COST?

The cost of laser hair removal is certainly a major consideration in deciding whether to undergo treatment.

Costs depend on a variety of factors including geography, the kind of laser being used and the amount of hair you are seeking to have removed. Costs can also be determined by the amount of time the various sessions take, which body part you are having done, and what type of payment package you choose.

For example, you might be eligible for certain discounts for paying in advance. Be an informed consumer. Research carefully the various options available in your area before you pick a treatment center.

Remember that price isn't the only factor to consider. Don't pinch pennies when it comes to quality of service. Also, make sure you have a realistic sense of cost BEFORE you begin a treatment program. That means discussing with the clinician how many treatments you'll likely need.

The cost of laser hair removal is the most common laser hair removal question that hair lasers.com gets. Below is a discussion of how laser hair removal clinics decide the prices for laser hair removal and why. 

The price of laser hair removal varies greatly according the uniqueness of each person. All patterns of hair growth are unique. Therefore the results of laser hair removal and the cost of laser hair removal will also be unique. That is why some clinics want you to come in for a consultation before they quote laser hair removal pricing. 

Some male back hair may grow in densely and evenly with thick hair shafts while other back hair may grow in sparsely and in patches of fine hair. Of course there are all variables of hair growth in between. All women have some facial hair. Some women have facial hair that is noticeable only because it is thicker and darker than someone who has fine, light hair. Other women have facial hair because of hormonal factors. 

Laser hair removal pricing structures can vary from clinic to clinic, but often the various quotes for laser hair removal pricing will be the same or similar in the end. Here are some ways that laser hair removal clinics decide on the cost of laser hair removal: 

Flat Fee
Laser hair removal prices are sometimes made on a flat fee basis. The flat fee might be on a per treatment basis or a package of treatments basis. It could mean that all men's backs are $500 per treatment all of the time no matter how much hair you have on your back, or it that per treatment flat fee could be based on your particular back hair growth patterns. The clinic might charge for a flat fee package of treatments which may or may not vary according to the individual's body hair growth patterns. 

Time
Similar to the common pricing structure of electrolysis some laser clinics charge per 15 minute segment for laser hair removal. Let's say a clinic charges $100 per 15 minute segment of laser hair removal. If a man's back takes about an hour (see chart of average times to remove body hair) it would cost $400 per treatment. Of course the cost of hair removal will be affected by the amount of hair to be removed, and the speed of the laser technician and the speed of the laser hair removal machine. 

Fee per pulse
Laser hair removal pricing can be based on the number of pulses that it takes to complete an area of body hair. Each time the laser fires, it is called "a pulse." One pulse takes about one second and can remove more or less than a hundred hairs and can range from the area of a dime to the area of a quarter. Some laser clinics charge by the pulse. For example, a laser clinic might charge a dollar per pulse with a minimum fee per area. A bikini might cost $300 based on a minimum charge of $150 which includes the first 150 pulses and a dollar per pulse thereafter. You only get charged for actual pulses unless you have fewer pulses than the minimum. As you progress in your series of laser hair removal treatments, your price per treatment may decline as you have less hair to be removed. Different lasers have different spot sizes and will therefore have different prices per pulse. 

In conclusion there are a variety of ways that laser hair removal clinics decide on the cost of laser hair removal. Explaining laser hair removal, including laser hair removal cost can be a challange. Most laser hair removal pricing comes out to be the same or similar in the end, but laser clinics may favor different pricing structures for reasons such as their own ease of use, or reliability, or because they like to customize pricing according to the client's needs. Some may or may not be able to answer your pricing questions via email. It is always worth emailing them to ask. 

WILL IT HURT?

Laser hair removal may be somewhat uncomfortable. As with anything, the pain or discomfort you feel may be different from others who have had the procedure. That said, most people tolerate laser hair removal very well.

At first, you will likely feel a slight stinging sensation, indicating that the laser has been activated. The treatment involves a series of impulses that cause prickling and a slight burning sensation. Your clinician may apply a topical anesthetic to the area being treated to minimize discomfort, but most people endure the procedure without any. Some people have likened the feeling to that of a rubber band snapping against your skin.

Remember that, depending on the area of the body you are having done, the treatment can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A LASER REMOVAL CLINIC

There are many factors that go into determining which laser hair removal center is right for you so make sure you do your homework before you choose.

