Trans Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is becoming one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures in the United States. Shaving, waxing, and other forms of hair removal are troublesome, expensive over a lifetime, and takes up large amounts of time. This is only more true for transgender patients who may spend hours every week removing unwanted hair. Laser hair removal offers transgender patients a longer lasting solution. Northwest Face & Body offers the best transgender laser hair removal Bellevue and Kirkland provide.

Transgender Hair Removal: When It’s Necessary

Not all transgender patients will want laser hair removal. This is because gender dysphoria affects every transgender person differently. Some may not feel negatively about their body. If this is the case, there is no reason to seek out laser hair removal in Bellevue. However, if body hair does cause gender dysphoria, laser hair removal can often lessen the dysphoria concerning unwanted hair.

For those who do have gender dysphoria about their hair, laser hair removal can be necessary and life-saving, similar to top surgery and other gender affirming surgeries. At Northwest Face & Body, we offer laser hair removal services to transgender patients in all stages of their transition.

Treatment Areas

One major advantage of laser hair removal is that it can treat nearly any area of the body. The only limitation is that it cannot treat the brows or anywhere too close to the eye. Generally, though, it can address typical facial hair patterns.

The master estheticians at Northwest Face & Body can perform laser hair removal in all of the following areas:

• Face
• Neck
• Underarms
• Chest
• Stomach
• Brazilian
• Back
• Legs
• Arms

Benefits

Transgender laser hair removal comes with a multitude of benefits and advantages. While they will range depending on the patient’s goals, patients can expect some level of benefit. Some of the benefits and advantages of choosing laser hair removal for transgender hair removal include:

• Lessening/treatment of gender dysphoria surrounding unwanted hair
• Permanent reduction of hair
• Prevents ingrown hairs
• Mitigates razor burn
• No scarring
• Saves time and money by allowing patients to discontinue or lessen the frequency of other hair removal methods
• Can treat nearly any body area
• Little risk
• Minimal to no downtime
• Few side effects
• Appointments are usually less than an hour
• Almost painless

These are just a few of the benefits patients may experience from transgender laser hair removal in Bellevue. Your master esthetician will discuss what you can expect from the procedure.

Candidates And Risk Factors

Laser hair removal–while a low risk procedure–is not ideal for everyone. In the past, only those with light skin could undergo laser hair removal due to the risk of hyperpigmentation. However, with more modern lasers that target the melanin specifically in hair. While those with dark skin may still have slightly increased risks, it is not significant enough to not recommend treatment.

With that said, the patients with the least risk and more likely to see good results are those with light skin and dark hair. Patients with blond, white, gray, and most shades of red hair are likely not candidates for laser hair removal. Hair without melanin (or too little melanin) cannot be located by the laser. This increases the risk of burns and patients with light hair will often not see optimal results.

Beyond these standards, patients should not be taking any prescription acne medications, be in good general health, and a legal adult.

Side Effects

In good candidates, there are still some small risks associated with the procedure. Most side effects and risks are minor and resolve without too much trouble. As far as side effects, patients can experience:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Discomfort
• Sun sensitivity
• Temporary changes in skin pigmentation
• Crusty skin
• Skin irritation

Blisters, pigmentation changes, and other major changes are fairly rare. They also will usually resolve over time. Your master esthetician calibrates the laser to your skin and hair type to minimize risk and side effects.

General Risks

All treatments that use medical grade lasers come with some risks. It is rare to have an adverse reaction to laser hair removal. The skill of your master esthetician and the general safety of modern lasers keep risks of the procedure minimal. Risks of laser hair removal can include:

• Burns
• Hyperpigmentation/Hypopigmentation
• Scarring
• Blisters
• Infection

Before And After Trans Laser Hair Removal

Consultation

Before commencing with your Bellevue transgender laser hair removal, you will meet with a master esthetician for a consultation. At this consultation, your master esthetician will determine if you are a good candidate for the treatment. They will then create a customized plan for your laser hair removal.

First, your master esthetician will want to know about your goals and the areas you want to treat. They may ask about your medical history and aspects of your lifestyle, such as if you smoke. Next, they may want to examine the treatment areas to look at the thickness, color, and type of hair you have. Finally, they will describe the procedure and determine whether or not you are a good candidate for transgender laser hair removal in Bellevue.

