Pre & Post Treatment Care
LASER HAIR REDUCTION PRE-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
4 WEEKS AND LONGER BEFORE TREATMENT
- Avoid receiving natural fillers (hyaluronic acid, Juvederm, Restylane, collagen) 4-6 weeks before treating in the area. Clients receiving synthetic fillers (silicone) cannot be treated in the area.
- Discontinue Accutane (Isotretinoin) 6 months prior to treatment.
- Avoid waxing, plucking, tweezing, threading, chemical epilation, microneedling, etc. due to the disruption of the hair follicle, which is the target for the laser.
- Avoid tanning beds and sunless tanning products for safety reasons.
- Avoid chemical peels, bleaching and other laser procedures in the treatment area.
- Avoid receiving Botox, Dysport, and Kybella injections in the treatment area.
- Avoid sun exposure greater than 30 minutes, even if wearing sunscreen. UV rays activate melanocytes in the skin, which leads to competing targets for the laser, resulting in a decrease in desired results or hypopigmentation (white spots) which may not resolve for several months.
- Some medications, including many antibiotics, can increase your sensitivity to the heat and light of the laser. Please disclose all medications to your laser technician so safety can be established. Medications that are photo sensitive may necessitate rescheduling. Please call the clinic to check safety.
- Alpha and beta hydroxy (AHA/BHA) products, hydroquinone, retinols/retinoids (Retin-A, Tazorac, Differin, etc.), and salicylic acid washes must be discontinued at least 7 days prior to treatment.
- Treatment area must be clean-shaven 12-24 hours prior to treatment. Unshaven clients will be rescheduled. Razors are not provided in the clinics.
- Skin must be clean and free of makeup, lotions, oils, deodorant, sunless tanning products, numbing cream, etc. Products on the skin can increase the likelihood of adverse responses to the laser.
- Avoid activities that increase body temperature for at least 2 hours before and after treatments.
- Clients prone to cold sores may take an antiviral medication prior to treatments, if advised by their personal physician. Heat from the laser can aggravate a reaction. Clients with active cold sores cannot be treated in the area of active sores.
- Skin that is sunburned, hot to the touch, peeling or is otherwise damaged cannot be treated.
I have read and understood the Pre-Treatment instructions provided. I understand it is my responsibility to follow these instructions or I may experience adverse reactions, be turned away from treatment and incur a cancellation fee.
LASER HAIR REDUCTION POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS
DAY OF TREATMENT
- Apply Restorative Gel to help cool and soothe the skin. Daily use is recommended.
- Apply a zinc oxide sunscreen (SPF 30+) and use daily throughout treatment.
- Avoid tight clothing, boots, heated seats, etc. The body needs time to cool down after treatment to avoid complications.
- Avoid activities that increase body temperature for at least 2 hours after treatment.
- Makeup and deodorant may be reapplied immediately if the skin is not irritated.
- A mild redness and swelling of the hair follicles may occur (histamine response). This is normal and should lessen with time. Avoid picking or scratching the skin. Cool cloths may be applied.
- Avoid sun exposure. Unprotected sun exposure may lead to undesired results, including hyperpigmentation (dark areas).
DAY AFTER TREATMENT
- Continue to avoid sun exposure, tanning beds, and other sources of UV light.
- Continue to use zinc oxide sunscreen daily.
- Continue to keep skin cool, using Restorative Gel.
- If redness, swelling or itching continue, an over-the-counter cortisone cream and/or an oral antihismine (Benadryl) may be used in addition to cool cloths and Restorative Gel. Do not use ice
- If skin is broken, apply an antibiotic ointment to the area. Do not puncture blisters.
1 WEEK AFTER TREATMENT
- Careful sun exposure may be resumed, with daily use of a zinc oxide sunscreen (SPF 30+). Consider waiting until next week to resume sun exposure.
- Exfoliate the treatment areas 2-3 times a week. This minimizes the risk of ingrown hairs and encouraees shedding of treated hair.
2 WEEKS AFTER TREATMENT
- Shedding of treated hair continues. This is NOT new hair growth.
- Continue to exfoliate 2-3 times a week.
- Chemical peels and other laser procedures in the treatment area may be resumed.
- Artificial tanning may be resumed but is not recommended.
4 WEEKS AND LONGER AFTER TREATMENT
- New hair growth will occur about 4-6 weeks after treatment on the upper body, but may not occur for 2-3 months on the lower body. Hair regrowth occurs at different rates on different areas of the body. Careful observation of when hair starts regrowth is necessary to optimize your treatments.
I have read and understood the Post-Treatment instructions provided. I understand it is my responsibility to follow these instructions to minimize undesired results or adverse reactions and to optimize desired results.