So now that you know the scientific stuff, now its time to learn about what to expect the day of your treatment. When you first come in, you will fill out a confidential medical evaluation. This will be the first step in the process of determining your candidacy for laser treatments.
Next, our licensed laser specialist will give you a personal skin assessment and go over your skin type, heredity, medical history, and answer any questions you may have. We suggest shaving prior to your consultation and not having a sunburn if you expect to get started the same day as your consultation visit. Most patients will have time to receive treatment the same day as their consultation if they are ready and are deemed to be good candidates for laser hair removal.
Typically, there is little to no down time after laser hair removal treatments and patients have been known to come in on their lunch breaks. To see all of our pre-treatment instructions for patients expecting laser hair removal treatments, you can visit our laser pre-treatment page. Before the laser is used, a cooling gel is applied to your skin, most patients compare it to cold jello! Once the gel is applied, the treatment will start by using the Cynosure Elite PLUS laser that emits a series of very short bursts of light to the treatment area. Most patients describe the sensation as being snapped with a rubber band. The discomfort is over almost immediately, and most treatments take just a few minutes depending on the size of the area. An underarm for instance may take just 1-2 minutes each. Additionally, the hair removal for men process is very similar to women.
After the treatment, the gel will be removed and Cortisone and SPF is applied to your skin. Bandages and ointments are not necessary after laser hair removal due to the nature of the treatments being so minimally invasive. Typically any discomfort subsides immediately after treatment, but you may feel as if you have a mild sunburn following treatment.
