What Does Laser Hair Removal Involve?

Are you tired of looking at unwanted hair on your body? If you’re a woman, shaving your legs may be the longest part of your beauty routine. If you’re a man, perhaps you’d like to rid yourself of thick, furry hair on your back that your friends may tease you about.At A Beautiful You Medical Spa in Memphis, Tennessee, our expert medical aestheticians are trained and experienced in performing laser hair removal, and it’s all under the guidance of our board-certified physician, Dr. Kenneth Thompson.

Laser hair removal involves three steps: preparation, the laser procedure, and aftercare.

Preparation for laser hair removal

Winter is the perfect time to have laser hair removal. Why? You should avoid sun exposure on the part of your body being treated both before and after the procedure. Avoid tanning sprays, too.

Don’t try to pluck or wax your hair for at least four weeks before the procedure. Doing so can alter the hair follicle.

Avoid blood thinners, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for at least two weeks before laser hair removal.

What happens during laser hair removal?

We selected the Venus Velocity™ laser system for hair removal because it’s safe and effective for all skin types.

We hold the laser device to your skin; then the laser’s energy destroys the integrity of your hair follicles. Venus Velocity has an automatic cooling system that ensures a consistent temperature for the procedure, so you’re comfortable.

How long does laser hair removal take?

It depends. If we’re only treating a small area such as above your lip line, the procedure only lasts for a few minutes. If we’re treating your back or legs, it can take up to an hour.

How many treatment sessions does laser hair removal require?

Hair has different stages of growth. About one-third of your hair follicles are in an active stage of growth at any point in time. The procedure destroys the follicles in that growth stage so they don’t return.

You’ll need approximately two to six laser hair removal treatments spaced about four to six weeks apart to destroy all of the hair follicles.

After laser hair removal

You start to see hair falling out in a few days. Just as prior to the procedure, you need to stay out of the sun and tanning booths for at least two weeks after laser hair removal.

Don’t swim in a chlorinated pool. If you go to a gym, avoid the sauna and steam room for about a week. Likewise, take lukewarm baths or showers; avoid hot water.

You can moisturize the treated area as usual, but wait for a few days before shaving. The laser removes your hair at its root, so you’ll have smooth, silky skin once the process is complete.

Call us at A Beautiful You Medical Spa or book an appointment online for expert laser hair removal services and all of your aesthetic needs.