Laser hair removal is a non-invasive procedure that gently removes unwanted hair. It is an ideal treatment for people who have dark, coarse hair and light skin. Laser treatments provide permanent hair removal and reduce the need for shaving, waxing, plucking or tweezing.
Before you begin your laser treatment, you will be asked to remove any makeup from your face. You will also be given protective eyewear to wear during the treatment process. The area to be treated may be cleaned with a mild soap solution or alcohol swab before the laser begins. It takes about 20 minutes for one laser hair removal treatment session on an area such as the face, legs or underarms. Because each patient’s skin type and condition can vary, some patients may require more than one session to achieve their desired results.
Read on to learn more about Best Laser Hair Removal Charlotte, Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant
Best Laser Hair Removal Charlotte
The constant need to shave and wax to get rid of unwanted body hair can be expensive, painful, and inconvenient. Thankfully, it’s also unnecessary — after you’ve come in for laser hair removal.
What is Laser Hair Removal?
Our painless laser hair removal in Charlotte, NC is a fast and virtually painless procedure that destroys hair follicles at their roots, preventing them from continuing to grow hair. This means your skin is smooth, soft, and ready to go for the long term. At the Beck Aesthetic Surgery medspa, we utilize the Motus AY, a cutting-edge proprietary laser device and the new laser of choice for hair removal.
How Laser Hair Removal Works
Laser hair removal utilizes a scientifically designed laser to target and heat the hair follicles in the skin, which renders them unable to produce hair. Laser hair removal can be done anywhere on the body, targeting:
- Leg hair
- Facial hair
- Back hair
- Arm hair
- Underarm hair
- Upper lip hair
- Neck and beard hair
- The bikini area
- Hair on the fingers and toes
Your Consultation
Laser hair removal begins with an assessment of your skin type and hair color to determine which type of laser will be most effective. When laser hair removal first became available, it was only suitable for those with fair skin and dark hair because the laser would only target dark pigment. With today’s advances in science, painless laser hair removal in Charlotte, NC is available for virtually any skin type and hair color. Together we will decide which laser is right for you.
What to Expect During Treatment
The laser hair removal procedure will begin with an application of cooling gel, followed by the laser application itself. The procedure can take up to an hour depending on the number of areas to be treated. You may experience a slight stinging or burning sensation as the laser works, but the majority of patients find the treatment very tolerable. The technology reduces any discomfort typically associated with laser hair removal.
Treatments are fast. Even a large area can be treated in under five minutes. Depending on the size of the area to be treated, you’ll require a bit more or less time.
The number of treatments needed varies from person to person. A typical treatment regimen is three to six sessions, each spaced about a month apart. With the effectiveness of the Motus AY, however, you’ll likely need less treatment sessions than you would with other laser options — and you’ll be able to go hair-free even longer before requiring a touch-up or maintenance treatment.
An Aesthetician at Beck Aesthetic Surgery in NC introduces the Motus AY for Laser Hair Removal
Downtime and Results
Once completed, you can return to your usual activities, with no downtime or recovery. You’ll start to see hair shedding over the following days, as well as a noticeable reduction in the amount of hair in the treated area. The full removal of hair from an area requires a minimum of three treatments because your hair grows in phases and only hairs in the growth phase are affected. Once an area is fully treated, you can expect hair-free, clean, and smooth skin for years into the future. If further hair develops over time, additional treatments can be performed to maintain hair-free skin.
Am I a Candidate?
We are excited to offer this convenient treatment to the Charlotte, NC area. The Motus AY is safe and effective for light and dark skin types, as well as for patients with fine, light hair or hair that doesn’t provide a great contrast against the skin. This is a breakthrough that makes the Motus AY the laser of choice for most of our patient’s hair removal needs. If you want to be free of unwanted hair, you are a likely candidate for our advanced laser hair removal treatment. Those with dark hair and light skin can expect faster and better results, though the procedure is available to almost anyone. You’ll need to come visit us for a consultation in order for us to decide on the right laser for your needs.
Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant
As your baby bump grows, you may notice that it gradually gets more difficult to move around or bend over—especially in your third trimester. Activities that are quite literally as easy as tying your shoes gradually become more challenging and may require multiple heave-ho attempts.
