Getting rid of unwanted body hair by using temporary hair removal methods like shaving, tweezing and waxing, can get tiresome. If you’re sick of the nicks from shaving or the burning pain from waxing, and you want longer lasting results, then you might consider laser hair removal.
One of the most popular cosmetic procedures out there, laser hair removal is a convenient way to finally be free of body hair that you don’t want. Anyone unfamiliar with the procedure usually has a lot of questions—including how much it costs. Here’s what you need to know about laser hair removal.
What Is Laser Hair Removal?
Laser hair removal is a permanent form of body hair removal that uses pulses of laser light to destroy the hair follicle. Shaving removes the tip of the hair follicle and waxing removes hair from the root, and in both cases, those hairs will grow back. Laser light, on the other hand, essentially kills a hair follicle so that it will not grow back.
“Laser hair removal requires a true laser that targets pigment,” says Anna Guanche, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Bella Skin Institute in Calabasas, California, adding that the laser heats up and damages hair follicles. “When the pigment in the hair bulb is heated, it subtly damages the tissue around it and prevents it from growing a new hair.” Indeed, research has proven that laser hair removal is an effective way to get rid of unwanted body hair.
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During a laser hair removal treatment, you will first have a consultation to assess your skin type, hair type and overall expectations, says Dr. Guanche. From there, the specialist determines if you’re a good candidate, and if you are, you’ll move forward with the laser experience. There’s an option to apply a topical numbing cream to the area to minimize any discomfort from the procedure, and then the lasering happens. If you have coarse hair, it might be shaved prior to treatment.
“After the laser treatment is complete, a topical calming gel will be applied,” says Dr. Guanche. “Additionally, SPF is generally applied to the treated area (if exposed to the sun).”
The Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is often considered a beauty investment. It costs more money than shaving or waxing, but over time, when treatments are no longer needed, you can save money on body hair removal costs.
Many factors affect the price of this procedure. “Costs for laser hair removal vary by body area treated, geographical location, the expertise of the person performing the procedure, and time to perform the procedure,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, M.D., founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. “Individual treatment session costs are generally in the range of $100 to $800.”
In 2020, the average cost of laser hair removal with no other related expenses was $389, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons[1]Laser Hair Removal. American Society Of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed 11/09/2021. .
Below, we dig into the average costs for common treatment areas. Remember that the average prices listed below are per treatment, and you may need four to six treatments overall, according to Dr. Guanche.
Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal for Large Areas
If you are getting laser hair removal on large areas of your body, such as your back or legs, the cost will likely be more expensive than removing hair from small areas. “Generally, a large area like the back or legs can be upwards of $600 per treatment,” says Dr. Guanche.
Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal for Small Areas
Smaller areas of the body are going to be less expensive. This can include the bikini line, underarms and facial areas like chins, lips and sideburns. “The bikini can be anywhere from $250 to $350 per treatment, depending on whether it is a Brazilian [removing hair from the labial to the perianal areas] or normal v-shaped bikini [removing hair from the groin areas, leaving a V or patch of hair on the mons pubis],” says Dr. Guanche. She adds that the lower face and chin can average about $250 per treatment, and underarm hair removal can range between $175 to $225 per treatment.
What’s Included in the Cost of Laser Hair Removal?
The cost of laser hair removal typically includes the office visit, the application of topical anesthetic to numb the pain, the laser treatment and the post-care topical application of products like soothing agents and sunscreen, according to both Dr. Guanche and Dr. Hartman.
How Many Treatments of Laser Hair Removal are Required?
It might ultimately be a more permanent hair removal solution, but laser hair removal treatment is not a quick fix. Just one laser hair removal treatment may be enough to make hair thinner, lighter and more fine, but in order to be completely hair-free, you will have to get the procedure done four to six times. In the first year, Dr. Guanche recommends going every four to six weeks for touch-ups depending on how your hair is growing.
“It takes a number of treatments [to be completely effective],” says Dr. Guanche. “The laser treatment can reduce the size and diameter of hair, place it into remission completely, or not affect the hair at all. For this reason, multiple treatments are necessary at four to six week intervals.” You may even require yearly touch-ups for a few years following your first procedure.
Does Insurance Cover Laser Hair Removal?
For the most part, you shouldn’t expect your health insurance to cover the costs of laser hair removal. Dr. Hartman notes that you might be able to use a flexible spending account to cover the costs.
However, insurance might cover laser hair removal in rare cases, adds Dr. Guanche. This may include patients who have conditions such as pilonidal cysts or hidradenitis suppurativa (which are skin conditions that can be painful and may be able to be treated with laser hair removal). But, she adds, “In my experience, it is a daunting process to convince insurance companies to cover laser hair removal.”
Always ask the treatment office receptionist if they offer package options or flexible payment plans.
The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal might be expensive, but it also comes with a number of benefits including:
- Gets rid of unwanted body hair. This is one of the most permanent solutions to removing/reducing body hair out there.
- Makes skin smooth and even. Laser hair removal can “alleviate skin problems associated with hair growth like folliculitis and discoloration,” and it can also “reduce pigmentation problems associated with unwanted hair,” according to Dr. Hartman.
- Reduces time spent on removing body hair. Once you are done with laser treatments, you don’t have to spend any more time shaving or waxing. “There is no need for depilation, waxing, shaving and any of the irritation that goes along with these procedures,” says Dr. Guanche.
- No risk of ingrown hairs. Dr. Guanche points out that ingrown hairs, which often go hand-in-hand with shaving and waxing, are “a thing of the past after laser hair removal.”
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Safely remove unwanted hair with The Flasher 2.0 by Nood. You can use it everywhere that hair grows, including bikini, Brazilian, underarms, legs and face
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The Downsides of Laser Hair Removal
There are also some cons to consider, including the following:
- Temporary discomfort with the procedure. Laser hair removal can cause side effects such as mild swelling, slight redness of the skin and temporary irritation that results in blistering, crusting, scarring or change in skin texture, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. However, some research has shown that side effects are limited and not serious.
- The out-of-pocket expense. Laser hair removal costs more than other hair removal methods.
- The possibility of pigmentation issues. Laser hair removal can cause pigmentation, depending on skin type. “The fairest skin types with the darkest hair fair the best,” says Dr. Guanche. “This is because the laser can more precisely target the dark hairs. This also allows for the practitioner to use higher energy to yield more results.” If you have dark skin and dark hair, the laser may also end up targeting the pigment of the skin, which can lead to burning or hyperpigmentation. When lasering on dark skin, the energy levels have to be kept lower to reduce those side effects, which results in more treatment sessions to achieve the desired results. “Darker skin types may require more treatments since energy levels would have to be decreased,” says Dr. Guanche. “Conversely, lighter hair types may require more treatments as well, since there’s not much pigmentation to absorb the laser energy.”
- Some inconvenience. “Sun avoidance and protection during the pre-treatment and post-treatment weeks is very important,” says Dr. Guanche, which is something to think about in terms of warm weather and possible vacations.
- The in-between period of treatments. In between treatments, Dr. Guanche says that you may have to allow hair to grow back without waxing or plucking them away.
- Potential for ineffectiveness: Experts note that effectiveness of the laser can be influenced by genetic predisposition, medications taken and nutritional factors. For example, people taking testosterone may not have as effective long-term results due to the medication.
