Beard Shaping

Conveniently located to serve the areas of Pittsburgh, PA

Beard Shaping

Beard shaping with laser hair removal technology is the most effective way to attain lasting results that are easy to maintain. While beard-shaping tools can help trim and shave facial hair, upkeep can be a time-consuming daily task. Not only that, but it is possible to experience unavoidable nicks, cuts, infections, and irritations that interfere with your overall look.

The face is the first part of you that others notice, and making a good impression is important in many of life’s situations. With laser hair removal, you can enjoy permanent results that will eliminate hassle from your routine. Stray hair that grows on the cheeks or neck that are separate from the beard looks unkempt. As your beard grows after every shave, laser hair removal will allow you to feel confident that your beard will grow in a tidy and well-groomed style that enhances your features.

At Beleza Plastic Surgery & Medispa, your provider will ask about the exact beard shape you wish to achieve and give you the details on how our cutting-edge laser technology works. To get started with a consultation at our practice, get in touch with our staff online, or call (724) 759-7777 (Sewickley) or (412) 877-9388 (Pittsburgh). Beard shaping has never been easier or safer for your skin.

Before & After Photos

Before and After Photos

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Lasers designed for hair removal emit a specific wavelength of light to target melanin pigmentation deep within each hair follicle. Melanin is the pigment responsible for giving hair and skin its unique tone, and it also serves as a necessary target in hair that makes laser procedures so successful. As the laser aims at melanin, each pulse creates thermal energy that damages the hair matrices of each follicle, destroying the cells that grow unwanted hair. Within every treatment, the laser pulses continue to harm hair follicles in the treatment area, which causes permanent hair reduction, hair thinning, and shortened hair cycles. Precise results are attainable within just a few painless sessions, depending on hair/skin type. (1)

Introducing the GentleMax Pro Plus Laser

Beleza offers one of the most innovative advancements in laser hair removal, Candela’s GentleMax Pro Plus laser. With its versatile settings, your Beleza provider can create a personalized plan for your needs, skin type, and hair type. Here are just a few of the main reasons why you should consider transforming your look with laser beard shaping:

Excellent for Men’s Grooming Needs

Beleza providers find that this laser is effective at removing hair in every area of the body, including the more sensitive skin of the face. In terms of men’s needs, the laser can remove unwanted hair on the back, chest, and even smaller areas such as the fingers. For a beard-shaping solution, the GentleMax Pro Plus can give you the detailed, refined results that many men are looking for.

Dual-Wavelength Technology

The GentleMax Pro Plus laser is equipped with dual-wavelength technology, so it can utilize pulses of 755 nm and 1064 nm wavelengths separately for a more customized experience. With the short pulses of the 755 nm wavelength setting, we can treat finer, lighter hair that may grow on lighter-toned skin. Meanwhile, the 1064 nm setting is optimized for those with darker hair and is safe for darker skin tones. (2) The right wavelength is essential for attaining effective results without risking issues of hyperpigmentation (unwanted darkening of the skin) or hypopigmentation (unwanted lightening of the skin).

Gentle on Skin

GentleMax Pro Plus procedures are comfortable and will not harm your skin the way that consistent shaving will. Every pulse of energy from our GentleMax Pro Plus device also emits a blast of skin-safe cryogen spray to reduce inflammation and irritation. This cooling air immediately addresses discomfort and redness as the treatment progresses. When combined with a topical anesthetic, the laser treatment becomes essentially painless.

Clinically Proven Excellence

The laser comes from the reputable manufacturer Candela- a leading company in the field of laser rejuvenation technologies. In clinical studies, researchers found that GentleMax Pro Plus can eliminate up to 90% of unwanted hair growth throughout a few treatment sessions. At Beleza, we are the only practice to carry this technology within our region. We recommend that patients go through 6 – 10 treatment sessions for the most optimal results, but for a small area such as the stray hairs on the cheek or neck area, it may take less.

GentleMax Pro Plus Features

Permanent hair removal for men should not just be designed for the body; with this precise form of laser treatment, you can achieve natural-looking, clean results by targeting unwanted hair around the beard. The GentleMax Pro Plus is unlike most other lasers and boasts these unique features:

  • Laser pulses are only 2 milliseconds, an optimal pulse length for the reduction of finer hairs and better quality results overall. (3)
  • It has 38% more fluence, or energy transference for every unit of skin.
  • The laser comes equipped with 10 spot sizes, ranging from a couple of millimeters to an inch.
  • The GentleMax Pro Plus has an excellent repetition rate- a characteristic that governs how many pulses it emits per unit of time.
  • It is an upgrade from Candela’s GentleMax Pro and has every feature of the previous model – plus the cryo-cooling upgrade for comfort.

