Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is most effective on dark hair, but anyone with unwanted hair may benefit from it. With advances in technology, virtually all skin tones can now be treated safely and effectively. Younger patients should be past the changes of puberty before starting laser hair removal treatments since hormonal changes can impact results. Patients who are pregnant should also delay treatment as hormonal changes due to pregnancy may limit results.

Avoid direct sun exposure for at least a month prior to your appointment to reduce the risk of skin discoloration. Do not wax, tweeze or pluck the treatment area for at least 6 weeks prior to your treatment to insure optimal results.

To protect your skin, allow at least 2 weeks after chemical peels before laser hair removal treatment to the face, and stop applying medications or irritating agents to the treatment area 1-2 days before your visit. If receiving injectables the same day as laser hair removal on the face, the laser hair removal treatment will need to be done first.

It is important that you shave the area to be treated the day before your appointment. The treatment area should be clean, without lotion, make-up, deodorant, perfume, or sunscreen before the laser procedure begins.

To prevent discoloration of the skin, avoid sun and apply sunscreen to the treated area for the duration of your treatment course and avoid direct and indirect heat to the treated area for a couple of days after your procedure.

Do not irritate the treated area chemically or mechanically for 3 days after treatment, and do not tweeze, pluck or wax the area.

To get through your series efficiently, be sure to schedule your next session before leaving your appointment and set a reminder for yourself to shave the day prior to your next visit.

You’ll likely see improvement after your first visit but a full series will be needed for optimal results.

The number of treatments needed will vary by individual depending on skin tone, color, location and coarseness of hair. As a general rule of thumb, most patients need 6 to 8 treatments for optimal results. Treatments are typically spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart, so a full series will take several months to complete – but it’ll be worth it!

Laser hair removal puts hair follicles in a state of dormancy for a long period of time, keeping new hairs from appearing. When hairs do grow back, they are lighter, finer and fewer in number. After your full initial series of sessions, maintenance sessions are only needed on occasion.

While more noticeable on sensitive parts of the body such as the bikini area, patients usually describe the sensation in terms of discomfort but not painful. In our experience, most patients find the procedure relatively easy to tolerate.

Most patients see some measure of results after their first couple of sessions but 6 – 8 treatments over time are necessary for optimal results. This is because hair grows in “stages” and a given treatment will only address hair that’s in its “active stage” at that time.

When laser hair removal was first gaining popularity, it was targeted towards lighter-skinned patients. However, with advances in technology, virtually all skin tones can now be treated safely and effectively. Our Cynosure Elite IQ is particularly beneficial for patients with darker-toned skin. Its accompanying FDA-cleared Skintel® Melanin Reader means our practitioners have a best-in-class tool to optimize each session based on factors such as skin type, lifestyle and ethnicity.

Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, you may not get the full benefit of treatment. Therefore, we recommend patients hold off on laser hair removal while pregnant.