How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
At Skinatomy Laser Clinic, we offer three types of hair removal lasers, allowing us to choose the best one for your hair and skin type and tone:
- Candela Gentle YAG
- LightSheer Diode Laser
- Sciton ClearScan YAG
This range of options means we can treat more people in comfort and safety.
During laser hair removal, the laser travels through your skin without harming it. The laser wavelength targets melanin, the pigment that gives your hair its color. The high amount of pigment in the hair root causes it to absorb the laser energy and heat up. This heat damages the inside of the follicle, stopping it from growing hair. The existing hair will be shed, and no new one will take its place.
Where on My Body Can I Have Laser Hair Removal?
You can have laser hair removal almost anywhere on your face and body. The differences in hair texture, color, and thickness in different areas affect how many treatments you will need and which type of laser we choose for your treatment. Popular areas for laser hair removal include:
- Face
- Back
- Chest
- Arms
- Legs
- Bikini area
- Underarms
Laser hair removal is equally effective for men and women, with more and more men seeking a smooth, sculpted body. If you want to remove hair from an area not listed, ask during your consultation. Laser hair removal is safe almost anywhere you have hair.
How to Prepare for Laser Hair Removal
There are several steps you should take in the weeks before laser hair removal to ensure a successful session. Following your provider’s instructions will help keep you safe and let you achieve the best results.
Shave Instead of Waxing
Hair removal methods like waxing, threading, or tweezing pull the hair out by the root, leaving nothing for the laser to treat. Stop using these methods four weeks before treatment. You can still shave since this method does not remove the hair roots.
Keep Your Natural Hair Color
If you normally bleach the hair in the treatment area, you will need to stop four weeks before. Bleaching removes the melanin pigment from the hair roots. As a result, they become invisible to the laser and their follicles will not be treated.
Limit Sun Exposure
Tanning, even artificial tanning, can put you at risk of side effects from treatment. You must avoid sun exposure and wear sunscreen before and between treatments. A tan means that your skin has increased its melanin production, affecting how the laser works.
Is There Any Downtime After Laser Hair Removal?
You can expect your skin to look red and feel sensitive for a few hours after treatment, which usually takes 30 to 60 minutes. There is no downtime, but your sun will be extremely sensitive to the sun. We will recommend a medical-grade sunscreen to use after treatment, but we recommend avoiding sun exposure entirely as much as you can. Since you will need a series of treatments, you will need to keep up this sun protection until you are finished.
