Laser hair removal is performed to permanently rid portions of your body of unwanted hair. It is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures in the United States. This procedure involves beaming a concentrated light onto the hair follicles where it is absorbed, destroying the hair. This procedure is commonly performed on the face, bikini line, underarms, arms or legs.
How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?
The average cost for laser hair removal is approximately $235 for each patient, but costs will vary from each person being treated. Factors influencing the cost are shown below.
1. Size of the Area
The cost of your laser treatment very much depends on the size of the area you are planning on treating. Areas such as the underarms or bikini line will cost around $250-500, while larger areas like the back or legs may cost up to $600-900 per treatment.
2. Number of Treatments You Need
In most cases it will take multiple treatment to finish your procedure, but the specific number of treatments necessary to remove the hairs in a given area may not be able to be determined beforehand. The amount of treatments you need will depend on how the dormant hairs grow back after your treatments have begun.
In most cases, patients will require around six treatments given every one to two months to completely rid the affected portion of their body from unwanted hair. Given the average cost of each treatment, this means it will cost around $1716-2574 to complete a laser hair removal treatment.
3. The Location You Choose to Have the Removal Done
How much does laser hair removal cost? Well, that depends on the place you choose to have it done. Different parts of the country may also have varying costs for laser hair removal. You may also be charged differently depending on whether or not your doctor or another professional is performing the procedure.
Warnings and Tips for Laser Hair Removal
- Patients should not necessarily allow an inexpensive price tag to dictate where they finish their hair removal treatments. There are dozens of locations that provide laser hair treatment such as walk-in clinics and spas; you should make a point of looking at the overall safety of the facility’s procedures more so than the convenience of the location.
- Procedures performed by a physician are more likely to be safe and effective than those performed by professionals with less training.
- Consult with your physician before you undergo laser treatment to determine what type of treatment would be the most effective as well as facilities in your area that have a solid reputation.
Facts About Laser Hair Removal
Besides the question: how much does laser hair removal cost, there're some other facts and concerns about laser hair removal you must know beforehand.
1. The Benefits
Laser treatment is popular because it allows patients to remove dozens of hairs without needing to treat each individually. There is minimal discomfort associated with the procedure, much less than shaving, waxing, bleaching or electrolysis and significantly less time consuming than these procedures as well. Laser treatment is non-invasive and gentle on the skin. In addition to assisting with hair removal, laser treatments can also make your skin complexion and color look more uniform.
2. The Procedure
The technique needed to perform a laser hair treatment will vary based on the area being treated. A smaller area can be treated in a few minutes but a larger area may take several hours to complete the process. In most cases your doctor will use a low energy laser to complete your treatment. The beam will pass through the skin to the pigment of the hair. It will then pass down the shaft and become absorbed by the follicles in their active growth face, disabling the follicles deep in the skin. Hair follicles that are dormant will not be affected by the laser. Patients undergoing laser treatment will not need to use anesthesia and should not experience any pain during the procedure.
3. The Effectiveness
Because dormant follicles are not affected by the laser, you may need to undergo multiple treatments to fully clear the affected area of the skin. Lightly colored or white hairs are less responsive to laser treatments that are darker. Those with darker skin may also experience a discrepancy in the effectiveness of their treatments.
4. The Follow-Ups
Some patients may undergo mild redness or swelling around the hairs that have been treated. Patients are encouraged to use sunscreen on the treated areas to protect this sensitive skin from damage.