Call potential candidates on the telephone and check out their web sites, if available. Ask questions about the procedure and see the kinds of responses you get. Questions to ask include the brand and types of lasers used, how long they've been using them, the number of patients treated at the center and whether the first consultation is free.

You can find out a lot about a center through this initial research, but you should still plan on visiting the center you're considering before making any final decisions.

Every clinic we work with offers free initial consultations. Use this time to get the information you need first-hand and see the facilities where you'll have the procedure done. Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and you should exercise the same care in choosing a professional as you would in choosing a surgeon.

Make sure the facility is clean and the staff treats you professionally. Also make sure to ask who your laser technician will be and insist that he or she sees you during the initial consultation.

Ask the facility's medical director about his or her qualifications. Find out whether he or she is Board Certified in Dermatology and whether there is more than one Board Certified doctor on the staff. Also find out about the personnel performing the procedure.

Make sure to ask about the risks, side effects and precautions. Also find out how many sessions you'll need, how long they'll last, the cost, payment options, the center's hours, its policy about missed appointments, and anything else you want to know. Make sure to read all documents carefully before signing anything.

Don't be afraid to trust your judgment. If something doesn't feel right, there are plenty of other centers around to help you.

RISKS

Hair color and skin type are the key factors that influence the success of laser hair removal. It's most successful on people with dark hair (brown or black) and light skin. However, it can also be used safely on people with darker skin types. Laser hair removal does not work for white, blonde, light brown or light red hair.

To reduce your risks, choose a qualified, trained doctor who is board certified in dermatology or a similar specialty. Your doctor should meet with you before the procedure and determine your treatment plan. If a physician's assistant or licensed nurse performs the procedure, your doctor should supervise and be available on-site during the treatments. Do not go to a spa, salon or clinic that allows nonmedical personnel to perform the procedure.

Complications from laser hair removal are rare if you go to a qualified doctor. Bleeding during the laser treatment is extremely rare, as is the possibility of infection resulting from treatment.

Side effects from laser hair removal include, but are not limited to:

• Incomplete hair removal or regrowth. Some hair may be resistant to the laser treatment or may regrow after treatment.
• Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation). This is usually a temporary condition, but in rare instances, is long lasting or permanent.
• Lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation). This is of special concern with people who have darker skin. Laser hair treatment is more successful on fair skin, but darker skin also can be treated.
• Blistering and scarring. These rarely occur.
• Changes in the skin texture. These rarely occur.
• Crusting or scabbing. If this occurs, it's temporary.
• Hair changes. New hair growth may be finer and lighter in color. In some cases, new hair may grow in areas adjacent to the treated areas. This can be successfully treated with additional laser treatments.

Talk to your doctor about how these risks apply to you.

RESULTS

studies show that for suitable candidates, hair removal lasers can reduce hair counts by 20 percent to 90 percent. Results vary from person to person, and some people respond better to treatment than others do.

Multiple treatments can prolong the duration of hair loss, but hair regrowth is possible. Expect to undergo six to eight treatments spaced six to eight weeks apart to achieve good reduction of hair and slowing of hair regrowth. Then, you will likely undergo periodic maintenance treatments.

COMPLICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS OF BAD LASER HAIR REMOVAL

As with any other medical treatment, laser hair removal treatment can have some side effects. These side effects can be greatly reduced if you have the treatment performed by a qualified practitioner and follow their guidelines for care before and after the procedure. The side effects which could be involved as a consequence of laser hair removal treatment can be temporary or sometimes permanent.

Temporary Side Effects

There are several temporary side effects which can occur immediately after a laser hair removal treatment. These temporary effects eventually go away with time, though some can take days, weeks, or even months to completely resolve. The following are some common temporary side effects which might develop after your treatment:

Pain 
A patient can have pain both during and after the procedure. Pain during the treatment is normally alleviated by using a local anesthetic or other methods as prescribed by the practitioner. Pain after the procedure may be improved through the use of a prescribed pain relief medication. In addition, sometimes cold packs can help.

Swelling 
It is normal that there may be some swelling at and around the area that was treated. Depending on what area you have chosen to treat, this side effect may be more or less of a problem. This problem may be relieved through use of topical treatments prescribed by your practitioner.

Redness 
A patient can also observe redness in and around the treated area, but redness is probably the least serious side effect of laser hair removal. However, it may be more of a problem if you have treated a well seen or visibly noticeable area, such as on your face. This problem can be resolved by using a topical treatment prescribed by your physician.

