Unwanted hair is a pain to deal with – sometimes literally if your chosen hair removal method is waxing or tweezing. Eventually, most of us grow tired with the constant task of managing the hair growth on our bodies, especially if our hair seems to grow very quickly or densely. Luckily, the advent of new technology has found a solution. At Revive MD Center in Glen Allen, VA we know that laser hair removal with the Icon laser system is the way to go if you want to enjoy silky-smooth skin around the clock.
Laser hair removal in Revive MD Center is an aesthetic treatment that is performed with advanced technology. Although this is a laser treatment, it can safely be used on the skin without harming tissue, making it an ideal choice for people of all skin types and tones. Unlike other hair removal methods, laser treatments are both more effective and less uncomfortable. If you want a way to permanently reduce hair growth and simplify your life, then laser treatments are the way to go.
So, what’s the best frequency for laser treatments? It depends on where you are in your treatment process. People who are just starting laser treatments generally require more frequent appointments until the optimal results are achieved. By contrast, people who have already completed their initial treatments will have a different frequency depending on how long their results last and other factors.
Your initial treatments will take place over a series of appointments. It’s common for your initial treatments to be spaced four to six weeks apart. This frequency is best because it allows the skin time to recover between treatments, as well as allowing your natural hair growth cycle to produce new hair for treatment.
Because our hair grows in four stages, this treatment will work best when the treated follicle has visible hair. Your hair growth cycle is also why you will likely require multiple treatments to produce your ideal results.
After your initial round of treatments, you will need to maintain your results with regular appointments. This frequency is determined by factors such as your age, your genetics, and how quickly your follicles recover from your initial treatments. It’s common for patients to schedule maintenance appointments once or twice a year to maintain results.
Since each individual hair follicle in any given treatment area is at a different stage of the hair growth cycle, you will need to have multiple treatments. Laser treatments for hair removal only work when the laser can detect visible hair, so your hair must be at a certain stage for this treatment to work. About six to eight initial treatments are necessary to achieve optimal results for most people.
That said, if you miss an appointment during your initial round of treatment, you’ll be back at square one. Hair removal treatments are all about keeping your momentum and since most hair follicles will need to be stunned by laser energy at least once or twice for truly effective results, skipping an appointment can mean waiting longer to get the results you want.
Because laser treatments for hair removal are non-invasive and non-surgical, there isn’t much you will need to do to prepare for your treatments. You will not need to arrange for time off work and you will be able to drive yourself home after your appointment. Each of your appointments will take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete, based on how many areas are being treated. However, for best results, you will want to follow three cardinal rules.
The first rule is to avoid sunlight, self-tanning products, and tanning beds at least two weeks before your appointment. Laser treatments are safe for the skin, but when your skin has been exposed to elements that may cause photosensitivity, laser treatments can trigger melanin production that will darken the pigment of your skin. The best thing you can do is stay in the shade and wear SPF during daylight hours.
You also need to avoid waxing or tweezing two to four weeks before your appointment. Both waxing and tweezing removes hair from the root, which can be a problem for getting the results you want from laser treatments. Your laser treatment is only effective when the hair root is attached to the hair follicle, so it’s important that you do your best to keep hair roots intact.
While you won’t be able to wax or tweeze before your appointment, you will be allowed to shave. In fact, shaving 24 to 48 hours before your appointment is encouraged! Shaving before your appointment will allow the laser treatment to maintain as much thermal energy as possible when it travels down the hair shaft, so the shorter your hair, the better.
After your treatment, you will be allowed to go back to work, exercise, and follow the rest of your normal daily routine. Your only must-do instructions will be to wear SPF when you plan to be outside during the daytime for the next two to four weeks. Aside from that, you will not have any formal aftercare instructions. However, there are two tips that may help your skin feel better after this treatment.
Exfoliation is a necessary hygiene step for the skin all over the body. Although our skin cells shed naturally, it’s best to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week to encourage better cellular turnover and smoother, more even-toned skin. After laser treatment, your skin may experience some extra shedding, so exfoliating a few days after your treatment will help your skin recover more quickly.
You will also want to moisturize after your treatment. Laser treatments utilize thermal energy, which can zap the skin of necessary moisture. It’s best to use gentle, unscented, and simple moisturizers to fortify the skin after your treatment. Choose moisturizers and lotions containing oats, shea butter, aloe vera, cocoa butter, hyaluronic acid, or ceramides to restore the moisture in your skin.
One of the neat things about laser hair removal treatments is the fact that the treatment can be used virtually anywhere on the body, except for the eyebrows. You can use this treatment on the upper lip, chest, back, underarms, forearms, stomach, bikini area, and legs. Anyplace that has unwanted hair is eligible for treatment provided the skin in that area of the body is healthy.
By healthy skin, we generally mean skin that is not broken, inflamed, or irritated. This means you may need to postpone your treatment if you have an eczema or psoriasis breakout, or if you are recovering from a sunburn.
Laser treatments for hair removal work by using a handheld device to zap each hair follicle with a small amount of thermal energy. The heat generated by this treatment will travel down the hair shaft, which will then damage the hair follicle and make it incapable of supporting a hair root. After repeated exposure, the hair follicle will be damaged enough that it will not be able to grow hair for several months.
This treatment is not considered painful. Most patients compare the sensation of this treatment to a brief snap of a rubber band against the skin, so the laser treatment is well-tolerated by most people. At a patient’s request, we can discuss the use of a topical numbing cream before your treatment to ensure your comfort.
The results of this treatment are intended to be permanent or semi-permanent. As long as you keep up with your maintenance appointments every year, you can expect your results to last for the foreseeable future. If at any time you skip your annual appointment, you still might not see any hair growth for years.
Between the simplicity of this treatment and the longevity of the results, the benefits of laser treatments for hair removal are already grand – but there are several other benefits that will make this treatment worthwhile. For example, this treatment is safe for most skin tones and skin types. Other benefits include:
Laser treatments have an incredible side benefit of eliminating ingrown hairs, which happen when hair grows crookedly from the hair follicle. Ingrown hairs can be caused by removing hair from the root or even from shaving irritation. The thermal energy from laser treatments prevents any hair regrowth from developing ingrown hairs.
Tweezing, waxing, and shaving all can cause skin irritation, including redness, bumps, and razor burn. Laser treatments, on the other hand, produce virtually zero skin irritation since laser treatments will not damage the dermis. This is why people with especially sensitive skin may prefer to use laser treatments, especially if they frequently experience skin irritation after traditional hair removal methods.
Less skin irritation is more comfortable to live with. When skin is irritated, it tends to be itchy and uncomfortable and can even make painful lumps on the skin. With less skin irritation, you are also less likely to experience skin damage or rashes after hair removal like waxing.
Laser treatments are commonly used to treat a variety of skin concerns, including uneven skin tone, skin laxity, and skin or vascular lesions. After your laser hair removal treatments, you may notice that your skin appearance will improve over time. By improving the appearance of your skin while also removing unwanted hair, laser treatments can effectively accomplish two tasks at one time.
Women and men who have unwanted hair on the face or body are generally good candidates for this treatment. This laser treatment can be used by people of all skin tones and even by people who have sensitive skin. The advanced technology means this treatment can be used on all hair tones, as well; however, those who have blond, red, or grey hair may require more treatments.
We all love the look and feel of silky-smooth skin, but traditional hair removal treatments make it difficult to enjoy this feeling without skin irritation. Even worse, hair grows back all too quickly. Fortunately, laser hair removal treatments can effectively reduce or eliminate hair regrowth for a significant amount of time. Please contact Revive MD Center in Glen Allen, VA to schedule your consultation today.
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