Laser Hair Removal Treatment
Laser hair removal provides a lasting solution. It is just one of the many effective and specialized treatments available at the practice of board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Anna Petropoulos, a pioneer in laser rejuvenation and hair removal. Her expertise attracts patients from Boston, Beverly, and Reading, MA, and throughout New England for customized procedures that reveal their unique natural beauty and restore their confidence.
Long-Term Hair Reduction
Precision & Effectiveness
Quick & Convenient Sessions
Reduces Ingrown Hairs & Skin Irritation
Laser Hair Removal Treatment In Danvers, MA
Because hair grows in cycles, a series of treatments spaced about 4 weeks apart are usually necessary to achieve the most complete results.
Before your laser hair removal sessions at Dr. Petropoulos’s clinic, it’s important to follow these guidelines to ensure the best results:
Avoid Sun Exposure:
To maximize the laser’s effectiveness, it’s crucial to have a stark contrast between your hair and skin color. Avoid sun exposure on the areas to be treated for 4-6 weeks prior to your session, and let any tans fade completely.
Refrain from Plucking, Waxing, and Electrolysis:
The hair needs to be anchored in the follicles for the laser to be effective. Avoid plucking, waxing, and electrolysis for at least a month before your treatment. Shaving is acceptable, as it does not disturb the follicle.
Clean Your Skin:
Ensure the treatment areas are free of cosmetics, lotions, and creams. If you’ve applied deodorant and are having your underarms treated, it will be removed before the session.
Modify Skincare Products Use:
Certain skincare products containing alpha hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and similar ingredients may irritate the skin when combined with laser energy. We will advise you on which products to discontinue prior to your appointment.
Get rid of unwanted hair with laser hair removal. Call (978) 739-9500 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Petropoulos. Our practice serves Danvers and the Boston area.
- 978.739.9500
What Devices Are Used For Laser Hair Removal?
We have a couple of different lasers we use for these treatments, depending on the treatment areas. We find lasers to be more effective than IPL treatments for hair removal because lasers emit just a single wavelength of light energy. We match the wavelength to the color of the melanin in your hair shafts and it is very specific in its delivery.
What Are The Advantages Of Laser Hair Removal?
Removing unwanted hair through the usual means is so tedious. You pluck, wax, shave, or apply harsh depilatory creams to get rid of the hair, and then a couple of weeks later it comes right back. Who doesn’t love that?
By removing up to 90 percent of your unwanted hair permanently, you won’t spend so much time and money shaving, plucking, and so on. Your skin will be happy it won’t continually have a case of razor burn. Ingrown hairs will be a thing of the past. It just makes life so much easier.
People sometimes wonder if the cost of laser hair removal is worth it. Studies have found that over a lifetime, the average woman spends over $10,000 on various hair removal methods, such as shaving or using harsh depilatory creams. That number is $23,000 for a lifetime of waxing. Compared to those numbers, laser hair removal is a bargain.
How Many Laser Hair Removal Treatments Will I Need?
Each of our roughly five million hairs on the human body is moving through the phases of the hair growth cycle: growth (anagen), transition (catagen), or rest (telogen). Laser energy is really only effective in damaging or destroying the hair follicle when the hair is actively anchored in the follicle during the growth phase. So, the key to successful permanent hair removal is catching as many hairs in the growth phase as possible.
At Dr. Petropoulos’s practice, our experience is that between six and 10 treatments achieve the degree of permanent hair reduction that satisfies most patients. Each session needs to be spaced from 4-6 weeks apart. Annual maintenance sessions can catch any follicles that were only partially damaged and returned to growing hair.
How Long Before I See Results After My Laser Hair Removal Sessions?
Within 1-2 weeks you’ll notice a disconcerting thing — it will appear that your treated hairs are growing, if anything, faster. This isn’t new hair. These are the hairs that were anchored in the follicles being expelled by the damaged or destroyed follicles. This process continues as these hairs are shed. You can shave if you choose during this time, but do not pluck or wax these hairs. They will come out on their own. Your next session isn’t for at least another 4 weeks to allow these hairs to fully come out to see what remaining hairs need to be targeted.
Are There Side Effects With Laser Hair Removal?
At Dr. Petropoulos’s our patients love getting rid of the hair for good. It is a safe, effective treatment, and it is done across the globe. Lasers have been used for laser hair removal for almost 30 years, and the process was extensively tested prior to becoming commercially available and receiving approval from the FDA.
We apply a topical numbing cream to the areas to be treated to keep you comfortable. The most common side effects after treatment include skin irritation, such as redness and slight swelling on the treatment sites. This usually passes within a few hours.
How Long Do Laser Hair Removal Treatments Take?
The length of your session depends on where you are having hair removed. For instance, the sideburns or the upper lip take only a few minutes. Both underarms will probably take less than 15 minutes. The legs can take up to 30-45 minutes.