Are you tired of tweezing, shaving, or waxing your body hair? You can achieve permanently smooth and hair-free skin with laser hair removal. However, permanent hair removal requires some skin preparations before the treatment and lifestyle adjustments afterward.
As the best medical spa and internal medicine provider in Rock Hill and Charlotte, Metrolina Medical Spa will walk you through the essential steps before a laser hair treatment. We will also answer the questions you may have and set the right expectations, so you’ll know what’s ahead of your journey towards smoother and flawless skin.
Do You Need to Shave Before a Laser Hair Removal Treatment in Rock Hill, SC?
Yes. You need to prepare the area by shaving the hair and removing chemicals from makeup, deodorants, lotions, and skincare products. Excess hair or chemical residue can react to the laser beam and cause possible skin issues. If you have a skin condition, it’s important to let your skincare professional know before your appointment.
How to Prepare Before a Laser Hair Removal Session
A laser hair removal treatment uses a minimal and safe amount of radiation to kill your hair follicles. The newest laser technology of today has expanded what it covers for laser treatments, and it takes care of all skin types and colors.
For the best results, the light beam must access the hair follicles and let the pigment absorb the light and destroy the hair. Since laser hair removal can destroy hair cells, this procedure works best for thick and coarse black hair.
Here are the essential steps to take before you have a laser hair removal session:
- Avoid sun exposure or tanning your skin one month before your treatment. Sunlight and UV light can make your skin more sensitive and lead to burns during your laser treatment.
- Shave a day before the treatment and avoid tweezing, plucking, or waxing the hair.
- Clean and exfoliate your skin before the treatment to remove dead skin cells and residue of the skincare products you use from your body.
- Avoid using skincare products with glycolic acid, retinol, and scrubs for two to three days (and fourteen days for chemical peels) before the treatment.
- Let your skincare professional know if you are on your period. Your skincare professional will advise you to use a tampon or reschedule your treatment when you feel more comfortable.
What to Expect During Your Laser Hair Removal Treatment in Rock Hill, SC
Beyond the promise of flawless skin, laser hair removal has some perks other than your dream skin. However, there are certain conditions that you need to be willing to meet to achieve the best result. Here are some of the things that you should know or expect for a laser hair removal treatment:
#1 Having Smooth and Permanently Hair-Free Skin Is a Gradual Process
Your laser hair removal will usually take about 2 to 6 sessions since your hair follicles will be at different stages of growth. In addition, the light beam only works for hair follicles that are in active growth. You will need to come back for multiple sessions to treat another batch of actively growing hair follicles.
#2 The Pain Level Is Tolerable, Like a Mild Pinch
Permanent hair removal treatment damages the hair follicle by using an intense light beam. This sounds more painful than it actually feels. Most patients can tolerate the pain and usually compare it to a mild but sharp pinch.
Common laser hair removal side effects include mild skin irritation and redness, which usually subsides after a few hours. However, in some cases, people with sensitive skin types may experience burns and skin discoloration after the treatment. Let your skincare specialist know your skin type before your laser treatment.
#3 Treatment Can Take at Least 20 Minutes
Laser hair removal is faster than most hair removal methods, like waxing. The duration of the treatment typically depends on the location of the unwanted hair. Large areas like back or chest hair will take more time to treat than armpits. Nevertheless, it’s a fast procedure, which is one of the best perks of laser hair removal treatment.
#4 It Can Also Get Rid of an Annoying Ingrown Hair
Laser treatments can help you get rid of both fully-grown and ingrown hairs in one set of sessions. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone, and it’s probably one of the biggest reasons most patients want laser hair removal treatments. The laser can reach the root of the ingrown hair, even if it doesn’t make it to the skin’s surface.
Laser Hair Removal at Metrolina Medical Spa
At Metrolina Medical Spa, we offer the most advanced and medically supervised laser hair removal treatments in Rock Hill and Charlotte. Our highly trained team will provide you with the best hair removal experience under the supervision of our medical professionals.
Laser Hair Removal Using Cutera Prowave LX
We use the Prowave LX, which is the latest laser technology from Cutera. It can get rid of fine to thick unwanted hair in large areas, such as the legs and back.
Time is too precious to spend on removing your hair by plucking and waxing. Let our laser treatments in Rock Hill and Charlotte do the job for you. Schedule an appointment now and get the smooth skin you’ve always wanted.
