How Laser Hair Removal Treatments are Performed
If this is your first time considering laser hair removal, you may be nervous about the possible treatment. However, there is nothing to worry about since laser hair removal is an advanced treatment that can be achieved with minimal discomfort. Overall, here is what to expect from your complete laser hair removal treatment.
First of all, laser hair removal requires a consultation. The reason for this is that every skin type is different, and there are a number of contraindications surrounding laser hair removal. This means that specific medical conditions, hair colors, and restrictions apply to a normal laser hair removal treatment. All skin types can be treated with laser hair removal, but the truth is that darker skin types pose more risk for laser hair removal and may see lesser results. It is very important to take your laser hair removal consultation seriously since the representative you speak with will be able to tell you what type of results you can get from your laser hair removal treatment. On top of that, different areas of the body react in numerous ways to laser hair removal treatment. An area like the legs may see immediate results in laser hair removal, while more hormonal areas in women, like the upper lip and chin, may take more treatment than expected. When you undergo your consultation, make sure to ask your laser hair removal specialist any questions you have about the specific area on your body that you want to treat.
One other thing to take into consideration when it comes to laser hair removal is timing. If you are treating one area of your body but want to treat other sites in the future, it may be better to start treating them all at once since treatments need to be spaced out. It can be highly inconvenient to have to come for treatment every few weeks, but if you treat numerous sites at one time, you can complete your full treatment more efficiently. An example of this would be treating the legs, bikini, and upper lip all at one time instead of coming at different times for treatment. If you have numerous areas you would like to treat through laser hair removal, keep in mind that no more than 50% of the body can be treated at one time. The reason for this is that there is always a risk of reaction in laser hair removal, even if you have already had several treatments. If you treat more than 50% of your body and have a reaction, it could pose a dangerous risk that is unmanageable.
From there, your laser hair removal treatment will begin by shaving the body sites that are being treated. If you prefer to shave yourself at home, that is perfectly fine, but you do need to leave a small patch of hair out on the area being treated. This will help the laser hair removal settings specialist to see the texture and density of the hair to determine what settings are needed for the treatment. After you have been shaved completely, your body will be marked with a red washable marker into different sections. This is important since a red marker cannot be picked up by the heat energy of the laser, and it also divides up the areas of your body to make it easier for the laser hair removal technician to keep her place in treatment. The truth is that many patients need to stop and take breaks, so if you don't have your body marked accordingly, the laser hair removal treatment may have spots or patches missing.
Within the treatment, a cold or ice gel will be applied to the surface of the skin to cool and numb as a response to the heat energy. It is a good idea to bring a jacket or sweater with you since you can become quite cold within the treatment as areas of your body are uncovered. Within the treatment, you can communicate with your laser hair removal technician to take breaks as needed, especially if you are uncomfortable. If your laser hair removal treatment is highly painful, you can ask to have the settings lowered as needed.
Overall, laser hair removal is a wonderful treatment to target and remove unwanted hair. Every person reacts differently, as well as different areas of the body. This means that one area may not be uncomfortable for you to treat, while other body sites may be more sensitive. Communicate with your laser hair removal technician during your treatment to remain comfortable at all times.
This article was written by Bethany North. Bethany is a licensed esthetician with experience in hands-on experience in chemical peels, microdermabrasion, facials, laser hair removal, makeup applications, skin analysis, waxing, spray tanning, and product ingredient assessment. She has also worked as a salon sales and training consultant, as well as a consultant for beauty and hair care product lines in branding and marketing.