Reduce Unwanted Hair with Laser Treatments

With winter officially upon us, there’s no better time to consider laser treatment to remove unwanted hair. At Marshall Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, I treat many areas of the body including eyebrows, upper lip, chin, sideburns, underarms, neck, back, abdomen, arms, bikini line, legs and toes. In this article, I’ll answer many of your questions about this type of treatment.

What type of laser do you use?

I use a Sciton laser at the Broadband Light (BBL) setting, which emits light energy to eliminate hairs overtime through a series of treatments.

Is it painful?

Because the device has a thermoelectrically cooled sapphire plate, the system delivers continuous cooling, even at maximum power, to keep the skin cool and comfortable before, during and after treatment. Many patients are surprised to find that treatments are not painful and have very mild, if any, discomfort.

How many treatments will I have to do?

Patients can expect six treatments minimum due to the hair naturally growing in six cycles. For the face, it is recommended to retreat every 4-6 weeks, for the body (hair below the chin), it is recommended to retreat every 6-8 weeks.

What type of hair sees the best results?

Ideal candidates for laser hair reduction treatments are those with lighter skin types and darker hair. If the hair lacks pigment such as blonde, white or grey hair, then they will not have a successful treatment. Only hairs containing pigment will get results.

Can I tan while getting laser treatments?

During treatments, it is important that patients do not use tanning beds, self-tanners on the areas being treated or have excessive sun exposure, which is why fall and winter months are such great times to start. If the patient has recently tanned, the laser could cause a blister of the skin because the laser is unable to distinguish between the hair follicle pigments and the skin pigments. The blistering could then lead to scarring. Patients should refrain from laser treatments for 3-4 weeks post sun exposure.

How do I remove unwanted hair in between treatments?

The patient will also want to discontinue waxing, tweezing and depilatories products such as Nair, which removes the entire hair follicle. With the hair follicle gone, the laser can’t treat the hair bulb, which will significantly impact results. To remove unwanted hair, patients should shave.

Another treatment that I offer for unwanted facial hair is dermaplaning. Dermaplaning is often combined in a facial treatment. Read more about dermaplaning here to learn more.

If you’d like to schedule an appointment for laser hair reduction or dermaplaning, call Marshall Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at 304-691-8910.