Stop shaving and waxing altogether with laser hair removal treatments! Laser targets the hair follicles to heat them up to prevent future hair growth.
Treatment feels similar to snapping a rubber band. To ensure the most successful treatment experience, you should arrive for your appointment with the area being treated shaven and free from lotion or makeup.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a non-invasive way of permanently eliminating unwanted hair from various parts of the body, including face, legs, underarms, bikini line, chest arms back etc. Laser energy targets pigment in hair follicles to convert into heat energy and destroy them thereby stopping future growth of unwanted hair follicles and subsequent unwanted hair growth. Laser hair removal provides a safe, effective, and non-invasive method to permanently reduce unwanted body hair including legs underarms bikini line chest arms back etc.
A dermatologist will assess your skin to determine if laser hair removal is right for you. Fitzpatrick skin phototypes I and II tend to make ideal candidates; those with dark skin may require additional consideration since nonpigmented hair cannot be targeted effectively with laser light; those with blond, gray or white hair do not make good candidates because the laser cannot target its light emitting diodes effectively.
Before your procedure begins, protective eyewear will be provided and applied by a dermatologist as a numbing gel may also be applied by them to the treatment area. You’ll also be asked to shave two to three days prior to your appointment in the area that will be treated; you should avoid using tanning creams as well as plucking and waxing for four weeks prior to receiving this procedure.
As the laser treats hair follicles in your treatment area, you may feel stings as it targets them with light pulses. While this is generally considered harmless and comfortable for many individuals, others may find the experience uncomfortable. You might also detect a sulfurous scent as the laser heat vaporizes away at them follicles; treatments typically last anywhere between minutes to an hour depending on the size of your treatment area and once done can return home afterwards.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
Laser hair removal uses a safe laser beam to safely eliminate unwanted facial and body hair, reduce razor burn, and leave skin smooth. In contrast to traditional methods like waxing, threading, or creams which may result in razor burn, ingrown hairs or the “shadow effect,” Westlake Dermatology employs laser technology that targets pigment of hair follicles to convert them to heat energy, thus destroying them permanently – this causes hair fall out without it growing back! We offer Cynosure Elite Nd:YAG and Alexandrite lasers so we can treat all skin types for permanent hair reduction on any area of body surface imaginable!
As part of your preparation for laser hair removal, it is advised to refrain from waxing, plucking and electrolysis for six weeks prior to receiving treatment. You should also limit sun exposure since laser light may damage pigment in the skin causing complications. Shaving should take place prior to attending your appointment since laser works only on pigment-rich roots of hair follicles.
Your laser hair removal session begins by covering the treatment area in protective gel to shield its surface and keep you comfortable during treatment. A technician then passes a laser over each area that needs treating; with its cooling system adjusting its beam to meet your desired comfort level – some people say that feeling like rubber band snapping against their skin; while for others only minor discomfort.
After your laser hair removal treatment, you should immediately notice a difference in the thickness and density of unwanted hair. Three to eight treatments should provide significant reduction of unwanted follicles; touch-up sessions may be necessary annually in order to maintain results of treatment.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Last?
Opposed to electrolysis treatments that take years for results to show up, laser hair removal treatments can deliver fast and long-term hair-free skin in only minutes! By permanently disabling hair follicles and stopping future growth of new ones, laser hair removal ensures you will enjoy smooth and hair-free skin for years.
Your treatment area may experience temporary redness and swelling; this usually fades within days with moisturizers or cold compresses applied topically to help. Some individuals may also experience temporary hair loss in the treated area; this effect usually subsides quickly.
Most people require six to eight laser hair removal sessions spaced approximately six to eight weeks apart in order to effectively eliminate all hairs in their treatment area. You should notice that within two weeks of each treatment session, your treatment area’s hairs begin to fall out – only now they will return in finer and lighter forms than ever.
Before scheduling a laser hair removal appointment, ensure the areas you want treated are free from lotions or creams, shave the area less than 24 hours beforehand, and avoid sun exposure and tanning beds.
At best, laser hair removal should be administered by a medical professional like a dermatologist. When selecting a practitioner, beware as some equipment isn’t FDA approved for cosmetic use and could lead to permanent damage. Select one who is certified or registered, as well as has extensive knowledge of the technology used for your specific treatment and ideally ask for before/after images so you can assess how consistent their results are.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?
Laser hair removal could be your ideal solution if you want to cut back on shaving time or prevent ingrown hairs in warm weather. Using pulses of light to destroy hair follicles permanently and cost more than shaving or waxing alone.
One laser hair removal session may cost anywhere between $199 to $599 depending on where and who performs it, yet that price may add up over time as savings mount up.
When receiving treatment from a qualified practitioner such as a dermatologist, you can have peace of mind that the procedure will be safe. But be wary of practitioners who only complete short training courses as this could put your health at risk.
Laser hair removal is generally safe for most people, though it may cause temporary discomfort and side effects like redness and swelling. If this concerns you, use a topical numbing cream or request additional cooling from the applicator before and during treatment to help alleviate pain and side effects.
At Viva, we offer the Triton laser applicator with its cooling sapphire tip to ensure skin stays cool during and before each treatment session. In addition, numbing gel can be provided upon request.
Laser hair removal isn’t a quick fix, so to achieve optimal results you must schedule regular sessions to meet with a laser hair specialist. Your treatment sessions depend on both your hair growth cycle and area you are treating – typically four-six treatments are needed every four weeks for facial treatments and six-8 treatments every eight weeks when treating body areas.
Where Can I Get Laser Hair Removal in Austin?
Are You Tired of Shaving, Waxing and Tweezing in Austin? Laser hair removal offers an effective alternative. This quick, affordable, and lasting solution gets right to the root of unwanted hair by sending pulses of laser energy directly into targeted areas to heat up and destroy hair follicles that cannot grow new hairs again.
At Viva Day Spa + Med Spa, the laser technology used is safe for all skin types and virtually every part of the body. However, it is essential that patients fully understand what can and cannot be treated. Furthermore, any medications which increase photosensitivity must also be disclosed prior to starting laser treatments.
As part of your treatment, your provider will use a handheld device emitting short blasts of laser energy to heat up and destroy melanin in hair follicles, effectively stopping future hair growth. Although discomfort will likely occur during your session, it should be less intense than typical waxing procedures and will generally subside within hours after completion of treatment.
Meridian Plastic Surgery’s Candela GentleMax Pro laser boasts built-in comfort features to make laser treatments even more pleasurable and reduce discomfort during each laser pulse. Our Dynamic Cooling Device applies a cooling mist directly onto the surface of your skin prior to each laser pulse, helping reduce discomfort. This feature is especially helpful when treating sensitive areas such as legs, bikini lines, or underarms.