Treatment

To begin laser hair removal treatment, your master esthetician will have you change into a medical gown. They will then disinfect the treatment areas. Numbing creams are generally not used since our medical grade lasers are designed to target hair and not skin. This results in laser hair removal that is almost pain free for many patients.

For some areas, your master esthetician may apply ultrasound gel to promote the smooth movement of the laser. After these initial steps, your master esthetician will bring the laser to your skin and start treatment. They will activate the laser across the treatment area. Depending on the size and number of areas, this can take anywhere from ten minutes to about an hour.

Aftercare

After a laser hair removal session, patients can mostly return to their everyday life. Though, for about a day or two, there may be some mild restrictions. The main one is that you should avoid raising your body temperature. This includes strenuous exercise, saunas, and even hot showers. At the five day mark, you may begin to gently exfoliate the treatment areas. Sometimes, when hairs get singed, they can get caught in the hair follicle. Exfoliation can help bring out these hairs.

Otherwise, the only ongoing aftercare is to make sure to keep the treatment areas protected from sun exposure. This may include keeping them covered or using broadband SPF as well as limiting time in the sun.

Expected Results

For most people, laser hair removal takes an average of four to six treatments. Although, some areas or hair types may take longer. Your master esthetician can advise you on the specifics of your treatment during a consultation.

Since body hair grows in different stages every four to six weeks, this means that to adequately reduce the hair, treatments must be performed every four to six weeks. In general, laser hair removal patients can expect a permanent hair reduction. While patients may occasionally see patchy, thin hair growth, this is easily managed. It can be mitigated via yearly touch-up sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What If My Hair Is Too Light For Laser Hair Removal?

Hair that does not have enough melanin is not safe for laser hair removal treatment. This is because it increases risks to the skin and often is not as effective. For these patients, other permanent hair removal methods such as electrolysis are recommended. Though, depending on the treatment area, sometimes the hair is dark enough to treat.

Does Laser Really Remove Hair Permanently?

Laser hair removal permanently reduces hair. While some hair may sprout up after finishing your treatments, it is generally sparse and thinner than before. For those used to spending hours on hair removal, this saves time and money. Patients may choose to have annual or biannual touch-up sessions.

Is It Covered By Insurance?

Unlike other transgender procedures that are covered by insurance, laser hair removal generally is not. Though, you can contact your insurance company for more information. Luckily, laser hair removal is cost effective and Northwest Face and Body does offer outside financing.

What Type Of Laser Do You Use?

The laser used for laser hair removal in Kirkland is an 808 diode laser. This type of laser uses fragmented light and regulates heat emissions from the laser. These features promote safer and almost painless laser hair removal. The diode laser’s way of controlling light and heat is also what makes it safe for skin of color. We do have an IPL laser, but do not use it for laser hair removal because it is more painful than a Q-switch laser.

Do Your Providers Have Experience With Trans Patients?

Yes, all of our master estheticians and the team at Northwest Face & Body have extensive experience working with trans patients. They have performed many transgender laser hair removal procedures before. They have worked with a diverse set of transgender clients from all walks of life and at various stages of transition. Northwest Face & Body is a safe and welcoming place for the transgender and LGBT community.

The Top Trans Laser Hair Removal In Bellevue And Kirkland

The master estheticians at Northwest Face & Body have all undergone rigorous training and education. They went beyond esthetic school to understand the medical side of skincare. Along with being a licensed master esthetician, many of our master estheticians are also medical assistants. They bring together the esthetic and medical worlds to both beautify and improve the health of your skin. This makes them the ideal laser hair removal providers. Northwest Face & Body provides the best transgender laser hair removal Bellevue and Kirkland offers.

Northwest Face & Body has served the surgical and non-surgical cosmetic needs of the Eastside for decades. Located centrally between Kirkland and Bellevue at Carillion Point, the office offers a luxurious and relaxing environment for laser hair removal treatments.

To schedule a free consultation with a master esthetician, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also reach out online using Price Simulator®, chat, or one of our contact forms.

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See Laser Hair Removal In Action

Watch one of our amazing master estheticians perform laser hair removal.