Over the course of a lifetime, we spend a lot of time and energy on our beauty routine, and removing unwanted hair is a big part of that. However, you don’t need to shave every day because you can get your hair removed for the long term with a laser hair removal appointment. Here at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN, we offer this treatment for many different areas of the body, so you can come in for one specific problem or for a full-body treatment.
But what are the results like, and how often will you need to come back? Although it can sometimes work permanently, many people find that they need to return to the clinic for maintenance appointments at regular intervals. However, this depends on your skin, the amount of hair you have, and the results you are hoping to achieve. The vast majority of patients find that they save a lot of time and energy when they opt for laser treatment.
How Often Do You Need To Get Laser Hair Removal?
You’re likely to experience excellent results after your laser sessions, and many people report that about 90% of their hair doesn’t grow back after their course of treatment has finished. To achieve the best outcome possible, you will need several appointments, so the whole process can take a few months. However, you’ll start to notice the first signs of change after only a few weeks.
How Often You Need Treatments
Because everyone’s different, there isn’t one answer to the question of how long-lasting the effects of treatment are. Some patients never have to come back once they have been treated, while others return to the clinic for maintenance appointments. In every case, the hair will be less dense and thinner than before. Although your hair shouldn’t re-grow, this might happen when a life change occurs.
For example, you may experience different hair growth patterns when you’re undergoing significant hormonal changes, such as after pregnancy or during menopause. Such a change in your hormonal balance can trigger the growth of new hair, so you might need to visit us again and repeat the process.
When You Can Expect Results
Only around 85-90% of your hair will currently be growing when you go to your first appointment, and the laser can’t target any follicles that aren’t active. For this reason, you’ll have to come back to the clinic several times in order to see the best results possible. In most cases, there will be three appointments, with a break of 4-6 weeks between each session in order to give the hair follicles time to become active.
Around 2-3 weeks after your first visit to the clinic for laser treatment, you will notice the first reduction in the density and thickness of your hair. You won’t be able to stop shaving completely yet, and you’ll need to be patient for several months to see the end result of your treatment. Once all of your appointments are over and you’ve let approximately 3 weeks pass, you will know exactly how well the laser therapy has worked.
Who Can Expect the Best Results?
Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t one type of person who will be able to see the best results anymore. In the past, people with light skin and hair were the best candidates for laser hair removal, and this myth is still around. However, technology has advanced significantly since then, so the laser is now safe for everyone, and you can expect excellent results no matter what your hair and skin colors are.
Here at Beautique Medical Anti-Aging, we use a handheld device to complete this treatment, and it has many safety mechanisms installed, which ensure that the light is attracted to your hair and not your skin. That’s why the laser is now effective for almost everyone, and you can enjoy the benefits of this treatment without worrying about whether you’re a good candidate or not.
Your Treatment
You may wonder what actually happens during the laser session and whether it will hurt. Fortunately, we have several ways of making sure that our patients have a pleasant, pain-free session. You won’t have to stay at the clinic for a long time because your appointment will be quick, and the recovery time is very short. Since this method is non-invasive, you won’t need to rest after you’ve been treated, and you can go home almost straight away.
Preparation and Aftercare
In preparation for your session, we will have an initial consultation to discuss your general health, your struggle with excessive hair, and what you hope to achieve from your treatment. If we decide that laser therapy is the best option for you, we can then give you all of the relevant information related to your preparation. For example, we will tell you not to expose your skin to excessive sunlight or undergo any harsh skin treatments.
After you’ve been treated, you won’t need to rest. Most people, especially ones who don’t have extremely sensitive skin, will be able to resume their normal activities and go to work the next day. Despite this, you will have to take very good care of your skin and keep it out of harsh sunlight for several weeks. We recommend that you apply sunscreen to the treatment area for the next month, even if it’s not very sunny outside.
The Appointment at the Clinic
Before coming to see us, we will ask you not to use certain hair removal techniques such as epilating, tweezing, or waxing, as this can interfere with the treatment. However, you should shave one day prior to the session, since laser therapy works much better on very short hair. Arrive at the clinic with freshly washed skin, but don’t apply any creams or lotions.
When you arrive, your practitioner will first apply a numbing cream or spray to the local area in order to make sure you won’t feel any pain. We will wait for this to sink in, and once your skin is numb, we can then get started with the handheld device. The total time spent on the session will depend on which area of the body is being treated, but most people are in and out of the clinic in one hour or less.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Laser Treatment?
Almost anyone who wants to get rid of unwanted hair will be a good candidate for this kind of treatment, but we will still consult with you before making a final decision. This is to rule out any health concerns that could make laser hair removal unsafe for you and to check that the expected results align with the goals you have set yourself.
You Are in Good General Health
Even if you’re not eligible for cosmetic surgery, you might be able to have noninvasive beauty treatments like laser therapy. However, we won’t be able to treat you if you’re currently pregnant or breastfeeding because we want to avoid any negative side effects for both you and your child. Similarly, we’ll have to delay your session if you develop an active infection in the treatment area.
You Want To Save Time and Money
Over the course of their lifetime, women will spend around $10,000 on razors for shaving or around $23,000 on waxing. Similarly, they might spend at least one hour per week removing unwanted hair. Although the exact statistics might be different for men, both genders lose a lot of money and time on these treatments. By getting laser therapy, you could save your resources for things that you really enjoy.
Remove Your Unwanted Hair Now
No matter your skin color or age, you could benefit from laser hair removal if you have unwanted hair and don’t want to spend a lot of time on it every week. Although it’s not always permanent, you will notice a great reduction in the number of hairs that grow back after your first round of sessions, and you might not need another treatment until you experience a significant life change such as a pregnancy or menopause.
In addition to being an easy way of removing unwanted hair, laser treatment is also quick and noninvasive, so you won’t have to spend a lot of time preparing for and resting after your session. Contact Beautique Medical Anti-Aging in Knoxville, TN to book your initial consultation and find out whether this is the best option for you. Nurse Shara LaTorre and her team will be more than happy to help you.