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Laser hair removal: Does it hurt?

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Does laser hair removal hurt?

It’s the most common thing patients ask when they come in for their first laser hair removal treatment (of course, hair can’t hurt – if it did, there would be an awful lot of screams emanating from salons across New Jersey!). At any rate, many patients are afraid that laser hair removal might be painful.

The good news is that laser hair removal is no big deal, because we have clever ways of making it a comfortable treatment.

Different lasers use different approaches to making laser hair removal as comfy as possible.

  1. The most common lasers we use are GentleLase and GentleYag(Notice the word gentle?). Both of these devices emit a cooling cryogen spray just prior to the laser pulse, numbing the nerves temporarily for a more comfortable treatment.
  2. Our LightSheer and Starlux IPL laser hair removal treatments soothe the skin with cold plates prior to the laser pulse, which also makes things more comfortable.
  3. We can also offer Elamax, 30 to 40 minutes prior to laser hair removal treatment. It’s a topical cream that numbs the area, but it is rarely needed.

At Reflections Center, we use various types of lasers to treat unwanted hair based on skin type and hair type. This affords our patients the best results with the highest level of safety. There is no one laser that works well for every skin tone and hair color combination. We’ve got certain lasers that work better for olive skin tones with dark, coarse hair and other lasers that work best for darker skin tones or light skin tones with light hair – it’s all about matching each patient’s hair and skin tone with the right laser to make sure each treatment is as effective as possible. Each laser has its own best method for making the treatment comfortable, and reducing the risks of damage to the skin.

Bottom line, there is very little discomfort associated with laser hair removal, and given the results, the effort is well worth it. At its worst, patients describe the feeling of the laser during the removal process as that of “a warm rubber band being snapped against the skin.” Compare that to waxing, and laser hair removal is a cakewalk!

Ready to schedule your free consultation and save 25% on your first treatment? Give us a call at (732) 356-1666 to schedule now!

One way you can help make your treatments more comfortable is to shave 24 hours prior to your appointment. Even a little bit of hair growth can make your laser treatments uncomfortable, so we always encourage our patients to remember to take that small step towards making their appointments as comfortable and effective as possible.