Women have always wanted to be beautiful and they spent tons of effort to achieve that!
All sorts of beauty procedures that we have today are aimed at reaching the beauty standard: smooth and silky skin, thick and glossy hair, and slim figure.
However, ladies still face certain difficulties on their way to becoming beauty models.
In particular, we mean fighting the unwanted hair.
This is why so many women around the world find it more reasonable to undergo a laser hair removing procedure instead of wasting time on never-ending shaving.
However, here is another stumbling stone we have: what to do before laser hair removal in order to get yourself ready for the upcoming procedure correctly? And this is exactly what we are going to tell you about today!
From this article, you will learn more about preparing for laser hair removal, and also, we will tell you what you should avoid when getting yourself ready.
Finally, you will find out what to do after the procedure to care for your skin correctly and what else you should think of before you set an appointment at the clinic that you chose.
How to Prepare For Laser Hair Removal?
All the ladies know how bothersome and even annoying it is to regularly shave their legs or underarms in order to keep the skin smooth and hairless!
It takes time, plus you need to be very careful since even the safest razor may leave cuts on your skin that are very painful and they can even become a way for the infection to get into your body!
Moreover, when it comes to shaving, you need to do this procedure relatively often since hair typically tends to grow back pretty fast.
This is why so many women prefer undergoing a laser hair removal session instead of old-fashioned shaving.
However, if you consider this option to get rid of the unwanted hair on your body, you need to know how to prepare for laser hair removal correctly.
Fortunately, the preparation is not difficult at all. You just need to take a few recommendations into consideration before you pay a visit to a salon to get the unwanted hair removed.
Related: How many Sessions Are Needed For Laser Hair Removal?
Schedule a Consultation
This is one of the basic laser hair removal prep tips and recommendations. The very first thing that should be done is to make an appointment and check your skin.
And even though laser treatment is considered a cosmetic procedure, it is still best to think of it as a medical procedure.
In other words, you must be absolutely sure that only a licensed and certified expert will do it for you!
This is why you have to start from finding a licensed and certified laser hair removal clinic first of all.
Ask your friends or relatives for references or simply check online reviews for recommendations. Once you have found a place you can trust, make an appointment for a consultation.
Ask All the Questions You Have
Many women do laser hair removal for the first time so naturally, they might have plenty of questions regarding the procedure. Don’t be afraid to ask those questions during your consultation!
Like this, you can gather all of the information you need to make an informed decision.
They will also ask questions about your medical history. Make sure to mention any skin conditions you have had in the past and if your skin is prone to scarring and learn more about the things you need to do before laser hair removal.
For example, ask how many sessions you will need since laser hair removal is usually not done in one session only.
Also, remember to ask how effective the procedure will be so that you know what to expect.
Remember to ask what the process actually includes, how long it will take, and what tools will be used during the procedure.
It will help you to get more ready for the upcoming process and not be afraid of the technician’s actions.
Inquire about the potential risks as well, as some people may experience irritation, scarring, and pigment changes in the skin. Last but not least, ask your laser technician how much it will cost and if payment plans or specials are available.
Follow the Pre-Treatment Orders
Your technician will instruct you on what to do and what not to do before your first laser hair removal session. Make sure that you follow those orders precisely! If you fail to do so or you skip any recommendations, it can affect your results or, in some cases, force you to reschedule your appointment for a future date. So what are some of these pre-treatment instructions you should keep in mind?
First of all, you need to know that the process begins about six weeks before your first session. During that time, you cannot pluck or wax! Laser hair removal works by destroying the hair follicle, so the follicle must be intact!
It is also important that you avoid tanning and using self-tanning products for six weeks prior to your first visit.
Why, you may ask? Because tanning products increase the level of tanin in your skin, and it is best to have natural levels of this element during the treatment.
Also, remember to avoid medications such as blood thinners, NSAIDs, and pain relievers. The day before your session, shave the treatment area, and right before the session, take a shower and wash the areas that will be treated with the laser. However, we strongly recommend you avoid using lotions, sunscreens or moisturizers!
Remember that your skin must be clean, dry and free of any skin care products!
With these tips, we are sure that you will manage to get yourself ready for the upcoming laser hair removal procedure perfectly even if this is going to be your very first visit to a clinic!
What Not to Do Before Laser Hair Removal?
This is important to get yourself ready for the laser hair removal session, of course, especially if you are about to undergo this procedure for the first time in your life. However, it is not only the must-do rules that you should keep in mind and follow when preparing yourself for the treatment.
