Laser hair removal has been around for a long time; so long that you may have forgotten it is a great way to get the smooth skin you want. There are several benefits to having laser hair removal. What most people think of is the fact that they won’t have to shave anymore. This may be the primary reason to get this treatment, but there’s more. When you don’t have to shave or pluck or wax, you save money. Without shaving, there is no razor burn and no more ingrown hairs. This is why laser hair removal is great for men and women and for all parts of the face and body.
Knowing that laser hair removal is beneficial is one thing. For you to be ready to make that call to schedule your treatment, you probably want to know what to expect from this process. Here, we discuss every step of the way toward silky-smooth skin.
Before Laser Hair Removal
Once you’ve decided to have laser hair removal, it is wise to start avoiding too much sun exposure. With summer behind us, that might not be difficult at all. The reason to stay out of the sun before laser hair removal is that we need contrast between the color of your hair and the tone of your skin. Tanned skin is also more sensitive and may incur more irritation from laser treatment. So, before your treatment and in between sessions, no tanning.
Another thing to do before laser hair removal is shave. This may sound counterproductive. Waxing would be, as would plucking or threading, but shaving is a different method of hair removal and one that you’ll appreciate as you go through your hair removal process. Shaving does not remove hair from the follicles. What it does is shorten the length of each hair that will absorb laser energy as heat. The shorter length means less heat build-up and, therefore, greater comfort during each session.
The Laser Hair Removal Procedure
Each laser hair removal session is conducted the same. Before beginning, you will put on a pair of special goggles. This protects your eyes from the intense laser beam. Your provider will use a small handheld applicator to perform treatment. The applicator will briefly touch one area of the skin then be picked up and moved to the adjacent area, like a stamping motion. A small area can take less than 20 minutes. Areas like the legs or the back can take about an hour.
After Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal delivers energy into multiple hair follicles at one time. After treatment, the follicles are warm from the thermal effects of the laser. This can make the skin look red and puffy. You may feel like you have a mild to moderate sunburn, but shouldn’t be in pain. If your skin is sensitive or stinging, you may apply a cold compress for a few minutes. This can be repeated as needed. By the following day, your skin should be nearly back to normal, minus the hair that was once a problem.
We can help you enjoy your smoothest, softest skin. To schedule laser hair removal at our office near Las Vegas, call (702) 684-5502.