How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Take? The Complete Laser Hair Removal Timeline

Hair removal is a tedious and even daunting process most individuals undergo to obtain silky skin whether for the beach or just to get ready for the shorts season ahead. While some risk razor burn, especially in their bikini line, others try to reduce the effects of ingrown hairs with painful waxing. Luckily, non-invasive lasering can help, but what’s the laser hair removal timeline?

At Skin Tight MedSpa, our dedicated team believes you should have it all, from the flawless look and painless procedure to the long-term results. That’s why our stellar specialists with years of experience offer laser hair removal with the most cutting-edge technology. Below, we’ll relay the procedure’s timeline and what you can do before and after to guarantee optimal results. 

Preparing for Professional Laser Hair Removal

The first step in any procedure is preparation and this begins at home. If you’ve never had laser hair removal done before, your aesthetician will set up an initial consultation to go over potential risks and habits you should start or stop before your first session. 

What to Stop Doing Before the Procedure 

The first thing they’ll look into is your prescription medication since some of them make your skin sensitive and more susceptible to negative reactions like pain and discoloration during the laser treatment. Ask your doctor about temporarily halting birth control, antibiotics, and acne treatments. Still, these photosensitizing medications aren’t all that can set your skin up for disastrous results. 

If your skin is used to receiving a lot of UV rays, whether from constant direct contact with the sun’s rays or tanning beds, your skin produces a lot of melanin that provides a deeper skin pigment. Unfortunately, the laser mistakes melanin for hair follicles, which leads not only to a less effective treatment but also to skin discoloration and burning. So, swap out these practices for self-tanners or spray tans.

Other things you should avoid before laser hair removal include:

• Benzoyl peroxide, Retinoids, and Hydroxy acid skincare products that cause photosensitivity
• Waxing and plucking that rips out the follicles and keeps the laser from targeting them
• Salicylic acid that may bar the laser’s accuracy in follicle targeting

What to Do Before the Procedure

Now that you know what not to do, let’s look at what you should do before diving into the laser hair removal timeline. Although you should stop waxing and plucking permanently as long as you plan to keep up with lasering, shaving is okay as long as you refrain from doing so 24 hours before any session. 

You should also shower right before your appointment since you need clean skin to ensure you won’t get an infection. Thoroughly remove all traces of makeup, perfume, body lotions, and other residues you may have on your skin. Refrain from putting anything on the skin after the shower. 

The Laser Hair Removal Timeline

After the first treatment, when the laser shocks the follicles and burns the hairs, your skin may feel sunburned with a red and swollen appearance, but this should subside that same day. About 5 to 19 days afterward, the hair starts to fall out, leaving smooth patches. Six to eight weeks later, the second session ensues and, like after the first, expect hair fallout 5 to 19 days afterward, but from new spots. 

Twelve weeks into your sessions, you’ll have your second follow-up appointment. By this time, you’ll notice very slow or no hair growth, but you should continue to attend these sessions for maximum efficiency, which includes the fourth one 18 to 24 weeks in, and the fifth one 24 to 32 weeks in. 

You’ll likely feel completely hair-free at this point, but the sixth session finalizes your course, and you’ll have at least 80% permanent hair growth reduction. 

The Aftermath of Hair Removal 

One to two days after each procedure, you should minimize sun exposure and wear high-SPF sunscreen if you must leave your house. While you can shower, you should also refrain from swimming since bacteria and pathogens in the water can easily irritate your skin, just like UV rays. 

Because you don’t want to clog open pores, use clean, fragrance-free skincare and gently exfoliate weekly. Also, ask about topical antibiotics to soothe and heal skin irritations. 

Can you exfoliate after laser hair removal? Read more here!

We Specialize in Your Skin, So Reach Out!

At Skin Tight MedSpa, our team specializes in laser therapy to simplify your skincare regimen. So, whether you want to know the laser hair removal timeline or are ready to schedule a free consultation, contact us today!