It’s time to plan for longer days and warmer temperatures now that March is here. If you don’t enjoy shaving or waxing, make sure part of that planning involves laser hair removal. This quick, relatively painless treatment can help keep your skin silky smooth, but for optimal results, you must start early to complete multiple sessions in time for summer.
At Plainsboro Princeton Medical Associates in Plainsboro Township and Monroe, New Jersey, experienced internal medicine physician Aruna Chakala, MD, offers laser hair removal with the xeo® and CoolGlideTM by Cutera. Here, we explain how laser hair removal works and discuss what you can expect during treatment.
Laser hair removal is a cosmetic procedure that uses targeted light energy (lasers) to heat up and damage hair follicles, limiting future hair growth. It’s quick, presents minimal risks, and is more comfortable than other hair removal procedures, like plucking and waxing. Even better? Undergoing multiple treatments can slow hair growth permanently, letting your skin stay silky smooth for months.
Dr. Chakala provides laser hair removal with the xeo and CoolGlideTM systems. Cutera, a leading manufacturer of aesthetic and dermatology treatments, makes the devices. Both effectively eliminate body hair, but Dr. Chakala may recommend one over the other depending on your goals, skin type, and health history.
Summer and swimsuit season are still a few months away, but if you want hair-free skin while on vacation, starting laser hair removal now is essential. Body hair grows in four stages, and laser hair removal is most effective at damaging follicles in the anagen or growth phase.
It’s hard to capture all your follicles since hair growth happens at different times. Dr. Chakala schedules a series of laser hair removal appointments several weeks apart to address this situation, which allows her to target body hair in various places as more follicles enter the growth phase.
Laser hair removal is quick and relatively painless. During treatment, your skin may feel warm, and you might notice a mild tapping sensation, similar to how it feels to get snapped with a rubber band.
The xeo and CoolGlideTM systems have built-in cooling mechanisms to ensure patient comfort. If treatment hurts at any time, let Dr. Chakala know, and she can adjust the machine’s settings accordingly.
Following laser hair removal, it’s normal for your skin to feel a bit irritated, similar to a mild sunburn, but discomfort should improve within a day or two.
After completing all your laser hair removal sessions, it’s normal for some body hair to grow back. The hair that returns is usually finer and lighter, but the amount varies depending on factors such as hormones, skin color, and genetics. As a result, you may need maintenance treatments to keep your skin smooth, but only once or twice a year.
Dr. Chakala monitors your skin at regular checkups and adjusts your treatment plan as needed.
Removing body hair with waxing, plucking, and shaving is time-consuming and painful. Laser hair removal offers a quicker, more effective solution that preps your skin for summer. Call our office at 609-799-5000 or request an appointment online today. We look forward to partnering with you!
