Many are concerned that laser hair removal will cause excruciating pain, but most find the experience tolerable. Patients describe it as feeling similar to pinches or snapping a rubber band against their skin.
Pain levels depend on which body part is being treated. Numbing cream should always be applied prior to any session for the face, lip and bikini area; however, using such methods on legs may not always be practical or safe.
The Upper Lip
Laser hair removal is an efficient, safe, and quick solution for unwanted facial hair. While not particularly painful, you’ll likely see results within two or three sessions; though the exact level of discomfort will depend on both your personal pain tolerance and which body part you’re treating.
Thick areas of skin such as the upper lip can be more sensitive to laser treatment; however, it still tends to be much less painful than waxing or getting tattoos.
Prepping your body for treatments can help minimize any pain you feel from them. Shaving should take place 24 to 48 hours prior to an appointment so the laser can precisely target hair follicles without becoming overly sensitive to it, while plucking or waxing the area could hinder results.
Prior and post laser treatment sessions, it is also wise to avoid products containing strong chemicals like scrubs or retinol creams that may exacerbate skin inflammation; fake tanning applications should wait at least seven days; additionally any medications or supplements taken could affect how the laser treatments affects your skin.
The Bikini Line
Women experiencing bikini area hair growth problems know it can cause them a great deal of discomfort when trying to remove it with waxing or shaving; as this area contains many nerve endings and delicate skin.
Laser hair removal in this area is significantly less painful than other methods and more effective, as it destroys actively growing follicles to stop new hair from growing back for months at a time. Furthermore, it helps eliminate ingrown hairs, bumps and razor burns altogether.
For an optimal experience, it is highly recommended to have a trained professional apply numbing cream before beginning treatment; however, depending on your tolerance level and body part being treated this may not always be necessary.
Bikini lines can be treated for permanent hair reduction with six sessions conducted by professionals, who will target hair follicles to destroy them permanently and reduce hair production over time. This option is perfect for those wanting all pubic area hair to be gone permanently; known as Brazilian treatments this includes bikini front, extended bikini line or full Brazilian procedures.
The Underarms
Pain tolerance varies between people. Some who have undergone laser hair removal might swear it doesn’t hurt much; others might say they would rather give birth than endure that minor pinch they felt on their leg.
Underarm laser hair removal is generally not painful; depending on the thickness and amount of hair to be removed, you may require a numbing cream for maximum comfort during treatment.
Once the hair follicles have been destroyed, they won’t regrow, meaning you won’t experience razor burn or ingrown hairs again. When considering all of the pain associated with shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams – you will appreciate a more permanent, hassle-free solution such as PRP treatment.
Notably, chest and stomach areas tend to have thicker skin than legs, making them less sensitive when it comes to laser hair removal. Still, multiple sessions will likely be required in these areas in order to eradicate excess hair, potentially making this procedure unpleasant.
The Armpits
Armpit, or axilla, glands can be an unpleasant source of both odor and wetness – as well as home to lymph nodes that can become infected or become tender due to autoimmune disorders like cancer that misidentify healthy cells as harmful ones.
Due to thin skin in this area, laser hair removal can cause greater discomfort than in other places on the body. Most patients describe the feeling as tiny pinches similar to snapping a rubber band against their skin. Numbing cream should be applied beforehand to minimize any discomfort during laser hair removal treatments.
Numbing cream should never be applied directly to your chest or back as this could be dangerous. When receiving laser hair removal sessions, pain levels typically range between 2 and 4, depending on the density of hair in that area.
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The Legs
If the thought of shaving your legs with razors that can leave behind razor blades that leave behind razor bumps or waxing is not what excites you, laser hair removal might be your perfect solution for smooth skin that lasts much longer than traditional methods of removal. Laser treatments offer smooth silky skin that remains silky compared to traditional methods.
While everyone’s pain threshold varies, many find laser hair removal to be both mild and manageable, as well as quick. Sessions typically last about an hour each and results are permanent.
Legs are one of the more comfortable body areas for laser hair removal treatments, and many women find them particularly easy to manage due to thicker skin in this region. Treating legs often proves less painful than treating more sensitive areas like armpits or bikini lines.
Patients with darker skin often report feeling an increase in pain when being treated, though this could simply be down to personal preference. Some providers will apply numbing cream prior to treating darker skin areas; this step is completely optional and entirely dependent upon your level of pain tolerance. Some lasers are more effective at treating darker skin so make sure you discuss with your provider which method would best meet your needs.
The Stomach
If you have excess hair growing on your stomach, laser hair removal could save you from having to shave or wax it regularly. Unfortunately, however, it’s not pain-free; Dr. Nicholas rates laser hair removal at pain level 4, and many patients describe its sensation as being similar to snapping a rubber band against their skin.
No one’s pain tolerance is exactly the same; most will see these minor pinches as part of a tradeoff for being rid of unwanted hair growth on their face, legs or bikini area. While you might hear some friends compare it to childbirth, remember that numbing cream will reduce sensations for most.
Other tips to reduce the discomfort of laser hair removal may include shaving close to your skin before your appointment, forgoing sunless tanning products, drinking plenty of water and applying ice to the area within 24 hours afterward. At Spa 361 we strive to make your experience as painless and comfortable as possible and can offer numbing cream before each visit if required.
The Back
Laser hair removal on the back can be particularly distressing due to all of its individual hair follicles needing to be targeted individually, leading to longer treatment sessions than is ideal and potentially increasing frustration levels during sessions. But it doesn’t hurt as badly as other areas such as legs or armpits due to thicker skin or personal pain tolerance levels; though that could still be factor.
As with the face, back hair removal typically requires multiple sessions before being fully eradicated. Luckily, as more sessions go by it will become less painful to have your back zapped!
Before having your back laser-zapped, make sure that your skin is clean and dry – this means avoiding sunless skin creams that could darken it further and affect how easy it will be for the laser to target hair follicles.
Laser hair removal can be an ideal way to eliminate unwanted hair quickly and painlessly, compared to methods such as shaving, waxing and depilatory creams which may take more time and leave you with itchy and uncomfortable skin.
