Preparation / Typical Procedure
Preparation for the treatment should include the following:
- Avoid tanning and wear sunblock and protective clothing.
- Do not remove the root of the hair for 1 month before treatment. (No plucking, no waxing, and no threading.)
- Patients can shave, bleach, trim, or use a depilatory.
- Use numbing cream for 30–90 minutes before treatment, if directed.
Before treatment, appropriate eye protection will be worn by both the laser surgeon and the patient. The skin is cleaned, and the hairs in the area to be treated are shaven. The laser handpiece is then placed over the area to be treated, and a pulse of light is emitted. Each pulse is approximately the size of a coin. Laser treatment is usually fairly quick for a small area but may require an hour or more for large areas, such as the legs. Some compare the pain of the laser treatment to a superheated needle briefly entering the skin.
After treatment, the skin is red and temporarily swollen around the follicle and red for 1–3 days.
Expected Results
