If you’ve gotten tired of putting yourself through the constant cycle of waxing and shaving, you’re not alone. Laser hair removal can offer a lasting solution that leaves you with smooth, clear skin. It’s common to have questions about this process, and that’s why our team at Finesse Cosmetic Surgery in Waltham, MA, is here to provide some information about our hair removal services.
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Take?
Appointment Times Vary
If you’re looking to treat a small area like the upper lip or chin, laser hair removal can get the job done in as little as five minutes. Larger sections of the body will take more time, so if you want to have your legs or back treated, you can expect each session to last for around 45 minutes.
We’d be happy to give you an appointment time estimate once we know the area we’re going to treat for you. Many patients take the opportunity to unwind and enjoy some “me time” during their appointment. You could consider bringing your favorite book along, or popping in your earbuds and listening to a podcast and some music.
No Downtime
You don’t have to worry about taking extra time to recover after this treatment. You’ll be able to carry on with the rest of your day once your treatment is complete. Life is busy for everyone. Many patients appreciate being able to come in for a brief appointment without worrying about losing their whole day. It can also make scheduling appointments much less stressful.
Rapid Results
How quickly you’ll see results can vary slightly per patient, but most people can expect to see their treated hair beginning to fall out within a week or two of their first treatment.
Your Series
Hair grows in cycles, and the human body has more hair follicles than you may think. To give you thorough, lasting results, we recommend a treatment series. Each treatment will be spaced between four to eight weeks apart, depending on your hair growth cycle and availability.
Many patients find that between five to nine sessions are sufficient to give them the results they’re looking for. That’s not a bad trade-off for getting to enjoy permanent improvements!
What Benefits Can I Expect?
Expect Safety
This is often considered a “lunchtime” treatment due to its safety and ease. Many areas only take about 30 minutes to treat. If desired, a patient could even return to work after their treatment. The way the laser works is by targeting your hair follicles, and it’s able to do that without damaging the epidermis.
It’s considered a very safe treatment, but we understand the importance of knowing as much as possible about your treatment before you receive it. That’s why we will go over what you can expect from the process in person with you. We are also happy to talk you through any concerns you have, since we want you to feel comfortable and confident about your options.
Save Time
Shaving can take a lot of time out of each day. When you’re busy and exhausted, you may be faced with the choice of either skipping your shave and dealing with stubble or having to shave no matter how tired you are. Even waxing, while the results last longer than shaving, either requires careful preparation at home or scheduling regular appointments.
Laser removal gives patients the freedom of knowing that no matter how crazy and busy life gets, their unwanted hair is already taken care of. It’s important to remember that while you may have some occasional hair growth after treatment, the hair should be much thinner and very slow growing. So even if you have to shave now and then, it should be a very quick, easy, and infrequent process.
No Ingrown Hairs
If you’re lucky, shaving can give you good results for a day or two before stubble comes back. However, many people suffer from regular ingrown hairs or other irritations. The last thing you want after shaving is to deal with red bumps instead of hair.
With laser removal, you can get rid of your hair without having to worry about ingrown hairs being left behind. That’s because this treatment gets rid of hair at the roots. In fact, laser removal can be used to help you treat ingrown hairs if you’re already dealing with them.
Be Spontaneous
If you’re invited to a last-minute beach trip or social gathering, having your hair treated can give you more freedom to get up and go rather than having to set time aside to shave beforehand. It can already be hard to find time to spend with friends and relax. Why not free up a bit of time and effort so you can be ready to go when the opportunities come along?
FAQ About Laser Hair Removal
1. How Does This Work?
The most important thing will be making sure this treatment is a good fit for you. Once you’re done with your consultation, if we believe this treatment is going to be a good fit, we can help you set up your treatment plan. To give you the best possible results, we can customize your series based on your hair type, your cosmetic goals, and the area you’re treating.
Our lasers will deliver energy to your hair follicles. The follicles will absorb this energy, which will damage their ability to produce hair. Repeated treatments will help thoroughly disable the follicles and make sure we cover the entire area as well as possible.
2. Can I Wax Beforehand?
While you can shave before your treatment, you shouldn’t wax, tweeze, or bleach beforehand. Anything that pulls out or removes the root of your hair should be avoided for at least two weeks before your laser treatment since the lasers will need to treat the roots of your hair in order to be effective.
3. Why Should I Trust Your Team?
We know how difficult it can be to find the right laser removal method. In order to help as many patients as possible, we offer cutting-edge laser technology that is able to work for a wide range of skin and hair types.
We’re proud to offer laser treatments that are considered safe, effective, and have a wide range at the same time. It’s important to find the right fit for each patient, as using the wrong laser can be ineffective or even harmful. We have the skill and experience to team up with you and pick the right laser for your needs.
4. What Can I Have Treated?
Arms
Our lasers are very versatile; if there’s an area you’d like to treat and it isn’t listed here, feel free to ask us about it.
To start, the arms and underarms are popular treatment areas, as many people prefer not to have hair under their arms. Treating this area could even help reduce body odor. The arms themselves can also be treated.
Legs
Legs can be a pain to shave, especially when you’re pressed for time. Trying to shave in a hurry can lead to accidental cuts or whole patches of missed hair. Waxing in a rush can be equally catastrophic, since, if you’re not careful, you could end up burning your skin.
Treating the legs can give you a much-deserved break. Many patients have been shaving their legs every day for many years and are just tired of it. After laser removal, you won’t have to constantly take time out of your day to shave your legs.
Bikini Line
Many patients find that the bikini area is especially sensitive. Waxing may be too painful, and shaving may leave the skin of this area looking and feeling irritated. Laser removal can be a helpful way to keep this area clear and ready for the beach.
Back or Chest
Laser hair removal can be a helpful tool for patients of any gender since anyone can have unwanted hair. Unwanted back and chest hair can be particularly challenging to remove on your own.
Besides laser removal, having it waxed regularly may be the only reasonable way to keep these areas clear. That cost can start adding up over time, and the discomfort is off-putting for many patients. This treatment can help thin out your back and chest hair, so you don’t have to be constantly setting up appointments to have it waxed off.
Want More Laser Hair Removal Information?
We’d be happy to talk through your skin goals and help you set up the right treatment plan. A consultation is the best way to achieve this. Meeting in person will help us evaluate your skin, and give you time to ask us any remaining questions you have. Contact us at Finesse Cosmetic Surgery in Waltham, MA, to set up your appointment today.
