Your Laser Hair Removal Guide: The DO’s and the DON’TS
Many people are finally tossing their razors in the trash and turning to laser hair removal to make life a little bit easier. Laser hair removal has almost become the standard compared to waxing, tweezing, and shaving. Who doesn’t want to save time in their day by not having to shave?
Here is what you need to know:
Do: Shave! It is recommended to shave 1-2 days before a laser hair removal treatment. Shaving will leave the hair follicles healthy and more responsive to the laser.
Don’t: Wax or Tweeze! The laser is attracted to the dark pigment of the hair and because these two methods rip out the root of the hair follicle, the laser would not have an effective target. Damaging the hair follicle will make the unwanted hair less receptive to the treatment.
Do: Exfoliate! We recommend exfoliating 3-4 days after your treatment to avoid ingrown hairs forming under the skin. Exfoliating will also help remove any damaged hair follicles that will eventually fall out after treatments.
Don’t: Sun! It is very important for patients to keep the area being treated out of the sun for at least two weeks prior to treatment as well as two weeks post treatment. Lasers and the sun do NOT mix, so it is very important to not have any sun exposure to avoid burning the treated area.
Laser hair removal is one of several energy treatments that we offer at Sistine Facial Plastic Surgery. Other laser treatments include intense pulsed light (IPL), laser skin resurfacing, and Ultherapy. To see if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal or one of these other treatments, schedule your consultation with Dr. Leong or our Registered Nurse at one of our 6 office locations around Pittsburgh today!