Pre Treatment Instructions

TANNED SKIN CANNOT BE TREATED!

1. Avoid the sun 4 - 6 weeks before and after treatment or until your physician allows it.
2. You MUST avoid bleaching, plucking, waxing or depilatories like Nair for 6 weeks prior to
treatment.
3. If you have a history of cold sores around your mouth, prophylactic antiviral therapy may be started the
day before treatment and continued one week after treatment.
4. If you are tan or have a darker skin type, a bleaching regimen may be started 4 - 6 weeks before
treatment. If treated, you could develop areas of increased
pigment, burns, or even areas of decreased pigment (white spots). This may not clear for 2 - 3 months
or more and may be permanent. Artificial tanning creams must be stopped 6 weeks before the
procedure.

During the Treatment

If you face is being treated, please do not wear make-up to your treatment.

Your eyes will be protected with special glasses or shields.

1. The skin is cleaned and shaved or left with a couple days new growth. The use of topical anesthesia is
optional.
2. When treating the upper lip, the teeth may be protected with wet gauze. The gauze also serves to
support the lip during treatment.
3. A cooling spray will be used with the laser to protect the skin.
4. Safety considerations are important during the laser procedure. Protective eye wear will be worn by the
patient and all personnel in the room during the procedure to reduce the chance of damage to
the retina.

Post Treatment Instructions

1. Immediately after treatment, there should be erythema (redness) and edema (swelling) at the treatment
site. The erythema may last up to 2 - 3 days but is usually very mild. The swelling may last 2 hours or
more. The treated area will feel like a sunburn for a few hours after treatment. The application of ice
during the first few hours after treatment will reduce the discomfort and swelling.
2. Darker pigmented people may have more discomfort than lighter skin people.
3. Makeup may be used immediately after the treatment unless there is blistering. It is recommended to
use NEW makeup to reduce the possibility of infection.
4. Avoid sun exposure to reduce the chance of darker pigmentation. Use sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) at
all times throughout the course of treatment.
5. Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. Do not use any other hair removal treatment products or
similar treatments (waxing, electrolysis, tweezing or Nair) that will disturb the hair follicles on the
treatment area for 4 - 6 weeks after the treatment. You may shave the area.
6. Call our office with any questions or concerns you may have after the treatment. Hair regrowth occurs
at different rates on different areas of the body. New hair growth will not occur for AT LEAST two to
three weeks after treatment.
7. Shedding of the surface hair may commence from 5 - 14 days after the treatment. This appears as new
hair growth. This is NOT new hair growth. You can clean and remove the hair by washing or wiping
the area with a wet cloth or Loofa sponge.
8. After the underarms are treated, use a powder, instead of deodorant, for 24 hours after the
treatment to reduce skin irritation.
9. There are no restrictions on bathing except to treat the skin gently (as if you had a sunburn) for the first
24 hours.