Blistering 
The patient can develop blisters on the skin after the treatment. Blistering is a painful, noticeable, and embarrassing temporary side effect. This often occurs due to the use of higher influence laser especially in the case of dark skin. These can be soothed with the help of tissue cooling through a contact chill tip or cryogen spray.

Hyperpigmentation
Some times a patient’s skin can develop dark spots on and around the treated areas. These spots are called hyperpigmentation. This side effect usually takes considerable time to get cure, but it usually resolves itself without requiring any treatment.

 

Permanent Side Effects

There are some permanent side effects that a patient can have after a laser hair removal treatment. The chances for these side effects can be reduced greatly if the treatment is performed under the supervision of a good practitioner. The following are some of the permanent side effects that a patient can have after the treatment:
 
Skin discoloration 
There may be a permanent lightening of the skin in the treated area. As the laser works by attacking the pigmentation in darker colored hair it can sometimes affect darker colored skin as well. How skin lightening occurs is not clear, but it seems the laser can destroy the skin melanocyte pigment producing cells. The skin discoloration may be permanent though it can very slowly recover in some cases.
 
Burns 
Burns are also possible as a side effect of laser hair removal, but they are very rare and they are usually the work of less qualified technicians. It can be painful, but burns will heal with appropriate after care.

Scaring 
Scaring mostly occurs when the area is treated by someone who is minimally trained or by an accidental over-treatment. Scarring is the result of severe burns as a result of inappropriately applied laser hair treatments. If the laser light applied to remove the hair is significantly in excess of what the skin can handle then burning will occur deep in the skin dermis. When this happens the skin heals by formation of a scar.

Laser hair removal is a safe treatment but, as a rule, some temporary side effects are possible, including darker or lighter marks, especially in dark skin and tanned skins. There is no risk of burning if the device is correctly attuned to the skin color of the individual receiving laser treatment.

 

LASER HAIR REMOVAL IN DARK SKIN

The most important consideration with laser hair removal is the patient's skin type and hair color and the degree of contrast in color between the two. The differential absorption of melanin in the hair follicle and melanin in the skin epidermis determines the amount of laser energy that can be safely used. The ideal patient has light skin with black hair (i.e. a very sharp contrast with lots of pigment in the hair but very little pigment in the skin). A patient with very dark skin with white or grey hair would have little if any response to laser hair removal and they are not able to undergo laser hair removal.

Shorter laser light wavelengths, such as from the ruby laser with a wavelength of 694nm, and alexandrite laser @ 755nm, must be used with caution in darker skinned patients, because of the risk of pain, blistering, and hypopigmentation. Dark hair absorbs laser light better than blond or red hair, and usually responds better. However, most patients with blond or red hair also have lighter skin and this allows for the safe use of higher laser energies. No currently available device works well in patients with grey hair (canites) because of the absence of melanin.

An underlying cause for the excess hair, if present, should be corrected. These causes may include endocrine abnormalities and medication effect, including minoxidil, steroids, oral contraceptives, and some immunosuppressive agents.

Any dark skinned candidate will be the most likely have a bad outcome and need far more treatments than either of the other two skin types. Moreover, the darker the person’s skin the less beneficial their results will be. Darker skinned candidates also require a practitioner with greater skill and expertise to achieve maximum results. Darker skinned people seeking laser hair removal may find the best and safest results are achieved in a professional laser dermatology clinic with a fully qualified doctor who has experience of treating dark skin and understands the side effect risks.

CARE AFTER LASER HAIR REMOVAL TREATMENT

In normal scenarios the after effects of laser hair removal are temporary in nature. After your treatment you can return to your normal activities immediately. It usually requires very little recovery time for those who take the time to properly care for their skin after laser treatments. There are some common tips following which you can achieve maximum results during and after the treatment.
 
After the treatment, the skin in the treated area may become slightly red and swollen; you can apply cold compresses to the skin surface to soothe it. Normally this sensation disappears within a few hours, but in case of some patients it may take a day or two for skin to return to a completely normal state. The speed at which your skin returns to normal depends in part on your skin sensitivity level, and the amount of laser energy that had to be applied to remove the hair. Some people’s skin needs more laser energy to achieve successful hair removal than others and correspondingly this skin can be more puffy and take longer to recover. Taking time out for recovery is usually not necessary for laser hair removal, and most patients are able to return to normal activities immediately after treatments.

