Pre-Treatment Instructions:

•	Avoid the sun 4 to 6 weeks before and after GentleLase treatments.
•	You MUST avoid bleaching, plucking, or waxing hair for four weeks prior to treatment.
•	If you have had history of perioral herpes, prophylactic antiviral therapy may be started the day before treatment and continued one week after treatment.
•	If you have a darker skin type, a bleaching regimen may be started 4 to 6 weeks before treatment. Also, the use of tanning cream must be discontinued at least one week before treatment.
•	The laser seeks melanin and it will also be attracted to dark colors. Therefore, if you are treating your bikini area, we ask that you please wear white or light-colored undergarments.
•	If you are on any medication, you must wait until you have completed your treatment or have your GentleLase treatments at least 10 days prior to beginning a new cycle of medications.

Intra-Treatment Care:

•	The skin is cleaned and shaved or left with one day of new growth. The use of topical anesthetic Lidocaine for discomfort is optional.
•	Epidermal melanocytes complete as the chromophore (target) for the 755 or 1064mm wavelength with melanin at the target site. The DCD, or cooling device, will be used with the laser to minimize epidermal damage.
•	Safety considerations are important during the laser procedure. Client and all personnel will wear protective eyewear during the procedure.

Post-Treatment Care:

•	Immediately after treatment, there will likely be crythema (redness) and edema (swelling) at the treatment site, which may last up to two hours or longer. The erythema may last up to two or three days. The treated area can feel like sunburn for a few hours after treatment. The application of ice/cool packs during the first few hours after treatment will reduce the discomfort and swelling, but we recommend only aloe vera gel after treatment. Rarely, minor epidermal blistering may occur, in which case triple antibiotic ointment may be applied. If this should happen, please contact our office immediately and our nurse will give you further instructions.
•	Makeup may be used immediately after the treatment, unless there is epidermal blistering. We recommend letting the skin air out and be free of products that may cause infection. Therefore, we recommend that ONLY NEW MAKEUP be applied. This will reduce the possibility of infection.
•	Avoid sun exposure for five to seven days post treatment to reduce the chance of hyper pigmentations or darker pigmentation. Use sunscreen (SPF 25 or greater) on exposed areas at all times throughout the course of treatment.
•	Avoid picking or scratching the treated skin. Do not use any other hair removal treatment, products or similar treatments (waxing, electrolysis, tweezing or bleaching) that will disturb the hair follicle on the treatment area for 4-6 weeks after the treatment is performed. Shaving is the preferred method and allowed.
•	Call our office with any questions or concerns you may have after the treatment. Return to our office or call for an appointment at the first sign of the return of hair growth. This can mean within 4 to 6 weeks for the upper body treated and possibly as long as 4 to 12 weeks for the lower body. Hair re-growth occurs at different rates on different areas of the body. New hair growth will not occur for at least three weeks after the treatment.
•	Anywhere from 5-21 days after the treatment, shedding of the surface hair may occur and 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 a loofa sponge.
•	After the underarms are treated, use a powder instead of deodorant for 24 hours after the treatment. This will reduce skin irritation.
•	There are no restrictions on bathing except to treat the skin gently, as if you have a sunburn, for the first 24 hours.
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The North Shore Laser Center
6 Essex Center Dr. Suite 206
Peabody, MA 01960