Laser Facial Hair Removal: What to Expect

If you add up the hours and the money you spend on shaving, waxing, and plucking the unwanted hair on your face, the total might surprise you. If you want to make your life more hassle-free, while reaching your aesthetic goals, you should consider laser hair removal.

At Z-Roc Dermatology, we provide our clients with the latest aesthetic technologies available, and we’re pleased to offer laser hair removal as part of our arsenal. Under the expert direction of Drs. Khongruk Wongkittiroch and Matthew Zarraga, our highly skilled team can provide you with smooth, hair-free skin in just a few treatments.

To give you an idea about what to expect, we outline the laser hair removal procedure below.

Preparation

There’s not much you need to do to prepare, but we do ask that you avoid any treatments that remove your facial hair from the follicle, such as plucking or waxing. You may still shave, which only breaks the hair at the shaft. The reason for this is that we need to easily identify the target hair follicles.

As well, we ask that you stay out of the sun or use ample protection so that your skin isn’t darkened, which can make locating hair follicles more difficult.

Finally, please avoid putting any lotions or makeup on your skin before your appointment.

The first step

When you come in, we get you comfortable in our treatment chair and thoroughly cleanse your skin. Next, we apply a numbing cream for your comfort.

The laser treatment

Once your skin is ready, we begin to deliver pulses of light energy into your hair follicles. This energy disrupts the follicle, rendering it unable to support hair growth.

Since we’re dealing with small areas on your face, your treatment will likely only last 15-20 minutes, at which point we apply a soothing ointment on your skin, and you’re free to go.

After your treatments

You may experience some redness, swelling, or irritation in your treatment areas after your laser hair removal appointments. These side effects are temporary, and you can easily remedy them with cold compresses.

We ask that you continue to be diligent about sun protection during this time so as not irritate your skin.

Your results

In most cases, we need to perform a series of treatments, often 4-6, to address all of the hair follicles in your target areas. Over the course of several weeks, your hair will gradually fall out, the destroyed follicle will shut down, and your body will flush it out, preventing further growth.

When it comes to long-term results, it’s hard to predict and varies from one client to the next. We can say that studies show high rates of patient satisfaction. One study of 948 patients found that laser hair removal was a safe treatment that delivered permanent results and high patient satisfaction.

If you want to see for yourself how laser hair removal can clear away unwanted facial hair, please contact our office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to set up an appointment.