Treatment options for
Unwanted Facial Hair
from least to most invasiveWhat You Need to Know About BBL Hair Removal
Sciton BBL ® hair removal uses a broadband light to gently remove unwanted hair, putting an end to routine shaving and waxing. This advanced technology transcends the older, painful hair removal treatments to deliver long-lasting results. The Sciton BBL ® treats more than one hair at a time, making it possible to treat both small areas on the face as well as lager areas such as back, chest, shoulders, arms, and legs. During BBL ® hair removal, a cold gel is applied to the treatment area. An anesthetic cream may be applied also to the treatment area, but is usually not necessary. Some patients mention a slight stinging during treatment, comparing the sensation to that of a rubber band snap.
How many treatments will I need?
You may need to be treated from 6-8 times at intervals of 4-6 weeks. There are three phases of hair growth - anagen, catagen and telogen. Only hairs in the active growth phase, anagen, can be successfully treated. Some larger areas of the body may need a few extra treatments.
What should I do prior to a hair removal treatment?
Before an initial LHR or BBL hair removal consult, it is best to leave an area unshaved so that the esthetician can see what color and texture your hair is, which will help determine if you are a good candidate for hair reduction therapies.
Once it is decided that you are a good candidate for BBL hair removal, for maximum effectiveness it is recommended you shave the area to be treated prior to your BBL hair removal treatment. However, you should avoid waxing, tweezing and bleaching the hair prior to hair removal treatments and during the course of treatment because these grooming activities can decrease the effectiveness of the Laser or BBL hair removal treatments. Hair needs to be present in the follicle for laser or BBL treatments to be most effective. Since waxing or plucking pulls hair out of the follicle, recently waxed or plucked areas will not be suitable for treating.
On the day of treatment wear comfortable clothing.
What should you expect after treatment?
Post Treatment Response
Hair has three phases of growth: active growth phase, an intermediate non-growth phase, and a resting phase with no hair follicle present. Duration of hair growth cycles vary with the location on the body. The BBL can only eliminate the hair that is currently in an active growth cycle so multiple treatments are necessary over a time span (4-6 week intervals) to remove hair from most areas. Final results may not be apparent for several months post treatment.
Post Treatment Care
Following a BBL hair removal treatment you may experience some redness and slight swelling in the area that has been treated; however, this should subside within a few hours. Any post treatment discomfort may be relieved by acetaminophen or similar mild analgesic. A cold compress or an ice pack can be used after treatment to provide comfort. You may shower with cool water on the treatment area 8 to 12 hours after your BBL hair removal treatment.
The unwanted hair begins to fall out over one to two weeks. Keep the treated area clean, use a least SPF 35 sunscreen when outdoors, and please do not use tanning beds or self tanners while undergoing treatments.
You may shave the treated area after 3 days following a BBL hair removal treatment. Do not pluck or wax or use a chemical exfoliant between treatments. Do NOT shave or trim the treated area for the first 3 days.
If the treated area is irritated the area should not be rubbed with a face cloth or towel. Avoid scrubbing. The area should be patted dry.
Frequently Asked Questions:
For more information on BBL Hair Removal we invite you to read our Hair Removal FAQs.