Transitioning into Hair Removal
Congratulations on making the steps to start feeling more like you! For some people transitioning, this may mean wanting to remove unwanted hair on some areas of your body. We can help.
At City Laser Clinic, we have experience in assisting transwomen and transmen in removing unwanted hair. Our team is experienced with laser hair removal treatments and the affects that transitioning has on your hair growth. With our expertise, you can expect to see results immediately after your first session.
When to start?
You can start laser hair removal at any time of your transition. Most of our FTM clients prefer to start immediately so that they can enjoy smooth skin pre-meds. Once you have started any hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it will only boost your results. However it is required to stay out of the sun for 2 weeks before and after each treatment. So if you’re a beach-goer, start at the end of Summer.
If you are MTF and are wanting to remove hair, we advise commencing treatment before you start HRT. The medication required to transition from female to male enhances hair growth. If you receive laser hair removal treatments – which aim to remove hair – whilst taking medication that aims to promote hair, the treatment and medication will counteract each other.
How will HRT affect my treatments?
If you are MTF, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will only boost your results as it will contribute to lessening your hair growth. Unfortunately if you are FTM, your HRT will slow your results as the hormones will be encouraging your body to grow hair. We can still achieve great results, it may just take a little more time.
Let us help you feel more you.
How many treatments will I need?
The amount of treatments you will need depend on which area of the face/body that you are hoping to treat.
Face + neck treatments can require 20+ treatments, whilst body areas can take anywhere from 6-15 treatments.
As mentioned earlier, your HRT medication will lessen the treatments required if you are MTF.
How does it work?
Prior to each Laser Hair Removal treatment, you are required to shave the night prior. We don’t need the hair to be visible during the treatment – the shorter, the better. When you attend your appointment, we will ask you to remove any deodorant or makeup that might be on the area with wipes provided by us.
1. During the treatment: We will then grid the area that you are wanting to treat with a white pencil. This helps us with precision as well as allowing you to check & confirm the area that we will remove. Once confirmed, we will start zapping away!
The treatment time will vary depending on how many areas you are treating, however for reference, it will take 10-15mins to treat your face & neck.
2. Immediately After: Once the treatment is complete, we will apply Aloe Vera Gel & provide an ice pack. This will cool & soothe the skin and reduce any follicular swelling that may occur.
3. After: The treated hair will fall out within 2 weeks on the body and a few days on the face. We recommend gently exfoliate to help with this process.
If you want to learn the technicalities of Laser Hair Removal, we recommend reading this blog.
What you can expect during the treatment
Laser Hair Removal is can be painful, depending on the area you’re treating as well as hair thickness. However the treatments are quick, gradually become less painful, and there is no prolonged pain once the treatment is complete. We always recommend trying the laser hair removal first, then if you find it too painful, there is a numbing cream that you can apply prior to your future sessions.
Am I a suitable candidate?
Laser Hair Removal is suitable for anyone with pigmented (brown/black) hair. At City Laser Clinic, we use the Candela GentleLase which allows us to safely treat skin types I-IV on the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale. If you are a skin type V-VI, we would advise finding a clinic that uses Candela GentleYAG as this laser is not attracted to pigment. If you have red, white, blonde, or grey hair, we would recommend Electrolysis as a permanent hair removal alternative.
Aftercare
There is not too much that you need to do post-treatment for Laser Hair Removal, however there are a few things to avoid:
- 48 Hours Post-Treatment: Avoid intense exercise, exfoliation, hot showers, sauna’s, or anything else that may generate heat to the area.
- Two Weeks Post-Treatment: Avoid direct sun exposure to the treated areas. Wear SPF50+ whenever you’re heading out.
Pricing
Our pricing for laser hair removal can be found here. Your pricing will reflect your transitioned gender, not biological sex. If you have a specific area that you’d like to remove and you cannot find it on our price list, we will be able to provide a quote upon your initial consultation.
How Do I Start?
All clients receive an initial consultation prior to any skin or laser treatment with us. During this consultation, we will discuss your concerns, goals, and explain the treatment process to achieve said goals. This time also allows us to answer any questions you may have prior to commencing.
