The beautiful weather we have here in Southern California makes it easy to keep your skin bare all year long. But for those of us with unwanted facial or body hair, the endless skin-baring seasons can mean lots of time shaving.
At Balboa Medical Center & Spa in Encino, California, Dr. Amir Raeesy and our care team use Icon™ laser hair removal by Cynosure®, one of the leaders in aesthetic technologies and therapies, to eradicate unwanted hair and give you the silky, hair-free skin you’ve been dreaming of.
Our team of hair-removal experts has created this guide to help you better understand how Icon laser hair removal works and how it helps you leave the razor behind for good.
How does laser hair removal work?
The Icon laser hair removal system uses advanced laser technology to specifically target the cells in your hair follicles that promote hair growth. Because the treatment is so targeted, your Balboa Medical Center & Spa provider destroys these cells without damaging the surrounding skin.
This means your provider can use the Icon system to safely remove hair from almost all body parts, including:
- Face
- Underarms
- Arms
- Legs
- Back
- Bikini area
- Chest
- Shoulders
- Hands
At Balboa Medical Center & Spa, your provider reviews your skin and your aesthetic goals to create a personalized laser hair removal package to meet your unique needs.
How many laser hair removal sessions do I need?
Due to the personalized nature of your laser hair removal care, the number and duration of treatments needed vary from patient to patient. Factors that impact your treatments include:
- The size of the treatment area
- How much hair needs to be removed
- Your hair and skin color
Most sessions only take minutes. However, larger areas, like the legs or back, could take an hour or more. Your hair grows in cycles, and each hair is at a different point in its growth cycle. As such, it takes several laser hair removal sessions to achieve optimal results. On average, most of our patients get six to eight treatments.
Are laser hair removal results permanent?
Laser hair removal by Icon is designed to stop new hair growth. This means most of our patients experience permanent results. That being said, your hair can grow back for different reasons, like changes in your hormone levels.
Fortunately, any new hair growth you experience after treatments with the Icon laser hair removal system is typically thinner and lighter. This means that a quick touch-up treatment can blast the new hairs and keep them away.
What can I do to get the best laser hair removal results possible?
To get long-lasting results with the smoothest skin possible, there are steps you can take before your Icon laser hair removal treatment. Your provider at Balboa Medical Center & Spa gives you before- and after-treatment instructions, but some general guidelines to follow include:
- Stop waxing and plucking 4-6 weeks prior to your Icon appointment (laser hair removal targets the root, so you want the root in place.
(NOTE: You can continue shaving since that doesn’t affect the root of your hair.) - Shave 1-2 days before your session to minimize the risk of the laser burning the hair.
- Keep out of the sun beginning two weeks before your session since sunburn can make you ineligible for treatment.
- Avoid bleaching your hair for at least 6 weeks before your Icon treatment as it makes the hair difficult to target.
- Review your medications with Dr. Raeesy and follow all pre-treatment recommendations as certain medicines affect your skin.
- Come with clean skin free of makeup or lotion since some ingredients impact your laser hair removal results.
Leave the razor behind with the help of Balboa Medical Center & Spa. Contact our Encino, California, office by calling (818) 701-0017 to set up a consultation or request an appointment online at your convenience.