What happens if you get a laser hair removal treatment 3 weeks after a treatment?

Question

I just had my 5th laser hair treatment done and I told them part of the treated area doesn't seem to be responding. They turned up the frequency, but I'm still worried the wrong laser is being used since the skin is darker & I didn't feel stings in the unresponsive area. In general my skin is white and my hair black. She offered an extra treatment in 3 weeks, and said that it'd be ok to shorten the interval since the hairs missed would still be in the right growth phases. Does that sound right?

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hi Shelle.  You can certainly have another treatment several weeks after the last one, but there are a number of concerns.  The first is that you mentioned you were not feeling the "sting" in the unresponsive area.  If your treatment does not involve some discomfort, you may not achieve good results.  This may be because the office is using the wrong laser for your skin type or because they are treating at a low fluence (energy).  At 5 treatments, you should expect to be at 50% - 75% permanent hair removal.  If you are not, then it may be time to reevaluate.  For examples of before and after photos of Los Angeles laser hair removal, click on the link below.

Michael A. Zadeh, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi Shelle. There are certain things that can be done to treat stubborn hair that continue to grow after laser hair removal treatments. One is to turn up the energy of the device. Another is to shorten the time between treatments. What they are trying to do is to increase the likelihood that those hairs are being treated during the grown phase of their cycle. If you have any questions about the treatment you are receiving then you should talk with the physician who oversees the laser treatments at the facility. Hope this helps!

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Its okay to get hair removal 2-3 weeks after the previous one.  There is no risk as long as there is no burn or issues on your skin.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Morris Westfried, MD · Answer

It is best to wait a minimum of 4-6 weeks to get value from the laser treatment .Three weeks is too soon for a session and will be suboptimal.

What happens if you get a laser hair removal treatment 3 weeks after a treatment?

Answers (4)

Answer: 3 week interval

Answer: 3 week interval

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Everything you need to know about Laser Hair Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

What happens if you get a laser hair removal treatment 3 weeks after a treatment?

Answers (4)

Answer: 3 week interval

Answer: 3 week interval

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Laser Hair Removal

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.