Everything you need to know before getting laser hair removal (2023)

FAQs

What you should know before doing laser hair removal? ›

When you're getting ready for your laser hair removal procedure, make sure you shave the night before or the morning of your treatment. The reason for this precaution is simple – you want to remove as much hair as possible so that it doesn't absorb most of the laser's energy.

As we mentioned a little earlier, if you don't shave before your appointment, the laser will singe the hair resulting in a burn to your skin. In addition, if the hair hasn't been shaved properly, treatment will not be as effective, and it may result in small temporary grazes on the top layer of your skin.

Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal Treatment

It is best not to shave immediately before your treatment as this can disturb the skin. Also be sure to avoid abrasions or cuts if at all possible. For best results, use a new razor: remember this might be the last time you need to shave!

Yes, you can shave in between each session of laser hair removal. During your course of treatment you can shave any hairs that may regrow. After your first laser hair removal session you will notice that you won't need to shave as much as before. After 2-3 sessions you may only need to shave once in a 4-6 week period.

Everyone's body is different so the best thing to do is touch the skin to determine the sensitivity before shaving. If you shave too quickly you may irritate the skin even more, so waiting at least three or four days after your treatment is usually ideal.

One of the most important things you can do to get ready for your appointment is shave the treatment area no less than 24 hours before your appointment date. Shaving before laser hair removal is important because the hair needs to be the right length for the laser to treat it effectively.

No makeup & lotion/moisturizer/deodorant for the first 24 hours. Keep the treated area clean & dry, if further redness or irritation persists, skip your makeup & moisturizer, & deodorant (for underarms) until the irritation has subsided. Dead hairs will begin to shed 5-30 days after your treatment.

To limit skin irritation after laser hair removal, you shouldn't take a hot shower or a hot bath for 48 hours. If you want to bathe or shower, keep the water at a lukewarm temperature. This is because you want to avoid excess heat on the targeted areas of your laser treatment.

What can I expect after my first laser treatment? ›

After the procedure

You might notice redness and swelling for the first few hours after laser hair removal. To reduce any discomfort, apply ice to the treated area. If you have a skin reaction immediately after laser hair removal, the doctor might apply a steroid cream to the affected area.

You should not pull out loose hairs after laser hair removal. Laser hair removal targets the hair follicle to permanently remove hair from the body. For successful results the follicle has to be present so the laser can target it. Waxing, plucking or threading removes the root of the hair follicle.

However, even though laser treatments damage hair follicles, they're not destroyed completely. Over time, the treated follicles may recover from the initial damage and grow hair again. It's a tall order to eliminate every hair follicle in a given area. Therefore, you may notice a tiny amount of hair regrowth.

"Freshly shaved is the best for treatment." If you can't resist waxing, allow hair to grow in for at least one week before a laser appointment. And although it takes several months for full laser hair removal, you can also shave in between visits.

While laser treatment doesn't get rid of hair forever (only electrolysis is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permanent hair removal), it does drastically reduce hair growth—to the point that many patients won't see any for months or even years, and the hairs that do crop up are often thinner ...

Answer: Laser Hair removal can be done at any time even during your period. Having your menstrual period at the time of your Laser Hair Removal should not be a problem. It will not cause problems, be more painful and your laser specialist is a medical care giver processional so I would not worry and go through with it.

Make sure you don't shave immediately before your laser hair removal treatment, as this increases the odds for inflammation and swelling.

To ensure your treatment is effective, the root of the hair needs to be present in the follicle without any hair sitting above the skin. This means you need to shave the area 12 hours before your appointment and avoiding waxing, epilating or use of depilatory creams at least two weeks prior.

Can laser hair removal cause cancer? It's a myth that laser hair removal can cause cancer. In fact, according to the Skin Care Foundation, the procedure is sometimes used to treat certain forms of precancerous lesions. Different lasers are used to treat sun damage and wrinkles.

What Happens If You Wait Too Long Between Laser Hair Removal Treatments? In short: nothing. And that's the problem! If you want too long between treatments, your hair follicles won't be damaged enough to stop growing hair.

How long after laser can you see results? ›

It takes two or three weeks after your first treatment to see a difference, and 8 -12 treatments to get the full result. You also have to be really regular with your appointments because your hair follicles are all at different stages of their growth, so you want to make sure each one has a chance to get zapped.

You must avoid plucking, waxing or bleaching the hair for six weeks prior to treatment. Preserving the root and the pigment of the hair is imperative for the success of the laser treatment. It is important to shave the area to be treated the day or night before your appointment.

Since the heat of the laser opens up your pores, your skin will be sensitive to these very tiny infections. They happen the same way as any acne would – dead skin cells and bacteria can't escape, so they create a puss-filled bubble as your body tries to get them out.

Yes, laser hair removal does hurt less the more sessions you have. After each session hair is becoming lighter and the amount of hair is reduced. If you leave too long in between sessions you may find treatments are a little more sensitive.

Shower. While the treatment area itself will be cleaned before treatment begins, it is a good idea to have a bath or shower before coming in - remember no lotions, oils, or fragrances on the treatment area though!

Yes, laser removal does cause discomfort, but it typically causes much less discomfort than other forms of hair removal, especially waxing. Many individuals describe laser hair removal as akin to the feeling of a rubber band snapping against your skin.

General guidelines are to wait four to six weeks between treatments on the face, and to allow eight to 10 weeks between laser hair removal on the rest of the body. Because your treatment area involves your arms and legs, three weeks between sessions is likely too short.

"Although it can be found online in blogs and various discussions, I have found no credible evidence to substantiate a correlation between laser hair removal and body odor," said Dr.

How do you prevent acne after laser hair removal? ›

Breakouts post laser hair removal can be avoided by cooling the lased area immediately, applying an antibiotic ointment for 3 days post laser, sun protection, avoiding hot showers a steam for 2-3 days. You can use vitamin c serum and skin lightening creams in between laser sessions to avoid getting post acne marks.

Most people need somewhere from 4 to 6 sessions for optimal results, and it's encouraged that you come back for maintenance treatments once a year or so. When scheduling your hair removal treatments, you'll need to space them out by several weeks, so the full treatment cycle can take a couple of months.

Can laser hair removal cause cancer? It's a myth that laser hair removal can cause cancer. In fact, according to the Skin Care Foundation, the procedure is sometimes used to treat certain forms of precancerous lesions. Different lasers are used to treat sun damage and wrinkles.

Avoid sports and strenuous exercise for two days following the treatment for laser hair removal. Walking is encouraged though. Avoid very hot baths, showers, steam baths or saunas, and don't swim in strong chlorinated water for two or three days. Don't use bleaching creams or perfume products for 24 to 48 hours.

In the six weeks leading up to your treatment, you should avoid tweezing, waxing or plucking any unwanted hairs. At least three weeks before and following treatment, you should use extra sun protection or even avoid the sun. Doing so prepares your skin for the procedure and protects it as it heals.

Do not pick/scratch/wax/thread/tweeze the area. Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. do not use any other hair removal methods or products, other than shaving, on the treated area during the course of your laser treatments, as it will prevent you from achieving the best results. Hair growth varies.