Today, one has endless options in terms of hair removal. Apart from the traditional plucking, as well as the usual threading and waxing, now, technology has given birth to the possibility of laser hair removal. It’s one of the best hair removal options as it brings about more permanent results. And, your skin will look a lot better, too. Let’s see how to prepare for your first ever laser hair removal.
Just like any other procedure, however, the success of your procedure doesn’t just lie in the hands of your dermatologist. You have a huge role to play, too, which starts with studying about laser hair removal. The more you know about it, the more you can take an active approach in ensuring the procedure goes successfully as planned.
If you’re considering laser hair removal, you also have to be mindful to prepare well enough for it. Doing so can help ensure a safe and effective outcome. These are some of the best ways you can prepare for the procedure:
Be Honest About Your Medical History
A good laser hair removal clinic should ask you about your medical history. So, if you’re asked that, you have to be very honest. Don’t sugarcoat anything, even if you think it’s immaterial. Your dermatologist needs to ensure you’re on the safe side to come up with a safe and successful laser hair removal procedure.
Being truthful about your past and current medical history also entails giving your dermatologist information on medications you’re taking at the moment. Otherwise, some of those medications may interfere with your laser hair removal success. Or, you might have an underlying condition that you have to settle first before proceeding with laser hair removal.
Be Ready To Commit To Regular Treatments
You have to be very patient with your laser hair removal treatments. There’s no such thing as overnight effects, or that you’re done after just one session. Yes, you’ll definitely see significant difference as to the re-growth, but for a laser hair removal treatment to be successful, you need to complete all the recommended sessions. So, once you’ve decided to start with your laser hair removal treatments, you have to be willing to commit to all the regular treatments.
On average, it takes a total of eight to 12 sessions before you may get the full result. Of course, this time frame can also differ according to your body, like your skin color, and your hair’s thickness. The point here is you have to be ready to commit to all the sessions, for the very reason that hair follicles are all on different growth stages, and you want to be sure each one has a chance of getting zapped.
Stop Your Waxing Sessions
At least as far as six weeks before your scheduled first laser hair removal session, you already have to stop your waxing sessions. If you need to remove hair, at least focus only on shaving. Why? The hair follicle has to be present for the laser to have a guide on what it should target, so it can effectively hit the hair down to the roots.
When you wax or pluck, you’re removing your hair down to the roots, so there’s nothing left for the laser to target. This can interfere with the success of your first session.
Be Prepared Not To Hit The Gym
Sacrifices have to be made in the name of beauty, and one of these is the fact that you’re not allowed to hit the gym right after each session. Typically, the laser’s heat can stay in your skin for at least 24 hours. So, you can’t go to the gym, hit the beach, do any strenuous physical activity, or do a sauna.
If you don’t listen and you still hit the gym anyway, you’re running the risk of creating the perfect warm but moist environment for bacteria to breed and thrive. This manifests as spots on your skin, and that just adds to another skin problem you didn’t have before.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Avoiding sun exposure is necessary at least on the month leading to your first session, and also in between each laser session. The reason boils back to the way the laser functions. Laser works by targeting all the dark pigment in your skin, which represents your hair follicles. When you tan or have some sun exposure, your skin also produces the same pigment, when your skin gets darker. This will only make it harder for the laser to do its job with distinguishing the points for it to target.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a few essential pre-treatment preparation steps you’ll have to do to ensure a safe and successful procedure. More than anything else, you have to be absolutely certain, without even a grain of doubt, that you’re putting your body in the care of an expert clinic. A botched job won’t just be a waste of money, but it may also put your health at risk. Because this is your first laser hair removal treatment, it doesn’t hurt to beef up your knowledge by asking a lot of questions, so you’re well-informed of what you have to do before, during, and after your procedure, and what you should expect as well.
Applying for Medicaid benefits can seem daunting, but many are very straightforward and may already be included in your current plan. This post will outline some basics about non-emergency medical transportation benefits and hopefully answer any questions you may have about this sort of coverage and these sorts of rides.