Personal Consultation

Beard Shaping

During your consultation appointment at Beleza Plastic Surgery, your provider will ask you about your facial hair goals and provide you with a treatment plan. Laser sessions with the GentleMax Pro Plus can be a comfortable, rewarding experience that will enhance your aesthetics and confidence in the way you look. Your facial hair can both improve or detract away from your attractive features, which is why we prioritize your goals in our thorough consultations.

In addition to the specifics of your hair removal desires, your provider will also let you know what you can do to prepare and how to care for your skin afterward. These procedures are straightforward, and we believe that you will be extremely satisfied with how simple your beard maintenance will be soon after.

To get in touch with a professional at our Sewickley office, call (724) 759-7777. You can reach our Pittsburgh location at (412) 877-9388. For your convenience, feel free to use our contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

How to Prepare Your Skin

To attain the most effective results, you will need to protect your skin in the days leading up to your first laser session at Beleza. Consider taking these steps to ensure that you do not respond negatively to the treatment:

  • Wear daily sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or more.
  • Refrain from plucking your facial hair so that you do not remove all melanin from your hair follicles. Shaving, however, is completely fine.
  • Avoid bleaching your beard, since it may require more sessions for the laser to target and remove lighter-colored hair.
  • Speak with your provider and disclose your current medications or supplements; some can negatively interfere with your laser procedure.
  • Tell your provider if you have ever experienced a viral outbreak on your face. A laser procedure can trigger another outbreak, but an antiviral medication can prevent this from ever occurring after the treatment.
  • Right before your laser session, shape your beard using your standard beard-shaping tools and styling razor. This will allow the technician to treat the precise areas of the skin you would like to target.
  • Refrain from applying lotions, beard oil, or any other facial products right before your session.

Laser Hair Removal Procedure Steps

Since the outline of the beard is a relatively small area, the procedure itself will only take a few minutes. First, your laser technician will cleanse the area and ensure that any hair that you want treated is cute down or shaved. Then, they will apply the window of the laser directly over your skin to distribute one pulse of light before continuing to the next area immediately beside it. The GentleMax Pro Plus’s cryogen cooling system is highly effective, but if you feel any discomfort, your technician will gladly provide a topical numbing cream to eliminate any possible stinging sensations.

The laser’s spot sizes are all under one inch in diameter, so you will not have to worry about the technician creating incorrect, uneven results along the beard’s outlines. You and your technician will also be wearing approved eye protection to prevent any damage from the harsh light pulses. As the light contacts the roots of each follicle, it damages the hair-producing cells (keratinocytes) and the papillae, the structures that offer a blood supply to each follicle, thereby impeding the follicle’s future ability to grow hair.

Aftercare Instructions and Results

After a treatment session, your skin may be irritated, swollen, or red, but these effects will subside within just a few hours. However, over the next few days, you should avoid applying skincare products, beard oil, or beard balm near the treatment area. Aloe is a safe alternative to apply to laser-treated skin. You should also avoid going in the sun for a few weeks and should apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ to prevent hyperpigmentation in the treated areas. After the last planned session with the GentleMax Pro Plus, you will have the beard outlines you desire, and any remaining hair will be much finer and easier to remove with a quick swipe of a razor. The ideal beard line will highlight your cheekbones, define your jawline, and appear clean and neat.

Cost of Beard Shaping in Pittsburgh

The cost of your beard shaping treatments will depend on how many sessions you will need in total. Beleza’s patient coordinators will give you a total cost estimate after evaluating your case and your facial hair goals. Beleza also offers financing options which we can share with you, if needed.

To begin with a consultation today, inquire with our online form or call one of our locations in Pennsylvania. We are ready to help you attain an incredible outcome that you can sustain without the hassle of shaving.

References

  1. Tanvi Vaidya, Dinesh Kumar D. Laser Hair Removal. Nih.gov. Published June 2, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507861/
  2. Ross Edward V, Domankevitz Y. Hair Removal With Blended 755/1064 nm Laser Energy. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2021;53(8):1020-1025. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/lsm.23381
  3. Chui YCC. Evaluating the efficacy of 2-millisecond versus 3-millisecond Pulse Duration in Laser Hair Removal using a 755 nm Alexandrite laser. The PMFA Journal. Published September 11, 2023. https://www.thepmfajournal.com/features/features/post/sponsored-content-evaluating-the-efficacy-of-2-millisecond-versus-3-millisecond-pulse-duration-in-laser-hair-removal-using-a-755-nm-alexandrite-laser