Are you sick and tired of dedicating a lot of time to hair removal? Do you feel frustrated by how much money you’re spending to keep your skin smooth? Do you wish there was a convenient, long-lasting hair removal solution? If so, you may be a good fit for laser hair removal at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, IL. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this treatment, including how many sessions you can expect to need, to help you determine if it’s right for you.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Sessions Do You Need?
Many of our clients only need two to three laser hair removal sessions. Numerous factors affect how many treatment sessions you will need to achieve your desired results. Among them are your skin tone, your hair color, the areas you are targeting for treatment, and your goals. If you are only looking to thin out hair in a region of your body, you should only anticipate needing two or three treatment sessions.
Similarly, you can expect to need fewer treatment sessions if there is a significant contrast between the color of your skin and the color of your hair. This is because the treatment works by targeting the hair follicles in the treatment area that are actively growing. The laser can much more effectively target the extra melanin in the actively growing hair follicles when your hair is a lot darker than your skin. Sometimes, though, 10 or more treatments are necessary.
How Long Will My Treatment Session Take?
You can feel pretty confident that each treatment session will be completed in under an hour. The most significant factor affecting how long you can expect your treatment session to take is the size of the areas being targeted. Your treatment session will probably take close to an hour if you are targeting large areas, like your back or legs. Your treatment can be done in just five minutes if you are targeting a small area for hair removal, like your:
- Bikini line
- Chin
- Upper lip
How Soon Can I Enjoy My Ideal Results?
How quickly you can expect to enjoy your ideal results depends primarily on how many sessions you need. Generally speaking, we treat your targeted areas once every four to eight weeks. Therefore, if you need three treatment sessions to achieve satisfactory results, you can generally expect to see your final results after roughly two to four months. However, you should keep in mind that it may take five to 14 days after treatment to shed your treated hair.
How Long Can I Expect My Results To Last?
As a general rule of thumb, you can expect your hair removal results to last a lifetime. The lightwave energy emitted by the laser burns the actively growing hair follicles to death. You should not expect your skin to grow new hair follicles to replace the ones that were killed. However, extreme hormonal imbalances, certain medications, and other factors can cause you to need follow-up treatments in the future.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
If you are interested in a long-lasting hair removal method, there is a good chance this treatment is right for you. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, this treatment cannot be used to remove unwanted hairs from the eyebrows. Other contraindications include pregnancy, breastfeeding, tattoos, and a history of keloid scarring. Additionally, you will not qualify for this treatment if you cannot follow all preparation and recovery guidelines.
You also will be considered a poor fit for this treatment if you suffer from vitiligo, bleeding disorders, or psoriasis. A history of severe reactions to histamines or getting certain cosmetic treatments in the targeted areas too close to your scheduled hair removal appointment will also disqualify you from treatment.
What Preparation Guidelines Will I Need To Follow?
For the most effective treatments possible, it is extremely important that you do not tan in the two weeks leading up to your treatment. You should not use tanning oils, sprays, lamps, or beds. Additionally, you need to stop using any medications that cause photosensitivity. Furthermore, you should refrain from using certain hair removal methods, like depilatory creams, waxing, and tweezing, to mitigate the risk that your skin is irritated at the time of your treatment.
What Aftercare Steps Will I Need To Follow?
One of the most important aftercare guidelines to follow after your laser hair removal session is to protect your skin from the sun. Another crucial aftercare step to take is to refrain from using deodorant, moisturizer, or makeup in the treated areas for 24 hours post-treatment. You should not rub the treated areas for 48 hours post-treatment.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Often, people need between two and three laser hair removal sessions to achieve optimal results. How many treatment sessions you will need to achieve satisfactory results depends on your goals, your skin and hair color, the areas being targeted for treatment, and other factors. Contact us now at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, IL to schedule your initial consultation if you’re interested in learning more about this safe, effective hair removal treatment.