Don’t go through another summer dealing with time-consuming shaving, waxing, and plucking to remove unwanted hair. Starting laser hair reduction now is the best way to ensure that you can look your best by the time you start shopping for your new swimsuit or board shorts this summer.
Unlike traditional hair removal techniques, laser hair reduction works without the potential for cuts, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs. By treating hair follicles beneath the surface of your skin, laser hair removal provides long-term results that many patients enjoy for months and even years.
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that requires appropriate training, so you’ll get the best results if you consult with an experienced professional. Karl Trippe, MD, of Waco Primary Care in Waco, Texas, provides convenient and effective long-term hair removal with the Cynosure® Icon™ system. Dr. Trippe and his staff at Waco Primary Care have the experience necessary to safely give you the appearance you desire.
How laser hair reduction works
Laser hair reduction delivers concentrated beams of light to targeted hair follicles. The energy damages the follicles and the hairs die. However, the energy doesn’t harm the surrounding skin. While laser hair reduction doesn’t permanently stop all hair regrowth in the treated areas, it can drastically reduce it.
Laser hair reduction can be used anywhere on your body. It’s often used to treat unwanted hair in the following areas:
- Upper and lower back
- Chest and abdomen
- Underarms
- Upper and lower arms and legs
- Bikini line
- Upper lip, chin, and jaw
Timing is everything
There are three stages of hair growth: an active stage, a resting stage, and a shedding stage. At any one time, every strand of hair on your body is in one of these stages. Treating each strand at the right time is important, because laser hair reduction only works on follicles that have hairs in the active growth stage.
Because all of your hairs won’t be in the active growth stage at the same time, you won’t be able to treat all of them on your first visit. You’ll likely need 3-6 laser treatments spaced 4-6 weeks apart. So if you want smooth skin by summer, starting treatments in the winter is a good time to begin.
If you have coarse hair or are targeting a large area, you may need more sessions. However, until treatments begin, it may be difficult to determine how many treatments you’ll need.
Seasonal advantages
Having laser hair reduction in the winter is also optimal because it allows you to follow the recommended preparation and after-care instructions with minimal inconvenience.
Laser hair reduction isn’t as effective when performed on tanned or sunburned skin, so you’ll have to avoid sun exposure before your treatment. In the winter, you won’t have to worry about missing out on time at the beach or the pool while you avoid the sun. It’s also likely that any summer tan will have faded by the winter, which will leave your skin in the best possible shape for successful treatments.
It’s also necessary to avoid hair removal methods, such as waxing and electrolysis, for about four weeks before your laser hair reduction. These procedures can damage hair follicles, giving the laser an imperfect area to target. If you routinely use these treatments, it may be easier to live without them in the winter when you’re wearing clothes that cover more of your body.
Laser hair reduction treatments done in the winter may also be less likely to interfere with your daily activities. At this time of year, you may spend more time indoors. This can make winter an ideal time for treatment, because the laser can make your skin temporarily more vulnerable to UV damage, so you’ll have to avoid sun exposure after each session.
