Are you frustrated by how much time you spend shaving unwanted hair? Are you over the burning sensation that follows the use of depilatory cream or the financial investment of waxing your unwanted hairs? Do you wish there was a more time-efficient hair removal method than tweezing? If so, you may be a good fit for laser hair treatment at Tru-Male Medical Men’s Health and Wellness Center in Oak Brook, IL.
What Should You Expect From Laser Hair Treatment?
Individual results vary with laser hair treatment, but you can generally expect to notice the treated hairs fall out after just three to seven days post-treatment. Just keep in mind that you may need to come in for several follow-up sessions depending on your goals. This is because laser hair removal is only effective for the hair follicles that are in the active phase of the hair growth cycle.
The hair follicles in your areas of concern are in different phases at the same time. For instance, it is possible that a quarter of the hair follicles in your chin are in the active growth phase at any given time. Therefore, you would need to come in for four treatment sessions if you never want to grow a beard again. You may only need one or two treatment sessions if your goal is to thin out your chin hair.
How Many Sessions Are Usually Required
Most men require between four and eight treatment sessions to achieve total hair removal. However, the number of treatment sessions you will need to achieve your desired results depends on numerous factors, including what goals you have. Again, if you just want to thin out the hair in an area so you can reduce the frequency at which you shave, wax, or use depilatory cream, you may only need two to four sessions per area of concern.
Another factor that affects how many treatment sessions you will need is the color of your hair. The greater the contrast between your skin tone and hair color, the more effective each session will be. If you have dark, coarse hair and pale skin, the laser will be able to target the active hair follicles more effectively, and you will need fewer treatments. If you have gray, blond, or red hair, you may need closer to 10 treatment sessions to achieve total hair removal.
How Soon You Can See Your Final Results
Remember, you can generally expect to see the results of each treatment session after just three to seven days. Usually, treatment sessions are spaced four to six weeks apart, giving time for other hair follicles in the area of concern to enter the growth phase of the hair growth cycle. If you need two sessions spaced four weeks apart and it takes a week for all of your hair to shed, your treatment will be done in just five weeks.
On the other hand, it will be a few months if you need four treatment sessions to achieve your desired results. Keep in mind that while it may take around a year of coming in for treatment to achieve your desired results, you won’t need to shave daily or multiple times per week between your sessions. Small time investments will provide you with massive time savings in return.
Painless Treatment
You should expect to feel neither pain nor discomfort during your treatment session. Everyone has a different tolerance to intense heat, but we are more than happy to apply a topical numbing cream to your treatment area so you don’t feel anything at all during your treatment. If you don’t want to be numbed prior to treatment because you don’t have time to wait for the medicine to take effect, know that you will feel the laser but you shouldn’t expect pain.
Permanent Results
You should also expect to enjoy your hair removal results for the rest of your life. Once the intense heat from the laser light burns the hair follicles in the growth phase of the hair growth cycle, they are destroyed for good. If you receive enough treatment sessions to destroy all of the hair follicles in an area of concern, you will only need to worry about hair growth in the future if severe hormonal imbalances occur.
Convenient Treatment
In addition to being painless and permanent, you should know that laser hair treatment is extremely convenient. The length of your treatment session depends on numerous factors, including the length of your hair at the time of your treatment, whether you opt for topical numbing, the size of the areas being treated, and the number of areas being treated. However, you can generally expect each session to be completed in under an hour.
You can generally expect your treatment session to take between five and 30 minutes if you opt out of a topical numbing cream and only have one area of concern. If you have one area of concern and opt for a topical numbing cream, your treatment session may take closer to 20 to 45 minutes depending on how long it takes your skin to numb in response to the medication. If you are treating multiple areas, like your chin, chest, and back, your session may take around 90 minutes.
Am I a Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
To verify that you are a good laser hair removal candidate, you need to attend an initial evaluation. However, if you are frustrated by facial or body hair and the time it takes to remain well-groomed, there is a very good chance you will qualify. It is important to note that laser technology has advanced significantly over the years. You don’t need to worry about laser treatments bleaching or otherwise discoloring your skin regardless of your skin tone.
There are some people that this hair removal technique is not safe for, though. For example, you will be considered a poor fit for this hair removal technique if you suffer from photosensitivity. Furthermore, you may not qualify if you take drugs, like certain NSAIDs, that cause photosensitivity and your doctor advises you to not stop taking these medications. During your initial evaluation, we will give you preparation instructions to ensure your treatment goes smoothly.
What Will I Need to Do to Prepare for My Laser Hair Removal Sessions?
It is vital that your skin is not irritated at the time of your scheduled appointment. If there is any skin irritation when you come in for your appointment, we will reschedule your treatment session. To mitigate the risk of skin irritation, make sure that you wear sunscreen diligently in the 14 days leading up to your appointment. To further protect your skin from sunburn, do your best to stay out of the sun from 10 AM to 4 PM.
As a reminder, the greater the contrast between your hair and skin color, the more effective each treatment session will be. Make sure there is as much contrast as possible between your skin and hair color by not tanning in the weeks leading up to your appointment. Avoiding tanning beds and sunbathing is great for preventing UV ray damage. However, it is also important that you do not use any tanning creams or sprays before your hair removal session.
Can I Shave Before My Treatment Session?
Yes, you can shave before your laser hair removal session. However, you must do it carefully. It is highly advisable that you use hypoallergenic shaving cream and a new razor if you choose to shave the day before your appointment.
If you don’t want to use a new razor, make sure the razor blade you use is clean and sharp. If you cut yourself prior to your hair removal session, we will need to reschedule it. Note, depending on the length of the hair in your treatment area at the time of your appointment, we may trim your hair before we start.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
You don’t need to undergo painful waxing or time-consuming shaving to get the smooth, hair-free skin you want. With laser hair treatment, you can quickly, painlessly, and permanently rid your skin of unwanted hair. If you think laser hair removal would benefit you, contact us today at Tru-Male Medical Men’s Health and Wellness Center in Oak Brook, IL to schedule your initial consultation. There’s a good chance you’ll be deemed a good fit for this treatment.