You can use a mild cleanser to cleanse the treated area, but avoid strong soaps that may cause drying of the skin and perfumed soaps that may be irritating to the skin. Emollients and/or topical corticosteroid creams can be used to keep areas moist and reduce redness and swelling. If there are blisters and crusting, you should contact the laser clinic for advice. Normally, any blisters and crusting can be treated with antibiotic ointment and daily soaks. If the blisters and crusting are severe it may not be a good idea to continue with any future laser hair removal sessions.

The use of sun screen is recommended on any treated areas exposed to the sun and sun exposure should be minimized before and after laser hair removal treatment. Sun exposure can cause irritation and burning on the treated areas of skin. In addition to this, any darkening of the skin due to sun exposure can impact the effectiveness of any follow-up treatments you will have. It is recommended that you apply a good and suitable sun screen if your skin is likely to be exposed to sun. Sun screen with an SPF of 30 or higher should be used.

Another thing that you should do in order to avoid any complication is that you should avoid shaving the treated area. . The shaving of treated skin can be quite irritating and will slow down the recovery of the skin after a procedure. Shaving can be resumed after some time (usually around 4 days after the procedure) and after consulting with your physician. However, waxing, tweezing, bleaching, and plucking are not advisable any time during laser hair removal treatments, including any time between treatments. These processes that remove the hair including the root are quite irritating and they can promote skin irritation. Also, for the future laser sessions to be successful, the hair follicle must contain pigmented hair. The pigmented hair absorbs some of the laser light and this help to cook the hair follicle.

Your practitioner may suggest that you come back in a week or so after treatment so they can see how your skin and hair has reacted to the treatments. At this time, you can ask them any further questions you may have about recovery and care. Then you and your practitioner can decide how and when further treatments will be conducted.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE LASER HAIR REMOVAL PROCEDURE

Laser hair removal is the same like any other medical treatment, so you may have nervousness and a frightening feeling. Laser hair removal procedure is a cosmetic treatment and normally its process and end results are without any serious effects on your skin and body specially when you are taking this treatment from qualified practitioner and are following their instructions. Below are the details for the process involved in laser hair removal through which you can access what to expect in laser hair removal procedure

First time at the practitioner’s office

As said before, visiting your practitioner for laser hair removal is same as visiting any practitioner for a treatment. If it’s your first time then your level of anxiety may be high, but this feeling is absolutely natural. To overcome this anxiety or nervousness, you should try to keep yourself relaxed. It would be good if you take a friend or a relative with you. Try to think positively about your treatments rather than thinking about any adverse affects.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is to bring any relevant documents that your practitioner has given to you. If you have any upfront or outstanding payments, make sure that you bring the payment with you, this will help you to relieve any stress.

When the procedure is started

Before starting the procedure, the area of your skin to be treated will be washed and prepared using an alcohol and antiseptic solution. The practitioner performing the procedure will take a moment to adjust the laser machine to the right laser light energy settings specific for your skin and hair type.

After taking precautionary steps like wearing goggles, the process will be started. The process takes from several minutes to several hours, depending on the area of the body involved. Laser hair removal uses a low-energy laser. The laser energy passes through the patient’s skin, being absorbed by the pigment in the hair follicle

The laser emits an invisible light which penetrates the skin without damaging it; it is then absorbed by the pigments of the hair follicle. The laser light selectively absorbed by the follicle damages its functions and impairs its ability to fabricate hair. At the level of the pilosebaceous follicle, the laser light absorbed by the pigments is then transformed into heat which damages the hair but not the surrounding skin.

Light at a specified wavelength is delivered from a handpiece into the skin, where it targets dark material (usually the pigment in hair). If you have dark skin and hair, your skin pigmentation will absorb more of the light than a person with little skin pigmentation. In this case, there is the possibility of some increased skin absorbance of the light's energy, which could cause discomfort. To avoid this, the practitioner may cool the skin using cooling sprays or ice packs. This helps keep the surface skin temperature down.

How Does the Laser Feel?

The laser treatment feels like the snapping of a rubber band on your skin. Though the intensity of laser is tolerable for most people, it may be disturbing for some. The sensitivity of your skin determines how much you feel.

