The laser treatment will take place in a room set up specifically for laser treatments. Everyone in the room must wear protective eyewear during the procedure. To perform the procedure, the skin is held taut and the skin is treated with the laser. Many patients say that the laser pulses feel like warm pinpricks.

A laser removes hair by vapourising it. This causes small plumes of smoke that have a sulfur-like smell.

How long your treatment lasts depends on the size of the area being treated. Treating the upper lip takes minutes. If you are having a large area like the back or legs treated, your treatment may last more than an hour.

To avoid possible side effects, all patients need to protect their skin from the sun. After laser hair removal, you should: 

• Avoid direct sunlight from hitting your treated skin.
• Not use a tanning bed, sun lamp, or any other indoor tanning equipment.
• Avoid hot tubs, steam rooms and hot showers for the first 24hrs

You will see some redness and swelling after treatment. This often looks like a mild sunburn. Applying a cool compress can help reduce your discomfort. 

No, laser hair removal generally does not require any downtime. Immediately after having laser hair removal, your treated skin will be red and swollen. Despite this, most people return to their everyday activities. 

Results are seen immediately after one treatment. The results vary from patient to patient. The colour and thickness of your hair, area treated, type of laser used, and colour of your skin all affect the results. You can expect a 10% to 25% reduction in hair after the first treatment. 

To remove the hair, most patients need 6 to 8 laser treatments. After finishing the treatments, most patients do not see any hair on the treated skin for several months or even years. When the hair regrows, there tends to be less of it. The hairs also tend to be finer and lighter in color. 

The most common side effects are minor and last 1 to 3 days. These side effects include: 

• Discomfort
• Swelling
• Redness

Other possible side effects are rare when laser hair removal is performed by a dermatologist or under the dermatologist’s direct supervision. Other possible side effects include:

• Blistering
• Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks
• Infections
• Scarring
• Skin lightening or darkening

In time, skin colour tends to return to normal. Some changes to skin colour, however, are permanent. This is why seeing a practitioner who is skilled in laser treatments and has in-depth knowledge of the skin is so important. 

It is also important to follow your aftercare instructions. Following both the before-treatment instructions and after-treatment instructions will greatly reduce your risk of side effects. 

This varies from patient to patient. Removing hair often requires a series of laser treatments. Most patients can have laser hair removal once every 4 to 6 weeks. Your practitioner will tell you when it is safe to have another treatment.