There are also certain restrictions that are the same essential to follow if you want your laser hair removal session to be successful and please you with the results!
- Do not use any topical products that cause photosensitivity, for example, hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, retinols, and benzoyl peroxide in the treatment areas for three days before the laser hair removal treatment.
- Do your best to avoid sun exposure to the treatment area
- Do not use UV tanning for two weeks before the procedure.
- Make sure that you use only a broad-spectrum mineral sunblock with an SPF of 30 or above on a daily basis.
Make sure that you follow all the instructions regarding the oral prescription medications that your technician provided at your medical laser consultation. If you are taking any new or different medications, including antibiotics, contact your clinic prior to your appointment.
Don’t make any Botox injections, dermal filler injections, chemical peels or microdermabrasion in the treatment area for at least two weeks before your laser hair removal session.
Make sure that you have showered or bathed right before the procedure and you are now with completely clean skin. No lotions, oils, creams or fragrances of any kind are allowed for application before the hair removal session!
Any treatment areas should be shaved completely prior to treatment. Make sure you shave your legs around 24 hours prior to your appointment to a salon in order to avoid irritation.
Do not wax, tweeze, epilate or use chemical depilatories for two weeks before treatment.
Shaving is the only form of hair removal recommended during the course of your treatments
After Laser Hair Removal Skin Treatment
Many ladies are worried when they see their skin gets red after the laser hair removal procedure, but in fact, it is absolutely normal to experience some redness and sometimes even swelling in the treatment area following laser hair removal.
This may persist for several days, so don’t panic. Also, the treated area may feel like a razor burn or sunburn for a few hours after treatment so be ready for that as well. To relieve the unpleasant feelings, over-the-counter hydrocortisone or aloe vera may be used to reduce redness and irritation.
However, you need to keep in mind that your skin still requires proper care and treatment during this period of time!
Improper post-treatment care, including excessive heat or sun exposure of the treated area, may increase the chance of scarring, pigmentation changes and skin texture changes!
This is why make sure that you follow the next recommendations precisely.
- Avoid excessive heat (such as hot tubs, saunas or working out) in the treated area for twenty four hours after laser hair removal procedure
- Avoid sun exposure to the treated area
- Do not use UV tanning beds at all for two weeks after treatment. If you need to, use a broad-spectrum sunblock with an SPF of 30 or above on a daily basis
- In the treated areas, do not use any topical products that cause photosensitivity (e.g. hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, retinols, and benzoyl peroxide) for three days after treatment
- Use a gentle cleanser and lotion on treated areas
- Do not have Botox injections, dermal filler injections, chemical peels or microdermabrasion in the treatment area for at least 1forteen days after laser hair removal
Treatments should be scheduled the following way: facial areas should be treated every 4-6 weeks, trunk areas need treatment every 6-8 weeks, and leg areas should be treated every 8-10 weeks.
Who Can’t Do Laser Hair Removal?
It may seem that laser hair removal is the type of procedure that anyone can do, however, this is not quite like this. Even this procedure has certain restrictions and some people may be offered another, alternative option instead of removing the unwanted hair from their bodies with the laser.
Why is that so, you may be wondering? Well, there are several factors that contribute to that. First of all, if you have any problems with your blood vessels (for example, varicosis), your doctor will not recommend laser hair removal.
The reason is pretty simple: a laser may damage the already weak blood vessels, such as veins, which may lead to your state of health getting worse.
Second, those who have any issues with their skin (for instance, dermatitis, eczema, skin allergies etc.) are also not allowed to undergo a laser hair removal procedure since it will cause even more damage to already damaged skin.
As a result, the current state of it may worsen! Those who have any skin infections are also not allowed to undergo a laser hair removal procedure!
Also, if your skin is prone to pigmentation, your laser technician will most likely not recommend you this procedure to get rid of the unwanted hair. This is because a laser may cause skin discoloration and pigmentation in your case.
Another category of people who can’t do laser hair removal includes pregnant women. While there is not much information available on the effect of laser or chemicals applied to the skin during treatment on the fetus, it is generally advised to avoid laser hair removal treatment if a woman is pregnant. In fact, no laser treatments are recommended for pregnant people.
So, now you know all the necessary information regarding the laser hair removal procedure and how to prepare for it correctly. With all that in mind, you will be able to get the best results and cause no harm to your health being aware of what you should avoid and what should be taken into close consideration!
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