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How Soon Do You See Results From Laser Hair Removal?

A popular cosmetic procedure, laser hair removal removes unwanted hair from the bikini region, upper lip, underarms, upper arms, and other parts of the body. Here in Flower Mound, Texas, North Texas Vein and Vascular understands the frustration of traditional hair removal techniques. That’s why we’re happy to offer this highly advanced method of hair removal to our clients.

By using a laser, this treatment destroys the hair follicles and prevents them from growing new hair. It can take several sessions for the desired results to be achieved, but the treatment is generally safe and effective. Four to six sessions are usually necessary to reach the desired results, but the specific timeline varies according to the person. Take a closer look with us at how quickly this revolutionary, innovative treatment will provide results for you.

How Soon Do You See Results From Laser Hair Removal?

Three to five days after laser hair removal, most people notice their hair falling out. With each laser pulse, hair follicles in the targeted areas are damaged. Hair follicles that have been damaged stop producing hair, but not every follicle can be damaged on the first treatment. A person’s skin type, hair color and thickness, and the growth cycle of individual hairs will all determine how many sessions they will need.

Darker hair and lighter skin will require fewer sessions. The laser, however, can only destroy hair follicles in the active growth phase, so you will definitely need multiple sessions for each targeted area no matter what your hair and skin color combination. The hair follicles in any treatment area are at different stages at the same time. This is why four to six sessions are usually needed to achieve long-lasting results.

How Often Can I Get Treatment?

The average laser hair removal sessions take place four weeks apart. The time it takes to achieve long-lasting results after four treatments may be about 12 weeks. In contrast, if you need 10 sessions to achieve your desired results, it will take roughly 36 weeks to see results.

How Long Will the Results of My Treatment Last?

The results of lightwave hair removal will last a long time. After all of the hair follicles in the treatment area have been destroyed, laser hair removal results can last a lifetime. Keep in mind, however, that you might need a touch-up treatment down the road: however, those touch-ups will be faster and simpler than your original sessions, and you’re not likely to need more than one at a time.

Why do you need any touch-ups at all? In spite of the fact that laser therapy can destroy every hair follicle in a targeted area over the course of several treatments, there is a possibility that your body will grow new hair follicles in the treated area. Your body grows hair follicles in tune with your hormones, so hormone levels have a lot to do with whether or not you’ll need a touch-up treatment.

Preparing for Treatment

Sun exposure should be avoided before undergoing hair removal treatment. The hair you wish to remove should also not be plucked, waxed, or tweezed. Furthermore, you should avoid using any products that contain retinol or alpha hydroxy acids on your skin.

It’s a good idea to shave before your treatment session. This helps to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells, and the laser can target the hair follicles more easily because of this. Shaving also helps the laser treatment to be as effective as possible. You should also try not to apply any cosmetics to the treatment areas you are targeting. Before your treatment begins, all lotions and makeup will be removed.

Caring for Skin After Treatment

Post-treatment, there are some restrictions. First, for several weeks after the treatment, you should avoid exposure to the sun. During this time, your skin may become more sensitive to the sun and more sensitive to sun damage. After the procedure, you should avoid other hair removal methods, including waxing, for at least a week.

After your treatment, you should also avoid dehydration. Staying hydrated is as simple as drinking water, but if you need help to hydrate properly, you can also consume other fluids such as juice, tea, soups, and coffee. For men, it is recommended that they drink about 3.7 liters of water per day. Drinking 2.7 liters of water per day is recommended for women. If you want rapid results from your treatment, you must avoid dehydration afterward.

FAQ About the Treatment Process

Is This Safe?

For most people, this treatment is very safe. Specifically, it targets the pigment, or melanin, in the hair. Melanin absorbs and converts the laser light into heat. As a result of this heat, the hair follicle is damaged and future hair growth is hindered. The burning of the hair follicles will also cause the hair that was growing to be released. Because the laser only targets the highly melanated cells of the hair follicles, the surrounding tissue of your skin is not affected by the laser treatment.

How Long Does Treatment Take?

About 15 to 30 minutes are usually spent on each treatment session. A number of factors determine the duration of a treatment session, including the size and number of the areas to be treated. The laser therapy portion of your session may only last five minutes if you only wish to remove hair from a small area, such as your chin or underarms, or if you are simply thinning the hair rather than removing all of it.

Alternatively, if you want to get rid of unwanted hair on your back, chest, upper abdomen, and lower abdomen, your treatment may last for around an hour. The length of your treatment session will be discussed during your initial consultation with us. In the event you apply a topical numbing cream prior to your treatment, your treatment may take 10 to 15 minutes longer.

What Happens During a Session?

We will thoroughly clean the treatment area before your treatment begins. If necessary, we will shave the area. Our team will also look for any signs of skin irritation in the targeted treatment areas. Then, if you’d like, we will apply a topical numbing cream to your targeted areas. Applying the medication to the skin doesn’t take long, but it may take 10 to 15 minutes to take effect.

The laser wavelength will then be calibrated to only target your active hair follicles. A laser emits light pulses in the treatment area as soon as it is ready. Following that, we will talk with you about your post-treatment restrictions.

Am I a Good Candidate?

One of the most popular ways to remove unwanted hair is by using laser therapy. There are very few risks associated with it, and it can be used by someone with light hair or a dark complexion. But, it may not be suitable for everyone. A person who is pregnant or who is breastfeeding is not recommended to go through this treatment. Moreover, no one should go through this treatment if they are taking any medications which may increase their photosensitivity. If you are on medications like these, talk to your doctor about whether it’s possible to pause your medications for a time in order to get laser treatments.

What If I Just Want To Thin My Hair Out?

If you wish to thin your hair, you are a good candidate for this treatment. In particular, men who hate how often they have to shave or trim their facial hair seek this hair removal treatment for hair thinning. The practice of hair thinning is also popular among women who do not mind having arm hair but feel that their arms are too thick.

It should be noted that if you only wish to thin out the hair in the treated areas, you might be able to achieve your desired results after just two or three laser therapy sessions. Thus, you may have to wait only 4 to 8 weeks for you to see the final results you’re shooting for.

Come Talk to Us Today

Approximately 12 weeks after your first laser hair removal treatment, you can expect to see satisfactory results. However, you must be aware that individual results may vary, and how many sessions it will take you to reach your goals will greatly affect how soon you will see results. Contact North Texas Vein and Vascular in Flower Mound, TX to learn more about this treatment and exactly how quickly it can work for you.