Laser Hair Removal Questions and answers. Please contact us if you would like to book a consult or if you have any other questions.
Is the treatment really pain-free?
Most people find our laser hair removal technology to be comfortable, especially when compared to other hair removal methods and lasers. The laser hair removal machines we use do not require the application of a numbing agent prior to treatment. You will additionally not feel the “rubber band snapping” sensation that most people report with other laser hair removal machines. Our treatment feels like heat with an occasional “pinching” sensation.
How many treatments will I need?
On average you will need a minimum of 6 to 8 treatments spaced 6 to 8 weeks apart (4 to 6 weeks apart for face) to achieve permanent hair reduction. You may require additional treatments outside the norm due to certain factors such as medication, hormonal changes, or hair cycles. It’s also not uncommon to require a touch-up treatment once a year after completing laser hair removal treatments.
What should I expect during a laser session at your lounge?
If this is your first treatment, our laser technician will begin with a free personal consultation. Once you are deemed a suitable candidate, the treatment can begin. The treatment will begin with the technician cleaning the treatment area. You will then be asked to put on safety goggles provided by us. The technician will then program the laser machine to determine the settings best suited for your treatment area and skin type.
An ultrasound gel is then applied to the treatment area to help protect skin while helping the laser to penetrate the skin. The laser is pulsed over the treatment area and targeted to the hair follicles. It will burn the follicles but leave your skin relatively untouched. A little reddening or swelling of the skin is normal but subsides quickly. You will be given aloe vera lotion to help with any discomfort you may feel for the nest 3 hours or so. At this point, the laser technician will help schedule a new appointment for your next treatment. You will also be provided with instruction for post-treatment care.
Within 2 to 3 weeks, you will see the hair falling out of the treatment area. Hair growth will be slower and hairs will be finer. The re-growth cycle for new hair will begin in approximately 6 weeks, indicating the appropriate time for your next treatment.
Will my hair ever grow back?
Actively growing hairs that are treated should not grow back. Once a hair follicle is damaged it cannot grow hair. However, hair follicles that were not in the active growth phase during treatment will need to be treated. It is also not unusual for patients to have a touch-up once a year after initial treatments due to hormonal changes.
What areas can be treated?
Virtually all areas can be treated but an initial consultation is conducted with the laser technician to assess if there may be areas that are not suitable for treatment.
Can I get laser hair removal if I have a tattoo in the area I want treated?
We do not suggest treating the area a tattoo is on and will only treat around it. Lasers for hair removal work on the same basis like tattoo removal machines being attracted to darker pigments. treating over a tattoo with a laser used for hair removal may cause the tattoo ink pigments to shatter, resulting in lightening of tattoos and most likely burning/scarring over the tattoo.
Can I get laser hair removal with the Alma Soprano Family line of lasers in the summer, and can it treat tanned skin?
Yes! The Sporano SHR method affects the melanin of the skin using a unique method, allowing the procedure to be performed any time of the year as well as on tanned skin. Furthermore, sun exposure is less traumatic to the skin following SHR treatment. It’s an advanced hair removal platform that incorporates multiple laser wavelengths and technologies. It offers power and versatility that allows you to treat the widest range of patients an hair types all year round. While the melanin in dark skin is exponentially more sensitive to the heat used in laser treatments, Alma Soprano’s SHR method has been clinically proven to be safe for dark skin types. Rather than exposing the hair follicles to a single high-energy pulse which can cause trauma to skin with a high melanin count, SHR gradually heats the skin until the required heat energy is delivered to the hair follicle. This makes SHR laser hair removal optimal, including for dark-skinned patients.
How can I prepare for treatment?
Remove hair from treatment areas 24 hours prior to treatment by shaving with a razor. Do not wax or pluck the area.
Can you tell me about post treatment care?
- Handle your treatment area gently and void shaving for 24 hours.
- Avoid hot water and strenuous activities for 24 hours i.e. working out and taking hot showers.
- The treated area can be washed, but be sure to use a mild soap, and then pat – not rub – the skin dry.
- Protect your treated areas from direct exposure to sun or artificial lights for 3 weeks before and after treatment. Tanning after treatments may result in skin discolourations.
- A sunscreen of SPF-30 or higher should be used on any treatment areas exposed to the sun.
- Deodorant may be used 24 hours after treatment.
- Do not tweeze, wax, bleach, or use depilatories for 3 weeks before commencing treatment, and discontinue tweezing, waxing, or using depilatories completely during the course of laser hair removal. You can shave or clip between treatments after the initial 24 hours post treatment.
- Aloe vera or hydrocortisone cream can be applied to treatment areas to ease discomfort and soothe the skin for a few days after treatment. A cold compress may also be used if swelling occurs.
- For facial treatments, mineral makeup can be applied to treatment areas immediately after treatment if there are no signs of blistering or crusting.
- To avoid damaging the skin or the risk of infection, please take special care in removing makeup from facial areas post-treatment due to the sensitive nature of the skin after treatment.
- If a blister develops, please contact your physician. Do not pop the blister – apply a cold compress.