10 Most Asked Questions About Laser Hair Reduction

by kathleen neves | Laser Hair Reduction

Hair removal can be time consuming, painful, and costly. With shaving, hair comes back in a matter of days. When using depilatory creams, hair is dissolved within a matter of minutes, but it stinks, can be a complicated and painful process, and needs to be repeated every few weeks. Waxing, tweezing, and sugaring offer longer hair removal, but both of these options can be painful and make skin itchy when the hair grows back. No matter how many times you shave, wax, tweeze, or sugar, the hair always comes back, requiring more time and money to maintain the temporary hair removal process.

What if there was a relatively painless way you could permanently reduce the hair growth in areas like the underarms, bikini area, legs, lower face, back, arms, chest, and stomach, saving you time and money on constant maintenance? Laser hair reduction is a safe, effective, and relatively painless way to permanently reduce the hair in treated areas by up to 90%. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, laser hair reduction is the third most performed non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the US. To learn more, here are 10 most frequently asked questions about laser hair reduction, answered.

What is Laser Hair Reduction?

Laser hair reduction works to damage the hair follicle and as a result, minimizes hair growth. Most patients notice a significant reduction in new hair growth after one treatment and see optimal results and have their treatment expectations met after a series of treatments. With each treatment, significantly less hair grows back, resulting in permanent hair reduction.

How Does Laser Hair Reduction Work?

Laser Hair Reduction gets to the root of the problem, literally. This treatment works by sending the highly concentrated light of the laser through the pigment into the hair follicle. The light from the laser converts to heat, which then damages the hair follicle and bulb.

It’s important to note that hair grows within the follicles and in a three-phase cycle. The Anagen Phase is the phase where the hair actively grows, typically lasting for several months. This is the best phase for laser hair reduction. The Catagen Phase is a brief phase where the hair bulb regresses and begins to shrink. The Telogen Phase is the final phase in the cycle and is considered a resting phase, lasting a few months. During this phase, the hair is released from the follicle. Once this phase is complete, the hair will restart at the Anagen (growth) phase.

Since hair follicles are all at different stages in this three-phase cycle, we want to make sure each hair follicle has a chance to get properly treated during its growth phase. This is why we recommend a series of laser hair reduction treatments for the best results.

What Are The Benefits to Getting Laser Hair Reduction?

Save Time & Money – In addition to offering permanent hair growth reduction in treated areas, laser hair reduction will also help you save time and money by eliminating the need for daily and weekly maintenance from having to shave, wax, tweeze or use harsh creams.

Anywhere on The Body & All Skin Tones – Laser hair reduction can be performed anywhere on the body including the underarms, bikini area, legs, lower face, back, arms, chest, and stomach. It’s also a great treatment for all different skin tones. The laser can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged. Here at PUR Skin Clinic, we use our state-of-the-art Vectus Laser System which is approved for all skin types, from very light to very dark skin, with unwanted dark hair.

Eliminates Ingrown Hairs – Laser hair reduction can help eliminate ingrown hairs by allowing the hair to grow straight, resulting in clearer, smoother skin.

Fast Treatment Time – The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Depending on the size of the area being treated, treatment times can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.

Virtually Painless – Everyone’s pain tolerance is different. There may be mild discomfort during treatment, but most patients tolerate laser hair reduction very easily

How Should I Prepare For My Laser Hair Reduction Treatment?

To properly prepare for a laser hair reduction treatment, we recommend:

  • Shaving the entire treated area within 24 hours prior to treatment. We don’t recommend using electric razors because they leave the hair too long. The laser can react with hair in the skin’s surface, which may cause some irritation and possibly create a burnt hair smell during treatment.
  • Not waxing or tweezing the area being treated prior to treatment because these hair removal options temporarily remove the hair follicle. The hair follicle is needed for the laser to target. Without the hair follicle intact, the treatment becomes less effective.
  • Removing makeup, lotion, deodorant, and sunscreen from the treated area prior to treatment.
  • Not having any sun exposure on the treated area within 4 weeks prior to treatment. Sun exposure makes laser hair reduction less effective and can create complications after treatment.
  • Not using any sunless tanning products within 3-4 weeks prior to treatment. The treated area should be thoroughly exfoliated from all residues prior to treatment.
  • Avoiding any scrubs, glycolic acid, and retinol creams two days prior to having treatment.
  • Avoiding having a chemical peel or sunless tanning treatment both two weeks before and two weeks after your laser hair reduction treatment.

What Can I Expect During A Laser Hair Reduction Treatment?

Before starting the treatment, the laser will be adjusted according to the color, thickness, and location of the hair being treated as well as the patient’s skin color. Both the patient and provider will need to wear protective eyewear during the treatment

Is Laser Hair Reduction Painful?

There may be mild discomfort during treatment, but most patients tolerate laser hair reduction very easily. Patients often describe the sensation they feel during a laser hair reduction treatment as a quick, sharp pain, with discomfort being more noticeable near the nose, chin, and temples. Laser hair reduction can be virtually painless, but everyone’s pain tolerance is different. With each laser hair reduction treatment, the hair becomes finer and the discomfort during treatment will become less.

If a patient experiences discomfort during treatment, we may use ice packs before and after treatment. We can also use a cooling machine during the treatment to make the experience more comfortable.

When Will I See Results From Laser Hair Reduction?

For most patients, hair may appear finer and less noticeable after only having one treatment. For optimal results, we recommend a patient having a series of 4-6 treatments, 6-8 weeks apart. With each treatment, significantly less hair grows back, resulting in permanent hair reduction.

Since hair follicles are all at different stages in the three-phase cycle, we want to make sure each hair follicle has a chance to get properly treated during its growth phase. This is why we recommend a series of laser hair reduction treatments for the best results.

What Should I/Shouldn’t I Do After Having A Laser Hair Reduction Treatment?

After receiving a laser hair reduction treatment, the heat from the laser can stay in the skin for up to 24 hours. This is why we recommend not doing any of the following activities during this time including going to the gym, going into a sauna, or taking a hot shower, otherwise, you risk experiencing complications and possible skin irritation. We also recommend avoiding sun and sun exposure both before and after treatment. If you have a tan prior to receiving treatment, you will have to wait until the tan fades before starting laser hair reduction treatments.

How Much Does Laser Hair Reduction Cost?

The cost of a laser hair reduction treatment and a series of treatments will depend on the size of the area being treated, the number of treatment areas, the time required for the treatment, and the number of treatments required.

Why Should I Choose PUR Skin Clinic for Laser Hair Reduction?

Here at PUR Skin Clinic, our experienced, professionally trained providers bring you over 40 years of combined experience, offering you the most advanced cosmetic dermatology treatments and latest laser technologies.

We are committed to providing you with state-of-the-art treatments with the highest safety protocols put in place for your peace of mind. Our goal is to provide you with a personalized treatment plan that’s focused on your goals and desired outcome.

We recommend giving us a call to book your consultation with one of our trained providers. During the consultation, we’ll be able to determine if you’re a good candidate for laser hair reduction and put together a personalized treatment plan for you with the recommended number of treatments and cost of treatment.

Refine the True You
With Pūr Skin Clinic

Pūr Skin Clinic offers the highest level of personalized care with advanced skin treatments performed by caring experts. Schedule your consultation with us for a truly one-of-a-kind experience and radiantly natural results designed specifically for you. We proudly serve patients in the Edmonds, Kirkland, Shoreline, Mill Creek, and Wallingford/Seattle areas, as well as our destination patients from around the country and the globe.

1002 Lake Street South, Suite 102, Kirkland, WA 98033

Call Today (360) 299-5596