Treatment times may vary depending on your specific needs. Multiple treatments are required to achieve the full hair removal effect. That’s because hair grows in three stages: Anagen (the growth stage). Hair is thickest and darkest, so laser treatments are most effective. Catagen (the transitional stage). The hair begins to loosen from its follicle. Telogen (the shedding stage). The hair falls out to make room for new growth. The hairs on your body are not always at the same stage, so you’ll need to undergo a few treatments, an average of six weeks apart, to catch them all in the growth stage.

For about six weeks prior to treatment, you should avoid plucking, electrolysis or waxing. On the day of your treatment, skin should be clean-shaven and thoroughly cleansed of any makeup, creams, oils, topical anaesthetics or self-tanning products. Apply sunblock (SPF 30 or above) before your treatment.
Do not expose the treatment area to sunlight or tanning booth light prior to or immediately after treatment. If you have a history of herpes simplex virus, a prophylactic antiviral therapy may be prescribed.

Candela’s Laser Hair Removal treatments use a patented Dynamic Cooling Device™ (DCD™), which prepares the skin for treatment by spraying the upper layer with a cooling burst of cryogen in adjustable durations—milliseconds before the laser pulse. DCD helps ensure that the treatments are as comfortable as they are effective.

A cool compress or gel pack may be applied for additional comfort after your treatment. Any redness or swelling should resolve in a few hours.

After your laser treatment, prevent sun exposure by applying sunblock (SPF 30 or above). In the first few days after treatment, don’t scrub or rinse the treated areas with abrasive skin cleansers. Your practitioner may advise additional precautions.

Laser and light-based treatments have been safely used for many years for a variety of medical and cosmetic procedures.