What to Expect After Laser Hair Removal?
Nobody wants to spend their time removing facial or body hair. Whether you shave, wax, or use another method, hair removal is a chore that most of us would like to escape from. Laser hair removal can free you to spend your time on anything but facial or body hair. This treatment stops hair growth at the source, keeping your skin smooth and hair-free.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a treatment that stops hair growth in a targeted area by deactivating hair follicles. Laser hair removal at Essential Med Clinic & Aesthetics uses the Cutera xeo and excel HR laser systems. These lasers use a precise wavelength that targets the pigments inside your hair roots, heating the root and damaging the follicle. They can be used almost anywhere on the face or body where you grow unwanted hair.
*Individual Results May Vary
What Happens During Laser Hair Removal?
When you arrive for your treatment, you will be escorted to a comfortable room where your Essential Med Clinic & Aesthetics provider cleans your skin to prepare it for treatment. The length of treatment can vary from as little as fifteen minutes for a small area to an hour for larger ones.
The advanced laser systems we use result in minimal discomfort, and most people find treatment easy to tolerate. These next-generation lasers more precisely target the melanin pigments that give your hair root its color. Absorbing laser energy heats the melanin, causing damage to the follicle where the hair grows. These damaged follicles will no longer produce hair.
What to Expect After Laser Hair Removal
When you leave your laser hair removal treatment, your skin may look red and feel sensitive. Many people compare the sensation to a sunburn that fades within a few hours. You can return to your daily routine immediately, including going back to work. However, skin treated with lasers is extremely sun-sensitive, so avoid exposure and wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
The treated hair roots will be shed from their follicles within the next few days, and no new ones will replace them. However, treatment can only address a percentage of hair follicles with each session, so you will continue to experience hair growth at first. You will see less and less growth with each treatment.
You can expect to return for your next appointment after four to six weeks. You will need a series of treatments to achieve your desired results. The entire process of stopping hair growth completely will take several months, but once completed, results are long-lasting. You can expect to enjoy your hair-free skin for months to years before you see a single stray hair reappear.
Where Can I Have Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is safe and effective almost anywhere on your face or body, although treatment must be adjusted to accommodate different hair types and textures. Popular areas for men and women to target with this treatment include:
- Face
- Chest
- Back
- Legs
- Arms
- Bikini line
- Underarms
If you have unwanted hair in other areas, talk to your Essential Med Clinic & Aesthetics provider. Most areas can be treated successfully by an experienced, highly-trained laser specialist. You may be able to have multiple areas treated in one visit.
Request a Consultation
Simply fill out the form on this page, and we will reach out to you promptly to schedule your appointment.
How to Prepare for Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal requires that you take a few steps to ensure treatment success. Laser hair removal only works on follicles that contain a pigmented hair root, so following these preparation tips will ensure better results.
Stop Waxing
This also applies to tweezing, threading, plucking, or epilating. Do not remove the hair root for at least four weeks before treatment. You can still shave as often as needed since this does not remove the hair roots.
Do Not Bleach
Bleaching hair removes the pigment from the hair root, making it invisible to the laser. Bleached hairs will not be treated and will continue to grow. Avoid bleaching within four weeks of treatment.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Darkening your skin with sun exposure or artificial tanners can increase your risk of side effects after treatment. You may not be able to have treatment if you have been tanning or spent too much time in the sun without protection.
Medications and Supplements
Medications such as NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc), other medications, and some supplements can affect your treatment. Your provider may recommend that you stop using some of these before each session.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Treatments Will I Need?
Are you wondering why we cannot remove all your unwanted hair with one treatment? The answer has to do with the way your hair grows. During your first session, some follicles are actively producing hair, while others are in a resting state. Resting follicles do not respond to the laser.
Most people need six to nine sessions to treat all their unwanted hair. In the four to six weeks between sessions, resting follicles will awaken and start producing hairs that can be treated. This process continues as long as needed until all follicles have been treated and hair growth stops. The number of treatments depends on your hair’s natural growth pattern as well as its color and texture.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?
Laser hair removal lets you enjoy smooth, hair-free skin for a long time. You may notice an occasional stray hair regrow, although this will look finer and less noticeable. We recommend maintenance treatments once per year to control any stray growth, but some people go five years or longer without seeing new hairs.
Am I a Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
Our advanced laser systems make laser hair removal available to almost all healthy adults. Good candidates want to stop unwanted hair growth and understand that the process requires a time commitment. You should not have laser hair removal if you have an active skin condition, infection, or broken skin in the treatment area.
Since laser hair removal works on pigment molecules, it is not as effective for treating white, gray, or very pale blond hair. Only a consultation can determine whether this treatment will help you achieve the results you want. Our lasers successfully treat almost all hair shades, although some may require more sessions.
Take the Next Step
If you have further questions about laser hair removal, please call us at (210) 568-7555 or complete our online contact form, and one of our trusted staff members will reach out to you. Essential Med Aesthetics is located in San Antonio, Texas.
