If you are tired of shaving, waxing, and plucking and want to achieve permanently smooth skin, explore laser hair removal with Meridian Plastic Surgery. The treatment we offer is non-invasive, works on nearly every skin type, and is proven to get rid of unwanted hair.
Our Austin practice provides care to both women and men in a private and professional setting. Through our SCITON® Laser system — generally considered the gold standard in laser hair removal — treatment is faster and much more comfortable. We are also able to help patients with darker skin tones who have traditionally been unable to benefit from this laser technology.
What Is Laser Hair Removal and How Does It Work?
Laser hair removal is an advanced treatment approach that can permanently remove or reduce unwanted hair. There is little-to-no downtime, and most of our patients see a significant improvement in as little as six weeks.
Laser hair removal uses targeted energy to heat the melanin (pigment) in the hair follicles. This helps to destroy the follicles and discourage hair regrowth.
Since laser energy produces heat, high-quality systems employ a contact cooling plate. Meridian Plastic Surgery can adjust the cooling to different temperatures, protecting untreated skin and making your experience much more comfortable.
What Are the Benefits of Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal aims to permanently remove or reduce hair. Every other option for getting rid of unwanted hair is a temporary measure. A few treatments with a laser system can save you from uncomfortable waxing and shaving for years to come.
Treat a variety of areas. Meridian Plastic Surgery helps patients get smooth skin in nearly any trouble spot they want to address.
End irritation and embarrassment. For many people, traditional methods for removing hair do not ensure an attractive result, particularly when they leave behind red or irritated skin. After laser hair removal, you can end the irritation and embarrassment for good.
Save time. The routine of shaving, waxing, tweezing, or applying chemicals requires planning and takes time. Laser Hair Removal Treatment with our practice allows you to have the appearance you want.
Most Popular Areas for Laser Hair Removal Treatment
Face
Women and men often choose to have this treatment to eliminate shaving and waxing from their aesthetic regimen. A few sessions with Meridian Plastic Surgery can help to permanently stop hair growth. We can treat the full face as well as individual features, such as the brow and eyebrow area, upper lip and cheeks, and the exterior of the ears, chin, and neck. Patients may also follow up their treatment with laser skin resurfacing and/or other cosmetic procedures.
Underarms
After a few laser hair removal sessions, you will no longer have to shave your armpits or deal with the irritation that often follows. Treatment for this area is generally quick because of the size of the areas.
Bikini Area
Meridian Plastic Surgery can treat all or a portion of the area that a bikini covers. Some patients prefer to treat 2-3 inches of their inner thighs around the bikini line, some include the top of the pubic area, and some want full coverage treatment. Our practice will tailor the treatment session to accommodate your preferences.
Legs
We can permanently remove leg hair from the front and back of the upper and/or the lower portion of your legs. You may choose the treatment area. Some patients choose to only treat the lower leg (from the ankle to the top of your knee) or on the upper leg (from the top of your knee to the bikini area).
What Other Areas Can I Treat with Laser Hair Removal Technology?
Our Austin practice will design a plan based on your individual goals. Here are some of the areas that we have been asked to treat:
- Chest including features such as the cleavage, areola
- Abdomen or stomach, including navel
- Full or partial back and shoulders
- Buttocks
- Full and partial arms and hands
- Feet and toes
What Is the Cost of Laser Hair Removal?
The price for treatment depends on several factors, including:
- The size of the area.
- The number of areas you have treated.
- The number of sessions you require.
During your initial consultation with Meridian Plastic Surgery, we will provide you with the pricing information you need to make your decision about care.
Am I a Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?
Consider laser hair removal if you want permanently smooth skin and are tired of your current aesthetic routine and the irritation that follows. Treatment is non-invasive and effective, and the technology that Meridian Plastic Surgery uses makes it available for nearly all patients.
We will take time during your consultation to learn about your goals and then talk about solutions we offer and ensure that you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. Our practice’s top priorities are your comfort, safety, and satisfaction.
In General, Laser Hair Removal Is Well-Suited for Patients Who:
- Have unwanted hair anywhere on their body. Meridian Plastic Surgery can treat a range of body features in a safe, efficient, and effective way.
- Are tired of shaving, waxing, plucking, and skin irritation. Laser hair removal aims to permanently eliminate or reduce the amount of hair that grows in the treatment area.
- Can attend multiple treatment sessions. Hair follicles grow at different intervals. For this reason, we typically apply laser energy to the same area over the span of a few weeks to ensure we have treated undeveloped follicles.
Treatment May Not Be Right for Patients Who:
- Have gray or unpigmented hair. Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in the hair follicles. Gray hair typically does not have enough pigment for the laser technology to work.
- Plan to sunbathe or to use a tanning bed right away. Sun exposure following a laser treatment can cause a significant skin burn.