Shaving your legs easily falls into this category. Because of this, many people have considered a more long-term fix while pregnant, like laser hair removal. But with all the dos and don’ts you have to follow during pregnancy, it’s easy to wonder if it’s safe to get laser hair removal while pregnant—on your legs, or anywhere, for that matter.
To find out, we tapped two board-certified dermatologists to weigh in on the topic. Read on to learn all about laser hair removal, including if it’s safe to have done while pregnant. We’re even sharing some hair removal tips for people who are pregnant or planning to be.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is exactly what it sounds like—removing hair with a laser. Most commonly, people get this noninvasive treatment on their face, armpits, legs, pubic area, and trunk.1 And it’s pretty popular. Prior to the pandemic, over one million people got laser hair removal in 2019. (That number dropped slightly due to nationwide COVID-19 lockdowns that occurred in 2020.)2 It works by using highly concentrated light, or lasers, to remove hair.1
“The pigment in the [hair] follicle is targeted,” says Mary P. Lupo, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Lupo Center for Aesthetic & General Dermatology in New Orleans. ”When it absorbs the laser’s energy, it generates heat that permanently reduces the follicle.” This inhibits hair from growing, decreasing or eliminating it in the treated area.
However, it’s not a one-and-done kind of treatment. It only affects hairs that are in an active stage of growth. Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC explains, “It requires multiple treatments, and works best on darker, thicker hairs.” When the hair grows back, it will be lighter, thinner, and sparser.
Laser hair removal also slows down hair growth, but it’s not necessarily a permanent solution. Some people require maintenance treatments periodically.1
Is it Safe to Get Laser Hair Removal During Pregnancy?
If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, the question of whether or not something is safe may be a frequent flyer in your mind. And just like the murky, pregnancy-safe waters where things like tea tree oil reside, when it comes to getting laser hair removal while pregnant, there’s just not enough research to definitively confirm its safety one way or the other.3
Whenever you’re faced with a conundrum such as this, the best course of action is usually to practice an abundance of caution—just in case—and speak with your healthcare provider.
Every pregnancy is different. Be sure to consult with a healthcare provider about your circumstances if you have any questions about getting laser hair removal while pregnant.
Why You Should Not Get Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant?
The most important things to keep top of mind while you’re pregnant are you and your little one’s health and safety. When we said there hasn’t been enough research on getting laser hair removal while pregnant, we admit, we were being generous. In fact, there have been no studies on the topic—zilch.3
It may not have any effect on your baby. But, then again, it might. No one knows. And, just like you wouldn’t walk around blindfolded while pregnant, nor should you venture into a treatment when the science behind it lives in the dark.
Risks of Getting Laser Hair Removal While Pregnant
Although there’s no research into getting laser hair removal specifically while pregnant, there are potential risks that being pregnant can make you more susceptible to. Dr. Nazarian lets us in on why it is strongly discouraged.
“There are risks of complications, specifically skin burns, and given the altered hormonal state in pregnancy, this risk may be theoretically increased,” she shares. “There is also potential for the laser treatments to be less effective during pregnancy.” She stresses that the benefits are far outweighed by the risk of complications.
Other reasons to avoid getting laser hair removal while pregnant also involve the aforementioned pregnancy hormones. “If a burn occurs, you heal slower when pregnant and are more likely to hyper-pigment,” cautions Dr. Lupo. The latter makes sense seeing as how conditions like melasma (a.k.a. the pregnancy mask) tend to arise in pregnant people, as well as those who get hormone replacement therapy or take birth control pills.4
The additional hormones flowing through their systems cause telltale signs of melasma to appear—grayish-brown or brown patches on the face.5 And anything that irritates your skin, like lasers or even harsh skincare products, can also leave dark marks.4
If a burn occurs, you heal slower when pregnant and are more likely to hyper-pigment.
— MARY P. LUPO, MD
When Can I Resume Getting Laser Hair Removal?
Whether you’ve gotten laser hair removal in the past or are a newbie, it’s best to wait until you’re no longer pregnant and your hormones right themselves.
“Laser hair treatments can safely resume three months after delivery, when most hormone levels have normalized,” Dr. Nazarian advises. Even though, to you, you’re no longer pregnant immediately after giving birth, it takes your body a little longer to accept that fact and gradually reset itself.