How Long After Chin Liposuction Should I Wait Before Starting Laser Hair Removal?

Question

For a while now I've been planning to remove some stubborn chin hairs, but I also had minor liposuction on my submandibular area about a week ago. I'd like to know how long I should wait to begin the laser hair removal? The area where the hair grows (at the bony tip of the chin) is anterior to the area that had liposuction (under the jaw), so it's not exactly the same area. However, what are the possible adverse effects of starting laser hair removal now before my liposuction has fully healed?

Ryan A. Stanton, MD · Answer

Because every surgeon has a different post-operative protocol I would first advise asking your operating surgeon. A relatively safe rule of thumb is somewhere around 3 weeks but this can vary from patient to patient depending on skin type and residual swelling and bruising after the chin liposuction. Glad to help... @drryanstanton

Jennifer Reichel, MD · Answer

I agree you should ask your surgeon when he/she thinks it is safe to begin laser hair removal after liposuction. For my patients, I would advise them that they should wait until the lipo ports are healed, and the bruising, swelling, and tenderness are gone. Also, if the lipo garment rubs in the area where the hair is growing, you might want to wait until you are out of the garment as it could be irritating.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Holly.  Your surgeon would be the best person to ask about this, but if the areas are separate, we would not be concerned about starting even though they are adjacent.  Laser hair removal is at a different level of the skin than the surgical procedure so should not have any harmful interaction.  The only concern we would have is the pain, discomfort or trauma of pressing the hair removal laser into the skin in the same general area of the surgery.  If this is painful, then it may be best to wait a month or two.  

	We are in Los Angeles and offer free consultations regarding laser hair removal. You can see our hair removal before and after pictures below.

Kristen A. Richards, MD · Answer

great question.

	first you should run it by your treating surgeon. if they give the green light for laser hair reduction then it is only a matter of your comfort level.

	we would want you to be healed, no redness or inflammation present, and ideally pain free from your previous procedure.

	laser hair reduction/ removal is at a different level of the skin than your recent procedure--so you should not have any harmful interaction, but the laser hair procedure can cause its own redness, inflammation, and pain.

	most patients are extremely satisfied with laser hair reduction.

How Long After Chin Liposuction Should I Wait Before Starting Laser Hair Removal?

Answers (4)