What should I expect from a laser hair removal procedure?

For extremely hairy areas, the hair will be trimmed just before the procedure so that is only a few millimeters in length above the surface of the skin. The doctor also adjusts the laser, prior to the procedure, so that the settings are adequate for the patient’s particular needs including the thickness, color, and location of hair, and the patient’s skin color as well. Both the patient and the practitioner will also need to wear eye protection before the laser is used. The surrounding skin will also be coated with a protective gel to minimize exposure and also to help the laser penetrate the skin better. Pulses of laser light will then be administered onto the treatment areas to facilitate hair removal. Succeeding treatments will be scheduled in intervals until the hair stops growing in the indicated areas.

What happens during the recovery period?

It is common for the treated areas to appear as if they were sunburned for at least a day, or two, after the procedure. The patient may be advised to apply a cold compress on the treated areas, or anti-inflammatory preparations to relieve any discomfort. It is also normal to experience some redness, swelling, or minor scarring on the treated areas, and for the treated hair to start falling out over the next month. Patients will be advised to wear sunscreen to prevent color changes on the treated areas.