You are not alone in your dislike of shaving, tweezing, waxing, or plucking your body or facial hair; in fact, your dislike is probably justified. Fortunately, almost everyone can benefit from laser hair removal.
In addition, winter is the best time of year to get laser hair removal, even if you aren’t planning on donning a bikini or showing off your legs now that the temperature has dropped. The dark winter months are the best time to get rid of your unwanted hair because you need to stay out of the sun after your laser hair removal treatment. When the temperature starts to rise, your skin will be smooth and free of hair.
Thinking about it? We, at Danvers Family Doctors, P.C. can answer all of your burning concerns about hair removal.
How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal targets dark hair pigments with light pulses that then penetrate the skin to destroy the hair follicle and prevent the growth of new hair. Laser hair removal works by only attacking the hair follicle and not the surrounding skin, which is one of its advantages. Multiple hairs are attacked simultaneously by each light pulse.
Where can I get laser hair removal on my body?
Most areas of your body or face can have hair removed with lasers, including your legs, armpits, chest, back, upper lip, chin, and bikini line.
Is the laser painful?
The majority of treatments are painless and only last a few minutes. Some people experience mild sensitivity or tenderness along with redness at the treatment site afterward. However, this slight discomfort passes quickly. You can go back to your normal activities right away because there is no downtime.
What can I do to get ready for my treatment?
Before your treatment, you should avoid plucking or waxing your hair and spending time in the sun and tanning beds for six weeks. The root, which the laser targets, is removed when the hair is plucked or waxed. In between treatments, you should also refrain from these same activities.
How many sessions of the laser will I need?
You will need several sessions to ensure that the laser zaps all of the unwanted hair you want removed because your hair grows in cycles rather than all at once. You may require three to seven sessions, with occasional maintenance sessions, depending on the treated area.
Is laser hair removal dangerous?
There are not many dangers other than minor incidental effects like redness, delicacy, and rankles. The laser may occasionally lighten or darken the skin around it, but most of the time, this happens when patients wait between treatments to expose themselves to direct sunlight.
What outcomes can I anticipate?
For several months, you can anticipate a gradual thinning of your hair, less stubble, and smoother skin. At Danvers Family Doctors, we use the IconTM laser, which is an advanced laser technology that works on most skin tones and hair colors. Laser hair removal is best for people with light skin and dark hair.
Call our Danvers, Massachusetts, office or schedule an appointment online if you have any questions about laser hair removal that we haven’t covered here.