Duration of a typical session

As stated before, duration of a laser hair removal session can be from several minutes to an hours and maybe more. The duration of the session depends upon the area being treated. If the removal is for a large area, such as the entire legs, then it would take a greater time as compared to hair removal from upper lip area. The practitioner can tell you the estimated time the session will take before the start of the treatment.

Experiences after the treatment

There are few chances of having any permanent side-effects after a laser hair removal treatment, but there are some temporary side-effects which normally last up to some hours. The skin in the treated area may become slightly red and swollen. The area may feel a little puffy and irritated, like mild sunburn. This is most noticeable around hair follicles. The targeted hair may also feel very thick immediately after the treatment session. Eventually this feeling will dissipate after one or two weeks and at least some of the hair in the treated area should fall out. Not all the hair will be removed in one session and this is why multiple visits are required to completely smooth out the area and remove the hair.

PREPARING FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL

There are many factors which need be taken into consideration while preparing for laser hair removal treatment. It is advisable to stay away from the sun in the weeks preceding a hair laser removal session, since tanning is a contra-indication for the treatment. The darker the skin the more laser energy it will absorb during treatment this could make the procedure more painful and if the skin is tanned enough, the skin may absorb enough energy to damage it.

People under medication must warn their doctor since some drugs can lead to a reaction to light and require postponement of the laser treatment. In particular, the use of St John’s Wort can be a problem as it makes the skin very sensitive to light.

Before you sign up for laser hair removal, though, take into account your natural hair and skin color, as the treatment tends to work best on fair-skinned people with dark hair. If you are tanned or you have a darker skin tone, the laser gets absorbed by the pigment in the skin and it is less likely to reach the hair follicle, limiting the effect of the treatment and potentially damaging the skin. The procedure doesn't seem to work very well on light-haired people either, whose hair contains little melanin.

You should keep in mind that three or four treatments, six to eight weeks apart, may be needed to achieve a meaningful reduction in the amount of hair in the region of skin you are having treated. After that, you will need to wait a year to see the full effect of the treatment. Hair growth cycles on the body are about six months long, so it's best to wait through two growth cycles to see the final results.

Do not shave at least a week before your treatment since lasers require a little bit of hair growth to work. The more growth the better since your technician will use an electric razor to trim hair the perfect length. Also, do not tan or expose the skin that you are getting treated to the sun. The pigment increases your chance of getting burned.

HOW DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL WORK

Laser treatment works on the principle that dark objects absorb more light. Think about going out on a sunny day wearing a black T shirt versus going out on the same day wearing a white T shirt. The white T shirt reflects light and stays cooler, but the back T shirt absorbs light and makes your body feel hotter. Similarly laser energy is absorbed by dark material present in the skin. This dark target matter, or chromophore, can be naturally-occurring or artificially introduced.

The laser beam used in the laser hair removal device is directed at the hair follicles. The dark pigments in the follicle absorb the laser light energy, but the relatively less pigmented skin does not absorb the light energy; in fact, energy dissipates. The follicle absorbs more and more energy and heats up. Ultimately the follicle dies and can no longer grow hair.

The primary principle behind laser hair removal is selective photothermolysis. Lasers can cause localized damage by selectively heating dark target matter in the area that causes hair growth while not heating the rest of the skin. Laser and light-based methods are sometimes called phototricholysis or photoepilation.

Melanin is considered the primary chromophore for most lasers currently available in the U.S. market. However, if there is little or no melanin pigment in the hair follicles then pigment can be artificially introduced to the hair follicle. Laser light can also be absorbed by other kinds of pigment in the skin. Consequently, hair removal lasers can selectively target several chromophores:

1. Carbon, which is introduced into the follicle by rubbing a carbon-based lotion into the skin following waxing (this lotion is an exogenous chromophore). When irradiated by an Nd:YAG laser, the carbon causes a shock wave capable of mechanically damaging nearby cells.

2. Hemoglobin, which occurs naturally in blood (it gives blood its red color). It preferentially absorbs wavelengths from argons, and to a lesser extent from rubies, alexandrites, and diodes. It minimally absorbs the Nd:YAG laser wavelength.

3. Melanin, which occurs naturally in the skin (it gives skin and hair its color). There are two types of melanin in hair: eumelanin (which gives hair brown or black color) and pheomelanin (which gives hair blonde or red color). Eumelanin is better targeted by lasers as it is a darker pigment.