What to Expect During Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment

Laser hair removal often takes two to six treatments to be successful in permanently eliminating body or facial hair. How many weeks you go between treatments depends on the area of the body being treated, the rate of hair growth, and hair density. Each laser hair removal treatment will be the same. Here is what you should expect on the day of your treatment.

Preparation

You will be given special goggles to protect your eyes from the laser beam. The site may also need to be shaved before treatment. The doctor or nurse may also apply a local anesthetic to the area to decrease pain and discomfort during the procedure.

The Treatment

Laser hair removal is performed by applying a laser to the hair follicle to kill it so that it no longer produces hair. The doctor will use a hand-held laser wand pressed to your skin and gradually moved until the entire target area has been treated. For small areas like the upper lip, treatment may take only a few minutes. It could take up to an hour for larger areas like the back. Unless they are small areas, you should only plan on getting one area treated per visit.

After Treatment

There may be some redness or swelling immediately after laser hair removal that could last for a few hours. This is nothing to be concerned about, and it should resolve itself quickly. You can apply ice to the area if you are in pain or severe discomfort. If you have a skin reaction just after the treatment, the doctor may apply and give you a steroid cream to reduce inflammation. If you have a skin reaction after you get home, you should contact your doctor for assistance.

If you are interested in trying laser hair removal for yourself, contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.