When it comes to hair removal, you’ve got no shortage of options. Shaving, waxing, plucking, depilatory creams, epilators, electrolysis, and laser hair removal all leave you bare, but they are far from equal. Shaving can leave you with stubble (the day after you shave!), razor burn, and embarrassing bumps, while waxing requires regular (and painful) sessions.
Dr. Afia Naqvi and our team at Rénove Medical Spa know that smooth legs don’t need to be an impossible goal. That’s why we offer laser hair removal so you can enjoy bare legs — without the fuss of daily shaving.
Below, Dr. Naqvi covers everything you need to learn about laser hair removal.
Laser hair removal 101
Unlike shaving, laser hair removal doesn’t just cut your hair at the surface of your skin — it prevents future hair growth. During laser hair removal, light energy is targeted on your hair follicles. The pigment in your hair absorbs the light energy, heats up, and disrupts the growth cycle of the hair. The heat disrupts the growth cycles in a way that prevents future growth, according to the experts at Mayo Clinic. The light energy doesn’t harm the skin, though.
This process only works while your hair follicle is in the growth stages. That’s why you’ll need several laser hair removal sessions spaced out in specific intervals. At the end of your treatment, each hair should have been targeted during its growth phase.
Benefits of laser hair removal
If you’re tired of shaving every day, laser hair removal offers you a permanent solution to your hair removal routine. Laser hair removal:
- Saves time (goodbye to daily shaving!)
- Saves money in the long run (monthly waxing appointments can add up over time)
- Can be used to target many different areas, including your legs, underarms, and bikini area
- Can be used for men and women
- Addresses many different areas on the body, including legs, back, chest, underarms, and bikini area
In addition to the above perks, laser hair removal also frees you from the challenges of traditional hair removal. Laser hair removal eliminates the risk of cuts, ingrown hairs (a pesky side effect of waxing and epilators), and wax burns.
If you’re choosing between waxing and laser hair removal, laser treatments offer another advantage: no need to grow your hair out. With waxing, you need to let your hair grow out between waxing sessions. If you shave right before your waxing appointment, you won’t get the waxing results you wanted. Throughout your laser hair removal process, you’re permitted to shave between sessions, and it won’t impact your results.
Preparing for your appointment
To get the most out of your laser hair treatment, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your appointment.
- Avoid UV exposure on the treatment areas (you’ll want to avoid UV exposure after your treatment too)
- Avoiding tanning beds and sunless tan lotions too
- Avoid anything that removes the hair follicle, including waxing, plucking, epilators, and electrolysis
- Shave the area up to 24 hours before your treatment
Before your appointment, share your list of medications (including blood thinners) with Dr. Naqvi.
Tip: if you’re concerned about any discomfort, you may opt for a topical numbing cream. Simply, arrive at Rénove Medical Spa up to 30 minutes before your appointment. This ensures that you have plenty of time to administer the topical cream.
Summer skin starts now
Believe it or not, now is the perfect time to think about your summer skin. Because it takes a few sessions to target all of your hair follicles, it can take anywhere from four to eight monthly sessions to go from there to bare.
Laser hair removal works best for individuals with dark hair and light skin, but ever-improving technology makes it possible for more individuals — such as those with darker skin or reddish hair — to enjoy the benefits of laser hair removal. Dr. Naqvi may suggest the appropriate treatment plan for you and your specific goals.
Ready to ditch the razor for good? Call our Kingwood, Texas spa at 346-200-8481 or visit our website to book an appointment.
