Is Laser Hair Removal Painful?

 group of women lay on their backs on a bed crossing their smooth legs in the air
If you’ve arranged a laser hair removal appointment for the first time in your life, congratulations! You’re on the way to smoother skin with less shaving, plucking, waxing, or electrolysis. Many people feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness before their first appointment. We completely understand these feelings and do everything we can to make sure your experience is a comfortable one.

You may feel nervous because you don’t know what to expect in terms of pain, discomfort, or sensation. Each person has different tolerances for discomfort, so your experience is in some ways going to be unique, but we can tell you that our patients by and large experience minimal discomfort during laser hair removal. 

As the laser pulses penetrate the hair follicle, you will feel a snap, similar to snapping a rubber band against your skin. We may apply a numbing topical anesthetic to the area prior to the laser treatment, to further reduce discomfort.

It’s a great idea to prepare yourself for this cosmetic dermatology appointment, but you can also depend on us to walk you through the process, every step of the way. Here are a few other ways to prepare for the appointment:

  • Avoid sun exposure and tanning. Doing so increases melanin in your skin. The laser will target this darker melanin when it should be targeting the root and follicle alone. Essentially, the laser treatment may not work as well if you’ve tanned.
  • Don’t pluck/tweeze, wax, or get electrolysis for at least 4 weeks. These hair removal methods remove the hair root and follicle temporarily, which is what the laser treatment is targeting.
  • Shave the day prior. Doing so will get the shaft of the hair out of the way of the laser, leaving behind the hair root that is targeted for removal.

We will make sure you have all of the pre-treatment and post-treatment instructions ahead of time. 

Smoother Legs with Laser Hair Removal

If you live in Seattle and are interested in scheduling a laser hair removal treatment with Dr. Steven Greene and his team of master Estheticians, please call Advanced Dermatology and Laser Institute of Seattle at 206-402-4797. We look forward to arranging your consultation!