Before you come in for laser hair removal treatments, your master esthetician at Seattle Plastic Surgery will instruct you to shave the treatment areas. It may seem counterintuitive to remove hair before laser removal. However, it is actually vital for the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. Let’s discuss the question, “What happens if you don’t shave before laser hair removal?”
Laser hair removal works by targeting your hair follicles. It uses the hair to travel down to the root of the follicle and damage it to prevent growing more hair. The hair needs to be close to the root to facilitate this process. It also makes it more effective because the laser and heat energy have less distance to travel when the hair is shaved.
If the hair is long, this can lead to the laser burning the skin because it traveled the length of the hair and attacks the closest source of melanin. In this case, the skin. However, if the hair is short enough, it will only target the hair until it reaches the root of the follicle. Therefore, shaving reduces the chances of burns, injury, and skin damage. It also makes the laser hair removal procedure much more effective.
To learn more and schedule a consultation, call us at 206-324-1120. You can also reach out online via Price Simulator, chat, and contact form.
Dr. Jonov is a cosmetic surgeon who specializes in plastic surgeries of the face, breast, and body at Seattle Plastic Surgery.
