Thanks to advanced laser technology, we can now eliminate unwanted body hair right at its source — your follicles. If you’ve decided to avail yourself of this innovative approach to unwanted body hair, there are a few things you can do to ease the journey both before and after your laser hair-removal treatments.
Any time you undergo a procedure here at McHugh Plastic Surgery, Dr. Thomas McHugh wants to ensure that the process goes as smoothly as possible.
With that in mind, here are a few tips to care for your skin before and after your laser hair-removal treatments.
Laser hair removal is a technique in which Dr. McHugh delivers light pulses into your hair follicles, which destroys them. To get the most out of these treatments, one important thing you need to do before your laser hair removal is ensure that Dr. McHugh can readily spot your hair follicles.
This means you should steer clear of things that darken your skin, such as lying in the sun, using tanning beds, or applying tanning lotions.
When it comes to maintenance leading up to your treatments, you can shave, but don’t undergo any procedures that remove the hair from the follicle entirely, such as waxing or plucking. Our goal is to enable Dr. McHugh to locate and target the hair follicles, so make every effort to ensure that they’re visible.
Finally, try to avoid any activities that may scratch up your treatment areas (namely your legs), as the treatments can further irritate the skin.
For best results, Dr. McHugh recommends a series of laser hair-removal treatments so that he can target all the follicles in your treatment areas.
After each treatment, you may feel some tenderness, and we recommend that you avoid any harsh cleansers, soaps, or creams. Instead, gently wash your treatment areas with a mild soap and use a gentle moisturizer afterward.
If you notice any blistering, please leave it alone and apply an antibiotic cream to the area. If you pick at a blister, it can lead to scarring.
If we perform laser hair removal under your arms, you can go back to using your deodorant the next day.
One of the most important aftercare tips, however, has to do with sun exposure. After your laser hair-removal treatments, protect your treatment areas by using sunscreen or covering them entirely. In fact, this sun protection tip is one that you should carry forward at all times to preserve the health of your skin.
If you have any more questions about skincare before and after your laser hair-removal treatments, please don’t hesitate to contact our office in The Woodlands, Texas.
