FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions for Laser Hair Removal

How does the Palomar Pulsed Light System Technology work?
Palomar Systems use specialized hand pieces which filter light from different parts of the spectrum. Each band of the spectrum has a wavelength that is ideal for different treatments such as hair reduction, sunspot removal, age spots and photofacial rejuvenation.

How is Palomar pulsed light different from a laser?
Pulsed light systems and lasers are very similar, but Palomar Pulsed Light Systems use a much larger treatment window than most lasers. This spreads light over a wider area of skin and allows faster coverage of the skin and quicker treatments as a result.

What body areas can I treat?
Any area, except around the eyes. The upper lip, face, neck, underarms, bikini line, legs, chest and back can all be treated.

What are treatments like?
Your treatment technician will move the hand piece over your skin, sending a gentle beam of light through your skin. A flashing light, an audible tone, and a mild sensation on the skin will tell you when the hand piece is being pulsed.

What should I expect after treatment?

Immediately after treatment you can expect a mild sunburn-like sensation, possibly accompanied by some minor swelling. This usually lasts 2 – 4 hours and can be soothed with cold gel or ice packs.
The treated hair will continue to appear for 7 – 30 days post-treatment. This is not new hair growth but the treated hairs being expelled from the skin.
At any given time some of your hair is in a downturn phase of active growth. Therefore, as the hair cycle evolves, you will need more than one treatment to affect the growth of all your unwanted hair.
Typically, several treatments will be necessary to achieve permanent hair reduction.

How long does it take?
Thanks to its advanced technology, Palomar's Pulsed Light Systems work several times faster than other light-based hair removal systems. A woman's legs or a man's back can be treated in under thirty minutes, and smaller areas such as the underarms, upper lip or bikini line can be treated in even less time.

Pre-treatment Instructions

The effectiveness of laser hair removal is highly dependent on patient cooperation. There are many things a patient can inadvertently do to decrease either the safety or effectiveness of their treatment. It is, therefore, imperative to follow directions by the provider.

Tanning should be avoided for 4-6 weeks prior to treatment if one of these lasers is to be used. Self-tanning creams and sprays need to completely fade also. During the course of treatment, if a patient is exposed to sun, sunscreen with an SPF of at least 45 applied as a thick layer 20 minutes before sun exposure is recommended.

The hair needs to be in the follicle at the time of treatment. Lasers target the pigment melanin in the hair beneath the surface of the skin. Because of this, patients should not wax, tweeze, bleach, thread, or use depilatory agents for 4 weeks prior to treatment. If facial hair is being treated, usually avoidance of these methods for only 2 weeks is necessary because facial hair grows faster. If a form of hair removal is necessary, shaving or clipping can be done because these methods allow the hair to stay in the follicle. It is usually advisable to see some hair growth on the day of treatment.

Lotions, creams, makeup, and deodorant are removed before treatment as well. These can obstruct or refract laser light negatively.

Some medications are contraindicated, but some are dependent on the dose and time the last dose was taken. Some common medications include certain antibiotics (especially those of the tetracycline and sulfa classes), acne medications (such as Accutane and Retin A), common over-the-counter analgesics (such as ibuprofen), and also steroids. There are many medications that cause increased photosensitivity, but they are not all absolutely contraindicated in laser hair removal. Please inform the physician of all medications.

Patient cooperation is essential for the success of laser hair removal. Patients need to follow explicit directions with regards to tanning, other hair removal methods, and topical agents.

Post-treatment Instructions

Although pre-treatment instructions are probably more important for a patient to follow in order to ensure safe and effective results, most patients concern themselves more with post-treatment care. Below is a list of post-treatment instructions.

1) Immediately after treatment, there should be mild redness and swelling at the treatment site, which may last up to 2 hours or longer. The redness may last up to 2-3 days. The treated area will feel like a sunburn. Apply ice in 15-20 minute intervals for first few hours after treatment to reduce any discomfort or swelling. If redness or swelling persists, ice can be continued in 15 minute intervals 3-4 times a day for 3 days.

2) Makeup may be used immediately after the treatment unless there is blistering.

3) Avoid sun exposure until skin has returned to its normal baseline (no redness or swelling-minimum 1 week post treatment). Use a sunblock with an SPF of at least 45 applied as a thick layer 20 minutes before sun exposure is recommended.

4) Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. Do not use any other hair removal treatment products or services (waxing, electrolysis or tweezing) that will disturb the hair follicle in the treatment area.

5) Wash the treated area and pat dry for 3 days after treatment. Do not scrub.

6) Start gently scrubbing treated area on the 4^th day (ex-foliate).

7) Anywhere from 5-20 days after the treatment, shedding of the surface hair may occur and this appears as new hair growth.

8) At 1 week post treatment, attempt to pull hairs out gently. If the hair comes out, as if unattached to the skin, proceed to pull out the hairs. Otherwise, wait 2 to 3 days and try again for up to 3 weeks.

9) For 2 to 3 weeks after treatment, ideally avoid shaving the shedding hair, although if absolutely necessary, gently touch hair with razor. Shaving can be performed on newly growing hair.

10) After the underarms are treated, ideally use a powder instead of deodorant for 24 hours after the treatment to reduce skin irritation.

11) There are no restrictions on bathing except to treat the skin gently, as if you had a sunburn, for the first 24 hours.

12) Use tea tree oil for irritated skin.

At the next visit, it is important for the patient to let the practitioner know how long the redness lasted after treatment and when significant hair growth was noticed in the area. This info will allow the practitioner to individualize treatments to achieve the desired results.