Question:
My friend had a laser hair removal treatment and it caused her to blister and become very sore. Is this normal?
Answer:
Blisters are not normal following the procedure. The degree of energy applied to the area might have been too high. Other factors also play a role in the outcome, such as current tanning, self-tanners, antibiotics, etc.. These may make the skin sensitive to the treatment making you prone to blistering or irritation.
Question:
My girlfriend was telling me about laser hair removal and I am interested in learning a bit more about what the procedure entails. What are some of the most common side effects of a laser hair removal treatment?
Answer:
The side effects are minimal. You might experience a sun burn sensation, mild redness, and some bumps. These symptoms all resolve within an hour. Hydrocortisone cream reduces the side effects. Avoiding hot showers, and work-outs for a day or two, and hot tubs for at least a few days after the procedure can minimize any irritation you might experience.
Question:
Will laser hair removal on my arms cause me unwanted bumps and irritation?
Answer:
You may experience some bumps post treatment, but with the application of hydrocortisone the bumps disappear after a few minutes. Some patients do experience a sun burn sensation, but that also resolves within an hour. It is important to avoid hot tubs or Jacuzzis for at least a few days. Exercising also can irritate the area. Anything lasting longer than a few hours should be brought to the attention of your laser nurse.
Question:
Ive read a lot about laser hair removal and have several questions that I couldnt find the answers to. How long does one session of laser hair removal take? Will it be painful?
Answer:
The amount of time for treatment varies on the area. A full back is about 1.5 hours with numbing. A face is 35 minutes with 15 min. of numbing. Etc…..There is some discomfort associated with the treatment. It feels like a snap of a rubber band initially, but as the hair becomes less dense, there is less discomfort.
Question:
I am a Mexican female with a lot of hair above my upper lip. I am planning on getting laser hair removal but am concerned about the healing process. How long will it take to completely heal from this procedure? Will the affected area be red and discolored?
Answer:
There is relatively no down time with the treatment. You do need to stay out of the sun and wear sunblock to prevent hyperpigmentation. The area may become red directly after the treatment, but I will apply hydrocortisone cream if that happens. The redness will resolve within minutes.
Question:
My wife said her laser hair removal treatment was incredibly painful. Will I be given any painkillers after my laser hair removal treatment?
Answer:
We do not dispense pain medications. We do use a topical numbing agent prior to the procedure. You can take Tylenol after the treatment if you want to. There is usually no residual pain post treatment. We do recommend icing for a few minutes if the area feels hot or sun-burn like. The skin calms down almost immediately. Areas of dense hair might require some icing, but those areas usually calm down within 10-20 minutes at the most.
Question:
I have incredibly hairy arms and would like to minimize the look of all this hair. On average, how long does one laser treatment removal of arm hair take?
Answer:
For full arms each treatment session is about 30 minutes long. Keep in mind that with dense hair, it can take anywhere from 3-6 treatments to see a significant improvement. Of course it is also dependent on the skin pigment as well.
Question:
I’m an albino who would like laser hair removal underneath my arms. Because of my pigment, or lack thereof, will there be any long term discoloring effects?
Answer:
If you are albino, you must have a lack of melanin in your skin, so there is no risk of getting hyper- pigmentation. Is your hair white or blonde? If either one, unfortunately laser treatment will not affect the hair. The laser works by targeting the melanin in the hair. It will not work if there is no melanin.
Question:
Is laser hair removal safe on all areas of the body? Can it be used on sensitive areas like around the areola?
Answer:
Yes laser hair removal is relatively safe on all areas of the body, including sensitive areas like the areola.
Question:
I’d like to get laser hair removal on a couple areas of my body. Is there one laser hair removal machine thats the best?
Answer:
Well, there are machines that are safer to use on certain skin types. It is in the hands of the technician to decide what skin type the patient is and whether or not it is safe to use the laser at hand. If the patient is a Fitzpatrick Type 4 skin (light brown, burns minimally, tans easily) and above (dark brown or black, never burns, tans with ease) then they should choose the IPL base systems or the diode laser. All the other machines tend to burn those patients that are Fitzpatrick Type 4 and above. Safety is most important and of course not creating other issues such as hyper-pigmentation and scarring.
