Introduction
Lasers are a new modality for the rapid, gentle removal of unwanted hair. Lasers are not for everyone, and their proper use requires great expertise. Consumers contemplating laser hair removal require education to properly evaluate if and where to have laser hair removal performed. Many competing technologies exist. Several are already outmoded, and others offer particular advantages for certain patient populations. This site is designed to help consumers decide if they are proper candidates for laser hair removal and to answer the most relevant questions concerning this important new advance.

Contents
1. Am I a candidate for laser hair removal?
Laser hair removal is not for everyone. The absolute requirement is that one's hair must be darker than the surrounding skin. Additionally very darkly pigmented people absorb too much laser energy in their skin and are not ideal candidates. Tanned patients with light hair are not candidates. Tanned patients with dark hair should wait until their tan fades before they are treated. Lastly the treatment cost should be within reach of the patient. Laser hair removal, although much less expensive than electrolysis, requires multiple treatments, and generally costs over $1000 in total for most anatomic areas.
2. What will it cost for laser hair removal for me?
Treatment cost varies with the size of the area treated. Experienced laser centers, which have developed expertise in laser hair removal, generally average about $500 per treatment session, with an average of four treatment sessions initially recommended

Basic facts

Some consumers have experienced permanent hair reduction, but there is limited data on how long hair reduction usually lasts, how much hair reduction is typical, and how often permanent hair reduction occurs.

Description

Light at a specified wavelength is delivered from a handpiece into the skin, where it targets dark material (usually the pigment in hair).

This is intended to cause thermal and/or mechanical damage to a hair follicle while sparing surrounding tissues.

Advantages

Some consumers have experienced long-lasting hair removal or permanent hair reduction.

Considered safe if performed properly.

Useful for large areas such as backs or legs.

Regrowth can come back lighter in color or finer in texture.

Light-skinned consumers with dark hair have the best results.

Disadvantages

Long-term data on safety and effectiveness have not been accurately established.

Response rates have not been established.

Regrowth rates have not been accurately established and cannot be predicted due to numerous variables.

Generally not as effective on unpigmented (gray) hairs and red or blonde hair.

Must be used very cautiously (if at all) on darker skin tones or on consumers who tan themselves.

Improper treatment can cause burns, lesions, skin discoloration lasting several months, or patchy/patterned regrowth.

Recent data suggest other skin structures are often affected by laser irradiation, and long term effects of this constitute an unknown risk.

Requires eye protection.

Can be expensive.

Some find treatment painful.

Regulation varies by state, so inadequate controls exist to ensure competent practitioners.

Some consumers, even ideal candidates, do not respond to treatment.

Quack claims

"Painless" or "virtually painless"

While many clients tolerate laser without requiring pain relief, it's overpromise to state that treatment will be painless for all consumers.

"Permanent hair removal" or "100% permanent" or "permanent"

Some consumers experience permanent reduction of treated hair over the course of treatment, but published studies have observed that many consumers are not good candidates, and even ideal candidates with light skin and dark hair do not always respond to treatment. See the page on permanent hair reduction below.

"Guaranteed 0% regrowth"

There is no published clinical data to substantiate this sort of overpromise.

"Laser electrolysis" or "lasertrolysis"

These quack marketing terms are used to blur important distinctions between laser and electrolysis effectiveness. Laser has several advantages over electrolysis, and vice versa. Terms like these only confuse consumers.

"Light years ahead of electrolysis"

This quack marketing term suggests that laser is better than electrolysis for consumers, but this is not always the case.

Other laser pages in this section

Due to the complicated issues surrounding this hair removal method, I have divided this into several sections. If you're researching a specific laser type or issue, you can go right to that topic. For a more thorough review, I recommend reading the pages in order