Summer is here and soon enough you’ll be spending more time outside wearing a swimsuit, tank top, or shorts. You may be looking for some hair removal solutions to keep your skin stay silky smooth all summer long. While waxing and shaving are the more common solutions, they can be difficult and time-consuming to maintain. Over-the-counter hair removal products can offer some assistance, but the harsh chemicals they contain might irritate your skin and leave you with a rash. So what options are left? For all your silky smooth summer skin goals, we recommend laser hair removal!
What is laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is a safe, effective, and non-invasive procedure that uses expertly focused beams of light to penetrate your body’s hair follicles. Your hair heats up down to the root and is damaged just enough so that it won’t easily begin to grow new hair. Providing you with a lasting solution to unwanted hair.
Lasers can safely remove hair from almost any part of the body. The most popular areas to have laser hair removal include legs, armpits, face, bikini line, neck, upper arms, shoulders, and back. However, virtually all areas that grow hair can be treated. At our practice, we can safely treat people of all skin types and hair colors.
Before treatment
There is no one size fits all treatment when it comes to laser hair removal, but thankfully there are several types of lasers and devices made to handle any number of desires that our patients may have. Prior to your procedure, we will evaluate your skin and hair type to determine which laser will best suit your needs. We will discuss the risks and benefits associated with laser treatments as well as your expectations so that you can best prepare for treatment.
Patients should avoid waxing, bleaching, plucking, or using hair removal creams at least four months before their scheduled appointment. However, it is okay to shave or trim the day before treatment as this will help the hair root and follicle be targeted more effectively.
Stay away from tanning beds, self-tanners, and natural tanning before treatment as this may affect your success with treatment.
How does it work?
As mentioned above, the laser we select will emit a specialized, pulsed light that will be absorbed by the pigment in your hair and then transmitted down the hair shaft of the root. The hair follicle will be damaged by the heat of the laser and future growth prohibited.
The duration of your session will be largely dependent upon which area of the body we are treating. Small areas such as the upper lip may only take about 5 minutes, while other areas that are larger such as the legs may take up to an hour.
Results
The results of your treatment will vary depending on your specific response to the laser and the area being treated. Most patients experience long-lasting results with little to no additional hair growth. Some patients do have minimal hair regrowth that is significantly less, finer, and lighter than what was experienced before treatment.
It is important to note that laser hair removal is often performed through a series of sessions in order to target hair at different stages of the growth cycle. The number of sessions you will need will be dependent upon the area being treated, but most patients need somewhere between six to eight treatments before they experience their desired results.
If you do experience any regrowth, we can address those with touch-up sessions.
Don’t spend your summer feeling self-conscious about unwanted hair when you could be soaking up the sun looking your best. Contact Dr. K’s Med Spa today for more information or to schedule an appointment!