For the longest time, laser hair removal has prided itself on being the long-term solution for unwanted hair. After all, it eliminates hair better than waxing, shaving, or plucking. But the question is, how long does a laser hair removal session take before you can enjoy such benefits?
In this post, our laser experts share the real duration of laser hair removal, what you can expect during the treatment, and other tips to help prepare for your upcoming appointment. Keep reading to see how long it will take for you to achieve a smooth and hair-free skin!
MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Molly Rodriguez
15 years of experience
How long does laser hair removal take?
In general, our laser hair removal treatments here at Eau Claire Body Care last for about 60 minutes per session. Still, this can be shorter or longer, depending on several factors, including the treatment area size, your hair thickness, and so on. Here’s a quick rundown of how we assess the treatment duration:
Treatment area size
First, we have to check the size of your treatment area. As you’d expect, a full body procedure will take longer than treating a Brazilian treatment alone. The bigger the size, the longer it will take to treat.
So, how long does full body laser hair removal take? Based on our usual experience with clients, a full body session will be about 1.5 hours or even three if our client has a very dense hair.
Hair thickness and density
And speaking of dense hair, we also have to factor in the thickness and density of your hair. In this case, hair thickness refers to how thick each strand is while density is how much hair is present on every inch of your skin. And the same with the treatment area size, the thicker the hair, the more time it needs to be treated.
Hair and skin color
Another thing you have to know is that the contrast between your hair color and skin color will also affect the duration of your laser hair removal appointment.
Our clients with light skin color and equally light-colored hair usually have to undergo longer treatment plans. It’s because the laser beams target the melanin or the colored pigment of the hair.
If there’s not enough melanin, the laser would not be as effective as those with dark hair. This means you’ll need to undergo more sessions, prolonging your entire hair removal journey. At the same time, you have to shell out more for the cost of your laser hair removal sessions.
However, our dark-haired clients aren’t always lucky! If you have dark hair and equally dark skin, the laser beams won’t be able to target the hair effectively. In some cases, burns may happen on the surrounding skin since the pigments between the hair and skin aren’t easy to distinguish from each other.
Need a more accurate timeline?
If you want to know how many laser hair removal sessions you need, feel free to contact our skin care clinic! At Eau Claire Body Care, we provide consultations with our clients where we discuss how laser hair removal works, how many sessions they need, and the best schedule for each appointment.
If you want to know these details, you can also schedule a consultation today to talk to one of our laser specialists!
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How long does it take for laser hair removal to work?
How fast laser removal takes effect depends on how your body responds to the treatment.
In general, our clients notice some of the treated hair shedding after a day or two post-treatment. However, one session isn’t enough to eliminate all your unwanted hair, especially if you’re quite on the bushy side.
Overall, you’ll expect to have about 50% of your treated hair gone after 2 treatments, which is spaced out between 2 to 8 weeks. Take note that we don’t perform laser hair removal sessions close to each other, as this could damage your skin.
Specifically, we usually schedule laser hair treatments every 4 weeks for the facial area and 6 to 8 weeks for the rest of the body. So, if you’re getting at least 6 sessions on your treatment plan, your entire laser hair removal duration would be 24 to 48 weeks in total.
At the end of this entire treatment plan, all your unwanted hair will be gone. Still, you should remember that regrowth can still happen down the road, so make sure you schedule at least an annual touch-up to zap those wispy strands out.
But overall, you should never compare your progress with that of another person who underwent laser hair removal. As we’ve mentioned earlier, it depends on your body’s response to the laser treatment. It may eliminate hair faster or slower than others – both are completely normal.
What to expect during your laser hair removal
If this is your first time getting a laser hair removal treatment, fret not! It’s a very straightforward procedure and the most popular in our medical spa.
The key here is knowing how to prepare for your laser treatment and what happens during the session. Here’s what you can usually expect during your appointment with us:
Step 1. Consultation
We always begin every laser hair treatment with a thorough consultation with our clients. This way, we’ll know their desired results, their skin conditions, and other aspects that will impact the procedure.
Also, the consultation phase is the best time to inform us about any medication or products you’re taking. Specifically, we are careful with blood thinners, retinol, antibiotics, and supplements that would increase your skin’s photosensitivity (high photosensitivity means you’re more prone to burns).
At the same time, we will also advise you about the number of sessions you need and the schedule you can follow.
Step 2. The actual treatment
After the consultation, we start the actual treatment. We apply a topical numbing cream to minimize your discomfort from the laser zaps. Don’t worry because most of our clients only feel a sensation similar to a rubber band snapping on their skin.
Depending on the treatment area, we’ll also ask you to wear eye protection. We typically do this for facial hair treatments to prevent potential irritations.
During the procedure, don’t hesitate to tell us if you’re getting uncomfortable. Our goal is to make your laser treatment as comfy as possible, so we appreciate your feedback!
Step 3. Aftercare instructions
Once the session is finished, we will provide you with aftercare instructions. Take note that you should follow these instructions or you’ll suffer from nasty skin irritations.
Specifically, we’ll advise you to stay out of the sun for the first 24 to 48 hours. During the same period, you should also avoid any activities that will trigger excessive sweating (sweating leads to bacterial growth!).
Aside from that, we will also recommend wearing lose clothes and avoiding any harsh skin products for at least 24 hours post-treatment. And if any irritation occurs, feel free to call us right away.
We will also schedule you for a follow-up to see how your skin is going. And if you have questions or concerns, you can always call us, and our laser specialist will be there to assist you.
What to expect after your treatment
Our team also think it’s important for clients to know what to expect right after their session. This way, you won’t panic over the mild side effects you may experience hours after you exit our medical spa.
Overall, here are some of the typical scenarios our clients experience, which will resolve on its own after a few days:
Ready for your smooth and hair-free skin?
If you’re tired of shaving or waxing unwanted hair endlessly, now is the time to switch to laser hair removal! At Eau Claire Body Care, we provide personalized laser treatments that match your skin, hair, and desired results.
Also, only a licensed and experienced laser specialist will perform the procedure to ensure your safety. All our staff is friendly and always aim to make your visit in our medical spa as comfortable as possible.
Above all, our laser hair removal is safe for all skin tones and hair colors! We use the Soprano Ice Laser Hair Removal System to target unwanted hair without the burning feeling effectively. Also, our laser procedures have minimal to no downtime – perfect for busy schedules.
Contact us today if you want to know more about laser treatment or if you’re ready for an appointment! Our laser experts can’t wait to give you the smooth skin you’re dreaming of!
