Laser hair removal can provide an effective alternative to shaving, which often leads to painful shaving sessions that leave ingrown hairs behind. Sessions typically last no more than 30 minutes each and results in smooth skin with minimal ingrown hairs.
Before any treatment begins, it is recommended to refrain from waxing and plucking, which are temporary removal methods of hair follicles on your skin surface.
Treatment Time
Laser hair removal is a noninvasive solution to permanently reduce unwanted hair growth in men and women alike. Unlike shaving or waxing, which only remove surface-level hairs, lasers target and destroy the entire follicle to stop its regrowth – creating quick, painless treatment when performed by board-certified dermatologists like Dr. Michele Green at Spring Street Dermatology in NYC.
Laser hair removal treatments are safe for nearly all skin and hair types, including patients with darker complexions or colors such as black. Unfortunately, blonde and red hues do not absorb light efficiently and therefore tend to be ineffective treatments. Prior to any laser hair removal sessions it is advised that waxing, tweezing and plucking be avoided as these temporarily remove hairs from their roots; four to six weeks is ideal before shaving on the day of an appointment as shaved hair is easier for lasers to identify and treat effectively.
Before beginning their treatment, dermatologists will apply topical numbing cream or gel in order to lessen any discomfort from laser light pulses. Ice packs may also be offered to soothe any treated areas. Some patients report experiencing slight sensations during laser procedures – although this usually lasts only briefly and varies in intensity.
Once your procedure has been completed, it’s likely you’ll experience redness and swelling in the treatment area. To minimize redness and swelling afterward, keep it out of direct sunlight for two days while avoiding exfoliation with scrubs or chemical skincare products; you may gently exfoliate after three days but only when any irritation has subsided.
To achieve permanent hair reduction, it’s generally advised that multiple laser hair removal sessions should be spaced out 4-6 weeks apart in order to target individual follicles at various points in their growth cycle. Dr. Green of Manhattan’s Upper East Side’s private dermatology practice will work closely with you in creating an individualized timeline to best meet your needs and goals.
Preparation Time
Laser hair removal can be an ideal solution for anyone tired of shaving, waxing, or tweezing to eliminate unwanted hair. Safe for all skin types and effective at permanently eliminating even stubborn follicles, it requires proper preparation before your initial session; failure to do so could cause discomfort or compromise its results.
Before attending your appointment, it is recommended to forgo using lotion, sunscreen and other skincare products on the area to be treated – including lotion, sunscreen, hot tubs or saunas, excessive heat exposure such as hot tubs or saunas, sun exposure without appropriate protection and daily application of an SPF 30 sunscreen on it.
To maximize the results of laser hair removal treatments, it’s essential to follow all instructions provided by your cosmetic provider. This includes not shaving for four weeks prior to an appointment and refraining from plucking or waxing the area – since laser treatments target hair follicle roots directly, these activities could damage them and prevent effective treatment from taking place.
Before your laser hair removal appointment, exfoliate gently on the night prior to help eliminate dead skin cells that make targeting and extracting hair follicles easier with laser. However, don’t over exfoliate as that may irritate skin further.
As part of your laser hair removal session, goggles must be worn to shield your eyes from the laser beam. Cosmetic providers may apply topical anesthetic before beginning, after which an aesthetician shaves and uses laser light to destroy hair follicles – an entire treatment can last from just minutes up to hours depending on its size.
Most individuals need two to six laser hair removal treatments in order to experience 70-90% removal of unwanted hair from their faces, bikinis area, armpits and legs. Treatment times will depend on which body part needs treating as different areas have different rates of hair growth.
Session Time
Laser hair removal ranked among the top five nonsurgical procedures performed in the US in 2016, and for good reason: it is safe, quick and relatively painless. Unlike traditional methods of removing unwanted body hair, laser technology prevents its regrowth by targeting its color and heat of skin tone – an especially effective solution on facial/neck hair as well as legs/arms hair growth.
Laser treatments offer low risk of side effects, making them an excellent option for people suffering from skin and blood vessel conditions. If you have had skin cancer, diabetes or heart disease before undergoing laser treatment. Furthermore, it should not be performed on individuals suffering from genital herpes or viral infections such as the common cold.
At each laser hair removal session, a dermatologist will press a handheld device against your skin in order to target each individual hair follicle and emit pulses of light that feel similar to rubber bands snapping against it. Although most patients find the procedure non-painful, those with sensitive skin may require topical anesthetic for added comfort.
Prior to your laser hair removal appointment, it is crucial that you refrain from plucking and waxing in the area being treated. Both methods temporarily remove roots of hair which makes laser treatments less effective. In addition, sun exposure could have an adverse impact on its results – sunburn can also negatively alter results of laser treatments for hair removal.
After your laser hair removal treatment, it is recommended to apply high-SPF sunscreen over any affected areas of your body. Since your skin may be more vulnerable after treatment, it would be prudent to select at least 30 SPF or higher sunscreens as an extra safeguard against sun damage. For any further inquiries about your treatment contact Dr. Michele Green’s office directly.
If you are considering laser hair removal, contact Spring Street Dermatology offices on Manhattan’s Upper East Side or Tribeca for your initial consultation and all relevant details regarding its benefits and procedure. We can also help establish a schedule for laser treatment sessions while making sure your skin is adequately prepared before each treatment session.
Recovery Time
Laser hair removal works by using heat from a laser to destroy or weaken the hair follicles that produce unwanted body hair, slowing and eventually stopping growth altogether. One treatment often produces significant results. While laser hair removal results are generally permanent, hair may re-grow due to hormonal changes or other factors.
Before beginning laser hair removal, you will meet with your physician to review your medical history and discuss whether laser treatment is the appropriate course of action for you. Your physician may also ask about medications you are currently taking that could alter the way in which the laser affects your skin.
Your doctor will first prepare you for laser hair removal by instructing you not to wax or pluck hair in the area being treated, which would temporarily remove follicles and roots that help the laser treatment work effectively, increasing its risks of side effects and making you less effective overall. Shaving is recommended prior to treatment in order to help pinpoint hair follicles for treatment; additionally, stay out of direct sunlight and use sunscreen on any treated areas.
As part of the laser hair removal process, you may experience mild discomfort that has been described as feeling like rubber bands snapping against your skin. Each person experiences this discomfort differently and your doctor can prescribe topical anesthetic if needed to alleviate pain. Furthermore, they may suggest applying a cool compress to the treatment area after each laser session for added comfort.
After your session, it is normal for the area to become red and swollen as a response to laser treatments, which may cause some inflammation and irritation. These effects usually subside within several hours; some individuals may even experience slight discoloration similar to a mild sunburn.
Laser hair removal treatments will gradually show their effects over the coming weeks. After approximately six to nine sessions, you should likely no longer need to shave or pluck unwanted body hair altogether. However, regular visits with your dermatologist are necessary so that the laser can effectively target hairs before they form full-grown follicles.
