Laser Hair Removal
Laser light targets pigment in the hair follicle to reduce regrowth. A course of sessions is needed because it only affects hairs in their active growth phase.
Laser Hair Removal: making the decision
What the price actually covers
Six questions for every consult
- Are you board-certified, and in what specialty? (Verify it — don't just ask.)
- How many of this exact procedure did you do in the last 12 months?
- Can I see before/afters of patients with my anatomy or skin type?
- Who handles complications, and what's your revision policy and fee?
- Where is the procedure done, and is the facility accredited?
- What results would you consider realistic for me — and what won't this fix?
Verify before you book
Med spas by metro
OU Beauty Medical Spa
Shaped Secretz Body Sculpting
Sculpt Med Spa Downtown Los Angeles
Skin Story Med Spa
VIP AESTHETICS AND MEN'S HEALTH BY VIP MEDICAL
The Sunset Aesthetics
Deluxe Cosmetic Center
The Spa by Adam Lee Kenney
Patient reviews
Laser Hair Removal: common questions
How much does laser hair removal cost?
ASPS puts the average fee for laser skin treatments including hair removal at $697, but that figure needs context: hair removal is priced per area per session, and it always takes a course. A small area like the upper lip might be $75–$150 a session, underarms $150–$250, and full legs $400–$800 — over the six or so sessions typically needed, budget several hundred to a few thousand depending on how much area you're treating. Many clinics sell packages, which is usually cheaper than paying per session but commits you before you know how you respond. The number to compare between clinics is the total for a full course of your specific areas.
Why do I need multiple sessions?
Because the laser can only affect a hair that's currently in its active growth phase, and at any moment only a fraction of your hairs are. The laser targets pigment in the follicle and converts it to heat; a follicle in its resting phase has too little to absorb and survives untouched. Sessions are spaced weeks apart to catch successive waves as they cycle into growth, which is why six or more is standard and why doing them too close together wastes money rather than speeding things up.
Does laser hair removal work on dark skin or light hair?
Skin tone and hair colour matter more than anything else here, and getting it wrong is how burns happen. The laser works by targeting pigment, so it performs best where there's high contrast — dark hair on lighter skin. Grey, white, red and very fine blond hair have too little pigment to absorb the energy, and no laser reliably treats them. Darker skin isn't a barrier but the device is: melanin in the skin competes for the same energy, so darker skin tones need a longer-wavelength laser such as an Nd:YAG and conservative settings. Ask which laser they'll use on your skin type and how much experience the operator has with it — this is one treatment where the specific device genuinely matters.
Is it permanent?
The honest term is permanent hair reduction rather than removal, and that's the language the FDA uses too. A completed course typically leaves you with far fewer, finer, lighter hairs rather than bare skin, and most people need occasional maintenance sessions to hold it. Hormonal changes — pregnancy, menopause, PCOS — can prompt new growth in treated areas regardless of how well the original course went. A clinic promising permanent removal is overselling what the technology does.