Benefits for non-emergency medical transportation vary by state and may not be available in your area for a variety of reasons. These can include your personal situation as well, depending on your state of residence. Generally, non-emergency medical transportation services will involve specially fitted vans designed for wheelchair users. The drivers are also specially trained to use all available safety and accessibility equipment to help ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers, including caregivers.
Knowing Your Benefits
Non-emergency medical transportation services are covered by Medicaid for eligible individuals. Non-emergency medical transportation services (NEMT) include rides to and from the hospital, doctor’s appointments, and other medical offices provided the customer is receiving Medicaid-approved care there. This coverage is referred to as non-emergency medical transportation because it is used for non-emergency medical care, such as follow-ups and other appointments.
Medicaid coverage for these sorts of rides will vary depending on your individual needs and situation. Generally, if you are enrolled in a Medicaid-managed care plan, a customer service rep will be able to give you information on ride benefits.
Medical Transport Vans
NEMT wheelchair vans are commonly used for these sorts of rides. These vans are approved by the Medicaid program in the state they service, and drivers are trained in the proper ways to use all safety and lifting equipment as well as best practices for ensuring the safety of all passengers.
How Application Typically Works
Basic Medicaid enrollment usually consists of three steps:
- Filling out the initial application
- Having a financial review
- Having a personal care needs assessment
The initial application can be filled out in person, online, or be mailed in after completion. After this, a financial review will be undertaken to help determine your financial eligibility. Once this is done, a personal care needs assessment will be conducted to determine your functional eligibility and what sort of services will be best for you going forward.
In most managed Medicaid plans, you can be given information on non-emergency medical transport rides. Most of the time, this benefit is covered with no co-pay, but it is always a good idea to check the rules and requirements for your own state. Enrollment in these specific benefits will vary from state to state, such as in Arizona where the service must be necessary, and you must have no other means of transportation, or in Kentucky, where the service is not available if there is a working vehicle in the household.
Some states have a distance requirement that is not to be exceeded, while others do not place limitations on the travel distance needed. In these cases, distance arrangements will have to be worked out between yourself and the non-emergency medical transport company.
Medical Transport Companies
Many companies offer safe and on-time non-emergency medical transportation to those with special needs, including those in wheelchairs, those who require a gurney, and those with memory issues. These companies often have a specific range they work within, but may be willing to exceed it if necessary.
Non-emergency medical transportation fees are often covered by Medicaid provided that your benefits cover non-emergency medical transport, and you are using an approved service provider.
Using Medicaid for Your Non-Emergency Medical Transport
Applying for Medicaid is usually done in a few stages, beginning with an application which can be filled out in person, online, or mailed in after completion. Many managed plans allow for information on such rides to be given out. Your managed plan may already cover non-emergency medical transportation, so be sure to check into your benefits if you think you may require it in the future. Fees for non-emergency medical transportation may be covered by Medicaid if certain criteria are met, such as receiving Medicaid-approved care at the facility.
There are many reasons that someone may need non-emergency medical transport, such as follow-up or routine doctor’s appointments and specialist care. Some instances even cover other point-to-point transportation. While many plans cover general non-emergency medical transportation, the requirements for services vary between states, so it’s important to check with local information, so you know whether you qualify or not.
Non-emergency medical transport vans are often wheelchair-accessible vans with drivers who have been specially trained to use all the safety equipment available, ensuring the safety and comfort of all passengers, including caregivers who may ride along. These sorts of specialty vans can accommodate a wide range of special needs, including wheelchairs, gurneys, and scooters, and assisting those with memory issues.
Most medical transport services working in non-emergency transportation have a specific area or areas they serve, providing point-to-point transportation for those qualified for it. They may also be willing to work outside their pre-defined range at the driver’s and company’s discretion. These kinds of medical transport companies will be Medicaid approved and the fees should be covered by your plan so long as all the official criteria are met.
We hope this cleared up some things about non-emergency medical transportation, what it is, and how you can use Medicaid to pay for it.
