Prior to Treatment

  1. Avoid the sun/tanning for 4-6 weeks before and after Laser treatments.

  2. You MUST avoid plucking, waxing, and use of a depilatory product (ie. Nair), in the areas you wish to have treated for 6 weeks prior to laser hair removal.
  3. If you have had a history of perioral herpes, prophylactic antiviral therapy may be started the day before treatment and continued one week after treatment.
  4. Avoid using self-tanning products for 2 weeks prior to treatment.
  5. The area to be treated MUST be clean shaven prior to your appointment; stubble can act as a heat skink and lead to a minor skin burn.
  6. You MUST be off antibiotics for at least 10 days prior to treatment.

After Treatment

To avoid possible side effects, all patients need to protect their skin from the sun. After laser hair removal, you should:

  • Avoid direct sunlight from hitting your treated skin.
  • Not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment.
  • Follow the pretreatment instructions prior to your next appointment.
  1. Immediately after treatment, there may be slight redness and swelling at the treatment site which may last 2 hours up to 2-4 days. The treated area can feel like a sunburn for several hours after, up to the next day sometimes. The application of ice during the first few hours after treatment will reduce discomfort and swelling that may be experienced, but we recommend only aloe vera gel after treatment. Rarely, minor epidermal blistering may occur; in which case triple antiobiotic cream may be applied. If this should happen, please contact our office for further instructions.
  2. Makeup may be used immediately after treatment unless there is epidermal blistering. It is recommended to use ONLY NEW makeup to reduce the possibilities of infection.
  3. Avoid sun exposure to reduce the chance of hyperpigmentations or darker pigmentation for 1-2 months after treatment. Use sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) at all times throughout the course of treatment.
  4. Avoid picking or scratching of the treated skin. Do not use any other hair removal treatment products or similar treatments (waxing, electrolysis, tweezing or bleaching) that will disturb the hair follicle on the treatment area for 4-6 weeks after the treatment is performed. You may resume shaving as necessary.
  5. Call our office with any questions or concerns you may have after the treatment. Call for an appointment at the first sign of the return of hair growth. This can mean within 4-6 weeks for the upper body treated and possibly as long as 5-8 weeks for the lower body. Hair re-growth occurs at different rates on different areas of the body. New hair growth will not occur for at least 3 weeks after treatment.
  6. Anywhere from 7-30 days after treatment, shedding of the surface hair may occur and this appears as new hair growth. This is NOT new hair growth. You can clean and remove the hair by washing or wiping the area with a wet cloth or loofa sponge.
  7. After the underarms are treated, do not use deodorant for 24 hours after the treatment to reduce skin irritation.
  8. There are no restrictions on bathing except to treat the skin gently, as if you had a sunburn, for the first 24 hours.
  9. Avoid irritants (glycolics, retinoids etc.) for seven days after treatment.
  10. Apply sunscreen for 6 weeks over the treated area if you will be in the sun long enough to burn.