Hair Removal

No. Besides men's beards, we also treat women's fine hair on the philtrum and chin, and underarm hair. DM Dermatology treats parts of the face, the full face, and the underarms. Other areas are decided after a consultation. We do not treat the eyebrows or the area around the eyelids because laser light could reach the eyes.

Laser hair removal is a treatment that reduces hair. After several sessions, fewer hairs grow back, and the remaining hairs are usually finer and lighter. Treated hair falls out over 1–3 weeks, so during that time it may look like it is growing. In rare cases, fine hair actually increases near the treated area (paradoxical hypertrichosis). Not all hair may disappear, so if hair increases again, we decide on maintenance sessions or the next plan after an examination.

When the light hits, you may feel heat and a sting like a snapping rubber band; how much varies from person to person. Usually no numbing is used; instead, the skin surface is cooled during treatment to reduce the heat. Sensitive areas with thick, dense hair, such as a beard on the philtrum and chin, can be treated after numbing cream is applied. If the feeling is strong, tell us right away during treatment.

Treatment usually takes about 5 min for the philtrum or chin, and 10–20 min for the full face or underarms. This does not include the time waiting for numbing cream. If numbing cream is applied, it takes 30–60 min more. We tell you the total time, including consultation, shaving, and soothing care, after an examination.

Right after treatment, the area around the follicles may become red, swollen, and bumpy. This usually lasts a few hours to 1 day, sometimes up to 1–3 days, and varies from person to person. You can wear makeup, wash your face, and shower even on the same day. Avoid saunas, spas, and pools for about a week.

Typically about 5–8 sessions, 4–8 weeks apart. Facial hair grows back quickly, so the face gets a shorter 4–6 weeks, while the underarms and body get a longer 6–8 weeks. Thick, dense hair such as a beard may take more than 10 sessions. The actual interval and number of sessions are decided after an examination.

Treatments you can discuss with us alongside laser hair removal include Calming Care, One-Day Whitening, and Triple Pore Care. Calming Care soothes the heat in skin that has turned red after a laser. One-Day Whitening addresses skin tone and Triple Pore Care addresses enlarged pores, so their purposes differ from hair removal. Whether to have them on the same day or on separate days is decided after an examination, based on your skin.

Yes. Shave the treatment area the day before or on the day of treatment. Hair left above the skin absorbs the light first, heating the skin surface and reducing the heat that reaches the follicle. Tweezing, waxing, and threading pull out the hair roots the laser needs to target, so stop them 4 weeks before treatment.

Yes, you can. However, tanned skin has more pigment at the surface, making burns or pigment changes more likely. Keep the treatment area from tanning before and after sessions, and apply sunscreen before going out. If your skin has tanned recently from a vacation or outdoor exercise, please tell us when you book.

White, gray, blond, and red hair has little of the dark pigment the laser targets, so it responds less. The same goes for fine, light hair such as vellus hair. If you have a lot of such hair, we discuss other methods that do not depend on pigment during the examination.

Laser hair removal targets the follicles that make hair; it is not a treatment that reduces sweat. In rare cases, people feel that sweat or odor increased after underarm hair removal. This often returns to normal over time or with antiperspirant use. If sweat concerns you, please mention it at the examination.

DM Dermatology is at 4F, 158 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (579-1 Sinsa-dong). It is a 2-minute walk from Apgujeong Station (Line 3) Exit 5. At your first visit, we check the hair and skin tone of the treatment area, your medications, and recent treatments, then explain the interval and number of sessions.