Laser hair removal is FDA-approved and generally considered a safe, effective procedure when done by an experienced, qualified medical aesthetician.

Laser hair removal is generally a quick process. The duration of your appointment depends on the size of the area you are treating and the thickness of your hair. Treating a small area, such as the upper lip, may take ten minutes while treating a larger area, such as the legs, may take up to 30 minutes to complete.

In order for the laser hair removal treatment to be successful, melanin (hair pigment) must be present, meaning that laser hair removal works best on people with brunette or darker hair color. Laser hair removal may not respond well on people with light hair color, including blonde, red or gray hair, but may respond better to IPL hair removal.

After your consultation, your medical provider will go over how to prepare for your treatment. We recommend shaving the day before your treatment. While there needs to be enough hair follicle to absorb the energy needed for hair removal, it should not be too long as this may cause the laser to be too widely dispersed or cause the hair to burn. Waxing and plucking should be avoided for at least six weeks. You should also avoid the sun and refrain from tanning before your appointment. This can result in pigmentation issues in the areas being treated.

As we discuss your options with you and build a treatment plan, you may choose to incorporate another service, like our Medical Facials, into your treatment to achieve a higher level of glowing, fresh skin.

Laser hair removal typically requires six to eight treatments, but may require up to 10 sessions depending on the area being treated and its growth cycle. The length of time between treatments depends on how quickly the hair grows in that area and the cycle of hair growth at the time of the appointment. There are three cycles of hair growth and shedding, the anagen (phase of growth), catagen (transitional phase between growth and loss) and telogen phase (when hair loss makes room for new hair growth). By performing the treatment at different phases of hair growth, we can ensure that existing and new hair follicles are targeted.

For example, on areas that grow hair quickly, such as the upper lip, the treatment may need to be repeated in four to eight weeks. In other areas that experience slow hair growth, such as the back, the treatment may be recommended every 10 to 12 weeks.

Hair loss and growth naturally occur in a cycle, so targeting them while in the new-growth stage is key. This is another reason why multiple laser hair removal sessions may be recommended. Your medical provider will develop a treatment plan that specifically targets the area(s) being treated for unwanted growth.

Patients typically find that the procedure to be quick and relatively pain-free. Most patients do not actually need a topic anesthetic to be applied for discomfort, but it is offered. There is no downtime following a laser hair removal appointment. You can easily come in on your lunch break and continue with the rest of your day!

After a laser hair removal treatment, you may notice that your hair is noticeably thinner. Over a period of 3-10 days, you will continue to shed your hair. You may think you’re seeing hair growth, but really it is the hair follicles surfacing before they fall out.

Laser hair removal is effective for nearly every part of the body with unwanted hair, including the arms, underarms, chin, upper lip, cheeks, neck, abs, breasts, buttocks, bikini, legs and toes. However, skin with tattoos should not be treated.

Patients do not typically experience any negative side effects after the procedure, but gladly see that there is noticeably less hair.

Unlike other laser hair removal providers, we utilize cutting-edge laser technology so we can treat all skin tone variations. Earlier generations of laser technology were only able to effectively treat patients with dark hair and light skin so the laser could more easily decipher the pigment within the hair. Through our advanced lasers, our treatments are inclusive and can accommodate all skin tones.

However, it is important to know that laser hair removal is only effective for dark hair follicles that contain melanin. Light colored hair follicles that are blonde, red or gray may not respond well to laser hair removal, but may respond better to IPL hair removal.

When considering laser hair removal, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan ideal for your needs. During your complimentary consultation, you will meet with our expert Medical Staff where we will go over your questions, concerns and desired results.