POST-TREATMENT CARE:
1.  Immediately after treatment, there should be erythema(redness), edema(swelling), and bumps at the treatment site, which may last up to 2 hours or longer. The erythema may last up to 2-3 days. The treated area will feel like sunburn for few hours after treatment.
2.  Aloe-Vera, cold packs or any other cooling preparations may be used to ease temporary discomfort. Darker pigmented people may have more discomfort than lighter skin people and may require aloe-vera gel and ice longer.
3.  Avoid prolonged sun exposure for 4 weeks before and after treatment.
4.  Use sunblock (SPF 30+) at all times throughout the course of treatment.
5.  Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. Do not use any other hair removal methods or products (tweezing, waxing or electrolysis) on the treated area except for shaving or trimming during the course of your laser treatment, as it will prevent you from achieving your best results.
6.  Anywhere from 2-30 days after the treatment, shedding of the surface hair may occur and this may appear as new hair growth. This is NOT new hair growth, but dead hair pushing its way out of the follicle. You can clean and remove the hair by washing or scrubbing the area with a wet washcloth or loofa sponge.
7.  There are no restrictions on bathing except to treat the skin gently, as if you had sunburn, for the first 24 hours.
8.  If you experience any brown crusting, do not pick or scratch. Allow it to fall off naturally. In rare cases you may have areas that develop blisters. Do not pick or remove the scabs. Apply antibiotics cream twice daily until healed. The area will heal in 5-7 days.
9.  Call Wade Laser Clinic with any questions or concerns you may have after the treatment.

For Optimum results it is important that you keep all of your appointments. Your follow-up treatments customized to your individual conditions and your schedule has a direct effect on the final results of your treatments.

Are there any complications?

Fortunately, the complications of laser hair removal are rare if it’s done by an experienced and skilled laser technician. You should expect a certain degree of pain, swelling and redness around the hair follicle after each treatment session. These symptoms resolve over the following 24 hours.

The following problems may occur with the hair removal system:

Pain: Traditional 9 X 9 mm handpiece: some Clients feel discomfort during treatment. Exposure is limited to an extremely short pulse. Clients report the treatment feels like a rubber band snap. This discomfort may range from mild to moderate and does not last long. A mild burning sensation may last for up to one hour. A cold compress or ice pack may be used if desired. HS handpiece: due to the vacuum application and the lower range of fluence used, discomfort is usually minimal.

Short term effects may include reddening, mild burning, temporary bruising or blistering. Hyper-pigmentation (browning) and hypo-pigmentation (lightening) have also been noted after treatment. These conditions usually resolve within 3-6 months, but permanent color change is a rare risk. Sun exposure must be avoided 3-4 weeks prior to therapy and after, as exposure to the sun may intensify hyper-pigmentation.

Swelling: May sometimes occur immediately after treatment. This is temporary and not harmful. Cold packs or anti–inflammatory preparation may reduce the swelling.

Infection: Although, infection following treatment is unusual, bacterial, fungal and viral infections can occur. Herpes simplex virus infections around the mouth can occur following a treatment. This applies to individuals with history of herpes simplex virus infections. Should any type of skin infections occur, additional treatment or medical antibiotics may be needed. If you have a history of herpes simplex virus in the treated area we recommend preventative therapy.

Bleeding: Pinpoint bleeding is rare but can occur following treatment procedures. Should bleeding occur, additional treatment may be necessary.

Allergic Reactions: In rare cases, local allergies to tape, preservatives used in cosmetics or topical preparations have been reported. Systemic reactions (which are more serious) may result from prescription medicines (we do not use these).

Fragile skin: The skin that has been treated should be treated gently for a few days. It should not be rubbed and when applying makeup pat gently. Makeup can be applied immediately after treatment as long as the skin is not broken. If that occurs, you may apply antibiotic cream and avoid the application of makeup.