PRE- & POST-CARE INSTRUCTIONS

PRE- & POST-CARE

Pre-Treatment Instructions:

6 WEEKS BEFORE TREATMENT

Discontinue waxing, hair removal creams or chemicals, tweezing, and electrolysis, as well as bleaching your hair.

2 WEEKS BEFORE TREATMENT

Avoid incidental or direct sun, tanning beds, spray-tans, and self-tanners. If you are going to be outside, apply sunblock with SPF 50 or higher and use barrier protection such as a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing.
Avoid injectable treatments, such as Botox, for 2 weeks prior. If you do fillers or Botox within 2 weeks of treatment, be sure to let your laser technician know.

THREE DAYS BEFORE TREATMENT

Stop using any topical prescription products or product with strong ingredients such as salicylic acid on areas being treated with the laser.

DAY OF TREATMENT

Inform your laser technician if you are currently taking antibiotics, birth control, acne, and photosensitizing medications.
Avoid applying any skincare product including lotions, oils, and deodorants after you cleanse and before treatment.
Take a shower before your appointment and clean the treatment area, making sure to remove dirt and oil from the skin.
You must shave the day before or day of your appointment. Please shave in the direction the hair grows with a clean razor.

A FEW MORE THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW..

Any changes to your medical history. New diagnosis? New medication? Pregnant? Please inform your laser technician, as health and safety are our top priority!
If you get cold sores and have a history of HSV-1 or HSV-2 and are treating those areas, we recommend you take an antiviral medication starting 24 – 48 hours before your treatment to prevent an outbreak and continuing for three to five days after.
If you have tattoos on or near the area being treated, we need to know beforehand so we can cover it up with a physical barrier.

Post-Treatment Instructions:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER

Swelling and redness in the treatment area should subside within 1 – 3 days. During that time, it is safe to cover using aloe vera, Vaseline, Aquaphor, or topical cooling creams to increase comfort. Can be applied up to 3 times a day.
Remember to moisturize 1- 3 times a day to help reduce any irritation.

FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS AFTER

Avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds for a minimum of three days after your treatment, and always apply sunblock with SPF 50+ to the treated area any time you are outside.
Avoid steam rooms, saunas, hot tubs, pedicures, and exercise/sweating for 24 hours; avoid swimming for at least three days after your treatment.
Avoid hot baths/showers and take short, cool, or lukewarm showers and avoid scrubbing or shaving the areas too much.
Avoid irritants such as harsh soaps, medicated washes, scrubs, peels, and topical prescription products, such as retinoids for at least three days. Apply Vaseline, Aquaphor, hydrocortisone 1%, or sunscreen as needed.
Refrain from scrubbing the area!!

What to do if you experience these common side effects:

REDNESS, SWELLING OR DISCOMFORT

Apply cool ice packs to the affected area, taking them on and off every three to five minutes for one to two hours (do not apply ice pack for more than five minutes at a time). Also, apply hydrocortisone 1%, Vaseline, or Aquaphor to the affected area up to three times a day until it resolves.

ITCHING

Option to take oral liquid Benadryl, Allegra, or Claritin (antihistamines available over the counter) as needed, as well as applying hydrocortisone 1%, and Vaseline or Aquaphor to the affected area up to three times per day until it resolves. Avoid scratching the area.

FOR LASER BUMPS

These are normal and very common in areas with coarse, dense hair, and their presence indicates an effective laser treatment. Also known as folliculitis, these small bumps should resolve within a few days, and will be less intense with each subsequent treatment. To help them resolve quickly, avoid direct heat, as well as activities that cause you to sweat. Avoid picking, scratching, shaving, and tight clothing. Apply hydrocortisone 1% and Vaseline or Aquaphor 3 times a day until resolved.