Be sure to answer all of the questions that your dermatologist has. They should ask you about matters such as your goals, medical conditions, previous surgeries, etc.
You can also ask your dermatologist any questions that you want. And remember that it’s normal to feel nervous about the upcoming procedure. If you want, you can discuss these feelings with your specialist.
Shave, But Don’t Wax
Most dermatologists recommend that you shave any treatment areas before your appointment. However, you should not shave your legs within 24 hours of your designated appointment time. Doing so can cause your skin irritation.
Make sure that you specifically shave your hair off with a razor. Avoid waxing, tweezing, epilating, or using chemical depilatories for two weeks before your first appointment. After this, avoid any hair treatment besides shaving in between subsequent appointments.
Any hair removal treatment that targets hair roots before a laser hair removal treatment lessens the laser’s effectiveness. The laser targets your hair’s roots. The roots must be present for the laser hair treatment to work.
Avoid Tanning and Bleaching
As mentioned, laser hair removal treatment works best for light-skinned people with dark hair. Any activities and/or treatments that can change the color of your hair or skin can make the laser less effective. So you need to take steps to avoid any activities such as these.
Stop bleaching in any treatment area around six weeks before your first appointment. This will give your hair roots the time they need to grow back to their natural colors. You should also stop using self-tanning sprays or lotions at least two weeks before your first treatment.
In addition, avoid the sun as much as you can around two weeks before your appointment. Along with avoiding a tan, avoiding getting a sunburn is also necessary. Many laser treatment technicians will refuse to work on patients with sunburned skin.
Check Your Medications
You should give your dermatologist a list of all the medications you’re taking at your consultation. This is important for your specialist to know as certain medications can interfere with your laser hair removal treatment. Some medications can make the treatment less effective and others can make your skin burn or blister.
If you forget to mention certain medications, mention these to your dermatologist before your first appointment. You should do the same if you start taking new medications.
Don’t worry, most medications shouldn’t cause your specialist to cancel your appointment. They’ll just need to adjust your treatment according to your medication. Doing so will help keep you safe.
Have Clean Skin
The skin in the area you treat must be completely clean when you come in for your appointment. You must be freshly bathed or showered and have no creams, oils, lotions, or fragrances of any kind on your skin. This will affect how well the laser removes the hair in the treatment area.
You need to avoid topical products that cause photosensitivity. Such products include those containing retinol, salicylic acid, hydroxyl acids, and benzoyl peroxide. Cease using these at least three days before each treatment.
Avoid Other Skin Treatments
It is also important to avoid getting certain skin treatments at least two weeks before any laser removal appointments. The treatments that you need to avoid include the following:
- Chemical peels
- Botox injections
- Dermal filler injections
- Microdermabrasion
Laser Hair Removal Appointment Procedures
On the day of your appointment, arrive at the time allotted to you and check-in. Your specialist should soon you and lead you into the appointment room. They will then proceed with the following steps:
Cleaning and Numbing
The dermatologist will cleanse the area before starting with the laser. In some cases, he or she will rub a numbing gel on the area that he or she will treat. This usually happens in areas that are small and sensitive.
The numbing gel takes around half an hour to an hour to work. The laser hair removal technician will then proceed with the laser.
Laser Treatment
Your doctor, you, and anyone else in the room will have to wear protective eyewear before the procedure. After doing this, the specialist will hold your skin taut and press a hand-held laser to your skin. The laser may have a cooling device on its tip.
The laser will start to burn away your hair follicles. Don’t worry if you feel some pain during the procedure as that is normal. By a lot of patients’ accounts, the pain should feel like warm pinpricks or rubber band snaps.
As the laser vaporizes your hair, small plumes of smoke will drift into the air. These will have a sulfur-like smell.
After a Laser Hair Removal Appointment
After your treatment, you’ll probably notice some bumps and redness that feel sunburn-like. Feel free to use a cold compress in this area to soothe it. However, you shouldn’t use any lotion, makeup, deodorant, or moisturizer for the first 24 hours.
Cleanse the area gently and pat it dry during the first 48 hours. You should also avoid sunlight as much as possible and use broad-spectrum SPF30 sunscreen daily.
Any dead hairs should fall out 5-30 days after your treatment. These will appear as stubbles at first, but they should eventually fall out. You can exfoliate if you want these hairs to fall out faster.
Visit Our St Pete Med Spa
As you can see, getting a laser hair removal treatment doesn’t require much from you. Just follow these steps, get your treatment, and enjoy your newly smooth skin.
Now that you know how to prepare for laser hair removal, come get a St Pete laser hair removal. This is just one of many treatments we offer at the St Pete Wellness Med Spa. Our team always has the most advanced skills, knowledge, and equipment available to professionals at the present moment.
Book an appointment with us today by clicking on the light green button on this page.
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