About a half-hour before the procedure is to begin, a topical numbing agent will usually be applied to the skin, so as to reduce the discomfort of the laser stings. Then just before the actual laser is trained on the affected area, the hair will be trimmed down to a few millimeters above the skin line, to make the process easier. The laser equipment will be set up to accommodate your skin color, as well as the specific characteristics of your hair, including the color, thickness, and location.
Both you and the medical professional will probably have to wear protective eye equipment, so the laser light doesn’t damage your eyes. A cold gel or a special cooling device will then be applied to your skin to protect it, and to make it easier for the laser light to actually penetrate the skin and get to the roots of the hairs. At first, the technician will probably only apply a single pulse of laser light to the treatment area, so he/she can observe the reaction of your skin at that location.
If any adjustments are necessary for the equipment, they will probably be done at this time, after that first laser pulse. Once the procedure is complete, you might be given ice packs or an anti-inflammatory lotion to soothe your skin and prevent a negative reaction. Then, when any reaction has died down, you can schedule the next session for about a month later, and you can continue with these sessions until the hair loss becomes permanent.