All About the Laser Technology
Meridian Plastic Surgery uses the SCITON® Laser System, generally considered the gold standard in laser hair removal by the aesthetic field for its:
Large application field. Because our system covers a big area with every application, we can treat our Austin-area patients more quickly and comfortably.
Ability to help people of nearly all skin types. People with darker skin may not be able to benefit from older technologies. Our system works for people of nearly every skin type.
Comfort. Laser energy produces heat to treat unwanted hair follicles. To protect your skin, the laser system has a powerful contact cooling plate that we can adjust to different temperatures.
Laser Hair Removal Explained
Laser hair removal is a popular aesthetic treatment that Meridian Plastic Surgery offers on a regular basis. Our patients often have their treatment on the same day as their initial consultation.
Frequently, we follow laser hair removal with other skincare treatments. The solutions that our practice offers not only help them get smoother features but also more youthful skin. These include BOTOX®, dermal fillers, chemical peels, microlaser peel, and broadband light therapy.
What Should I Do Before Treatment?
There is little-to-no preparation required before you have laser hair removal. The treatment is low-impact and relatively fast, and since there is no downtime, you do not need prescriptions for medications.
The biggest requirement is that you should not go tanning before or after laser hair removal. This is to prevent the laser technology from causing a burn in the skin that has already absorbed ultraviolet rays.
You will be asked to shave prior to your laser hair removal session.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Most of our Austin-area patients have between three and six sessions of laser treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart. Hairs grow at different intervals, and so different follicles in your skin may absorb the laser energy in each session.
Multiple sessions limit the amount of hair that will grow back. In some cases, patients will return for additional sessions to reduce or eliminate the hair completely in a targeted area.
How Long Does a Session Usually Last?
The duration of each session depends on:
- The number of areas you have treated. Meridian Plastic Surgery may be able to combine treatment for multiple areas of your body into a single session.
- The size of the areas. For example, a full chest will take longer to treat than a single feature, such as the navel.
To give you an idea of what to expect, laser hair removal for both armpits might take about 15 minutes per session. Our practice’s investment in the latest technology reduces the amount of time that treatment takes.
What Does Laser Hair Removal Feel Like? Does It Hurt?
The SCITON Laser system has a large application field, which means broader and faster treatment. In addition, its adjustable contact cooling plate helps reduce the skin’s sensitivity. Patients may also opt to receive numbing cream to make them more comfortable during their sessions.
Our patients often describe the sensation as a series of rubber band snaps against their skin. Comparing a few sessions of laser treatment against years of plucking and waxing, most of them tell us that treatment is very manageable.
What Should I Expect After Laser Hair Removal Treatment?
You should have no downtime after your appointment, though it is common to have some skin irritation in the treated area. Typically, hair in that site will fall out within 24-48 hours, though it can take up to a couple of weeks.
Following at least three treatments, you should see significant hair reduction and significantly smoother skin. We recommend 3-6 sessions to ensure permanent hair removal or reduction. Some of our Austin-area patients require more than three treatments, either due to the size of the area or the interval of their hair follicle growth.
Other Things to Consider Before Getting Laser Hair Removal
Meridian Plastic Surgery is available to answer your questions about any of the treatments that we offer, including laser hair removal. As part of your initial consultation, we encourage you to learn about our approach and to get all of the information that you need to make your decision. We want you to choose treatment with complete confidence in your care.
Is It Really Worth It?
You should consider laser hair removal if any of the following matters to you.
Saving time. Many of our patients complain about how long it takes to shave or wax and how often they need to complete these routines to maintain the benefits.
Eliminating discomfort. Laser hair removal means you can stop dealing with the old following painful routine of shaving or waxing.
Getting lasting improvement. For some patients, shaving and waxing never get their skin smooth enough. Irritation sets in quickly, followed by stubble and eventually by full hair regrowth. Laser Hair Removal Treatment with our practice aims to provide permanently smoother skin.
Are Other Treatments as Effective?
Laser hair removal is one of the most effective treatments available to permanently remove or reduce hair growth in the treated area.
Other methods, such as shaving, waxing, and chemical treatments, can quickly remove the portion of the hair above the skin’s surface. However, these treatments may only provide a few days of smooth skin. For many people, these same alternatives create irritation that diminishes their aesthetic benefits.
Get Laser Hair Removal Treatment at Meridian Plastic Surgery
Schedule an appointment with us quickly and easily. You can plan your visit by contacting our practice online or by calling and speaking with one of our team members. Our staff welcomes the opportunity to provide you with specialized high-quality care.
Get rid of unwanted hair and aim for permanently smoother skin almost anywhere on your body. Contact our Austin practice by calling (512) 617-7500 or connecting with us online.
