As summer progressed, you might have gotten sick of picking up a razor and shaving your legs, underarms or other areas of the body every few days. All that shaving can be tiring, especially when you’re spending the day at the beach, take a look at your legs and realize that you’ve missed a large area during your last shave.
If you’re tired of shaving, laser hair removal offers a much more permanent solution, often with just a single treatment. You won’t need to take time out of from your busy life to undergo laser hair removal, as there’s almost no recovery time. The treatment works on many areas of the body, with the exception of the eyebrows (because they are very close to the eyes).
Laser hair removal isn’t for everyone, and there are some precautions you can take to avoid serious side effects or injury. It’s not recommended for pregnant women, people with diabetes or people with skin issues, such as keloids, skin cancer, or an active infection. The treatment often works best on darker hair, but it can be effective on lighter hair, as well.
Pick the Right Technician
One of the most important things to do when deciding on laser hair removal is to choose a qualified technician. The technician should work under the supervision of a doctor or plastic surgeon in a medical spa setting. Be cautious of so-called laser hair removal parties, which involve having a technician come to someone’s home and perform the treatment on several people at the same time. While home laser hair removal might seem comfortable, it’s performed far away from the supervision of a doctor and in a setting that might not be sanitary or safe.
When finding a person to perform the treatment, look at his or her credentials. Often, technicians who perform laser hair removal are registered nurses and have received certification and training in using the laser system. You can also ask the person how often they’ve performed laser hair removal before and how often they’ve done the procedure on the area you want to be treated. Also, ask if the surgeon will be on the premises at the time of your treatment. If not, ask if he or she will be within easy reach.
Grooming the Hair Beforehand
You might be wondering what to do with the hair before you go in for a laser hair treatment. Your grooming options depend on how you usually take care of unwanted hair. Laser hair removal targets and destroys hair follicles. That means you need to have follicles present for the treatment to work. Since hair removal options such as waxing and plucking damage the follicle, it’s best not to have them performed in the weeks leading up to the laser treatment. Typically, it’s recommended that you not wax, pluck or have electrolysis performed four weeks before laser hair removal.
Shaving before treatment is often recommended, though, since it will reduce the amount of hair in the area and leave the follicle intact. You may want to shave the night before or the morning of your treatment for best results. If you don’t shave, the technician will often do it for you, so that she can better focus the laser on the existing follicles.
Test a Small Area
Just as box hair dye recommends testing the product on a small area first, you also want to ask the technician to test the laser on a small, inconspicuous area before treating a larger area. The test treatment will give you an idea of what the laser feels like and to see how your skin and hair will react. If the laser is too uncomfortable, you can decide not to proceed.
Avoid the Sun
Sun exposure immediately after your laser treatment can put you at a greater risk for side effects, most notably changes to the pigment of your skin. You’ll also want to avoid sun exposure before the treatment, as having tanned skin increases the risk for pigmentation changes. Keep the treated area covered while it heals and limit your time in the sun. Wear sunscreen when outdoors, especially on the healed, treated area.
Dr. Andrew Campbell and the staff at Quintessa Medical Spa can help you decide if laser hair removal is the right choice for you, as well as how many treatments you may need to get the results you want. If you’re sick of waxing or shaving, find out more about long-lasting hair removal options today.
Quintessa Medical Spa has two locations for your convenience. Call (262) 242-QSPA for a personal consultation in Mequon, at 10604 N. Port Washington Road. Call (920) 458-QSPA for an appointment in Sheboygan, at 2124 Kohler Memorial Drive.