You’ll get less satisfaction out of your laser hair treatments if you shave, pluck, tweeze, wax or sunburn prior to your laser removal appointment. Even using sunless tanning products will compromise the results, according to Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, owner and medical director of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics in Cherry Creek North, Denver’s premiere shopping district.

The better you prepare for treatment, the more likely the treatment is to be successful. Studies show that laser hair removal treatments reduce hair growth from 20 – 90%, depending upon the individual. If you take these precautions, chances are you’ll increase your success rate, says Dr. Raval.

Do not tan, not even sunless tanning, 4 – 6 weeks prior to treatment. A tan increases side effects of blistering and skin discoloration. If you do tan, you’ll have to wait weeks to let the tan fade completely before undergoing laser hair removal.

Avoid waxing or plucking hairs including electrolysis prior to treatment too. Laser hair removal is most effective if hairs are visible but shaved short. You can shave the day of the procedure.

During the procedure, patients wear goggles to prevent accidental exposure of the eyes to laser light. Sometimes the physician or laser tech will apply a topical local anesthetic to the treatment area to reduce any discomfort, although many patients claim there’s nothing uncomfortable about the treatment other than the smell of singed hair which is normal.

Treatment can take minutes to several hours depending upon the area of the body being treated. It’s normal for the cost of the laser hair removal treatment to be based upon the length of time it takes to perform the service, so hair removal from the lip will be less expensive than hair removal across an entire back.

Call Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics today for an appointment. 303-985-8520.