Do-It-Yourself hair removal usually means three things: shaving, plucking, and waxing. The last option is by far the most painful of the three. If you’re looking for a better alternative to these old methods, you can try modern non-invasive cosmetic treatments, such as laser hair removal for getting rid of unwanted hair.

Have you noticed that hair grows back almost instantaneously after you’ve just shaved? Even if you’ve literally taken great pains to shave or wax your legs yesterday, you might already feel subtle hints of hair growth in the morning. With laser hair removal, hair won’t grow back for months, or even a year! That’s how effective this procedure is when compared to the usual shaving, plucking and waxing.

What is Laser Hair Removal?

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular non-invasive cosmetic treatments that both men and women opt to undergo to remove unwanted hair on different parts of the body.

The procedure uses heat from a laser to target hair follicles. A few weeks after treatment, you will notice that hair will begin to fall from the treated area. Should hair begin to grow again after 6 or 12 months, you can go back for another procedure to treat the same area. After several treatments, hair growth on the area may completely stop.

Preparing for the Procedure

As with other non-invasive cosmetic treatments, you need to take certain steps to prepare for the procedure. For laser hair removal, it is advisable that you refrain from plucking or waxing hair on the area to be treated as these remove the hair follicles that are being targeted.

You should also allot a specific amount time for the treatment. Depending on the size and number of areas to be treated, the procedure may take anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour, so it’s best to set aside extra time so treatment won’t be disrupted.

More importantly, you should only get the procedure done by a trusted and professional dermatologist or aesthetician. Before agreeing to any of the non-invasive cosmetic treatments that the clinic offers, thoroughly discuss the entire procedure, and ask about the doctor’s experience and success rate so you’ll have a better idea of whether or not to get the procedure from the clinic.

After the procedure, make sure to follow the doctor’s instructions for post-treatment care down. Doing otherwise could have negative effects on the treated area, or reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Generally, avoid sun exposure as much as possible after the procedure as the skin will still be raw and sensitive from the treatment.