Cosmetic procedures—whether surgical or non-surgical—are most often associated with women. However, in the past decade, more and more men have started seeking out cosmetic and aesthetic procedures. This is especially true for non-surgical procedures such as injectables and skincare treatments. One that continues to see more men seek it out is laser hair removal. V&P Laser Hair Removal & Skin Care provides the best male laser hair removal in Chicago.
On the surface, laser hair removal for men looks identical to laser hair removal for women. However, there are some subtle differences such as the areas men tend to treat, the exact settings of the laser, and the number of sessions needed. While body hair around the body is largely accepted for men, many come to V&P Laser Hair Removal & Skin Care wanting to neaten up or reduce the thickness of their hair.
Laser hair removal is considered a permanent hair reduction procedure. It uses a combination of heat and light energy to systematically damage the hair follicles so that they no longer produce hair. The lasers are calibrated to not cause damage to the surrounding skin and only target the hairs and hair follicles.
Imagine never having to shave or wax ever again! This is the most obvious benefit. In addition, all of the issues with shaving and waxing also disappear with the hair. No more razor burn or ingrown hairs. No more prickly stubble. Also, less hair means less odor and less sweat.
How to prepare for laser hair removal
The only preparation needed is to shave thoroughly before the treatment. The laser is targeting the pigment in the hair. The energy of the laser needs to travel down the hair into the follicle to kill the stem cells. The laser can “see” the bit of hair right at the pore. Any extra hair sticking out of the skin will be burned off by the laser, and only contributes to burning hair smell. It does not help the treatment at all. Most people shave the night before or the morning of the treatment.
Certain topical skin treatments need to be stopped before Laser Hair removal, like retinols. If you are treating any area of the face or neck, these should be stopped 5-7 days before treatment.
What to expect after treatment
A good treatment will result in a bit of redness and swelling around the follicles. This may last minutes to hours. The hairs treated will come out of the skin over the next few days. This will appear like the hair is growing however, this is merely the skin expelling the dead hair. This hair will then fall out on its own in a few days. The treatment itself is not particularly painful– the best lasers have cooling that make the treatment very tolerable. If you are treating a very sensitive area it may be a bit hot and prickly. There is no pain at all following the treatment.
