Laser hair removal has become a refined scientific process, especially over the last few years.Treatments can cover many different areas of the body, and in many different extremes.
There are many specialized laser hair removal centers and institutions that offer laser hair removal techniques and procedures on an outpatient basis, and specialize in convenience and comfort.
Many treatment centers offer laser hair removal techniques that are more permenant, less costly and more effective than the procedures rendered just a few short years ago.
How does laser hair removal work?
Laser hair removal systems emit a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin to the hair follicle. The hair absorbs it, the energy from the laser is transformed into heat and the hair follicle is disabled.
How does laser hair removal compare with electrolysis?
Electrolysis can be a tedious, painful process destroying each hair follicle one at a time. This can sometimes require treatment over years at regular intervals. Laser hair removal on the other hand can treat hundreds of hair follicles simultaneously so the process is much quicker.
Is laser hair removal for anyone?
Several wavelengths of laser energy have been used for hair removal, from visible light to near-infrared radiation. These lasers are usually defined by the lasing medium used to create the wavelength, measured in nanometers (nm):
Argon: 488 nm (deep sky blue) or 514.5 nm (Cyan) (no longer used for hair removal)
Ruby laser: 694.3 nm (orange-red) (no longer used for hair removal; only safe for patients with very pale skin)
Alexandrite: 755 nm (Red) (most effective on pale skin and not safe on darker skin at effective settings)
Pulsed diode array: 810 nm (near-infrared) (for pale to medium type skin)
Nd:YAG laser: 1064 nm (near-infrared) (made for treating darker skin types, though effective on all skin types)
With some laser hair removal equipment, an absolute requirement is that the hair must be darker than the surrounding skin. White skin with dark hair responds best. Persons with dark, coarse hair are the easiest to treat as dark hair contains melanin, a dark pigment which attracts the laser light so more laser energy is absorbed. Fewer sessions are needed.
Light colored hair is more difficult to treat and blonde and red hair are very difficult to treat requiring multiple laser hair removal sessions with varied results.
Anyone on a diet high in beta-carotene will need to change eating habits if they want best results from laser hair removal. Beta-carotene, found in vitamin A, carrots, squash and other vegetables produces a yellow or orange color in the skin which absorbs the laser energy and interferes with it reaching the hair follicle. As beta-carotene can remain in the body for months, an adjustment in diet may be needed well in advance of laser hair removal treatment for optimum results.
Persons with light skin are the easiest to treat, requiring less laser hair removal sessions as the results are faster. Persons with dark skin or sun tanned skin take longer to get results because melanin, the dark pigment in hair, is also present in skin. Melanin absorbs some of the laser light. There is the danger of dark skin being burned in these instances so a laser beam with a lower energy level is used. For this reason also a higher level of expertise is required on the part of the laser hair removal clinic.
How long does laser hair removal treatment take?
The time involved with laser hair removal treatment varies from person to person with skin, hair coloring and coarseness of hair all affecting the time.
Here are some estimates which can give an approximate guide.
Back 1½ -3 hours
Shoulders 10-20 minutes
Underarms 1-2 minutes
Bikini Line 8-10 minutes
Upper lip less than 1 minute
Chin 2-3 minutes
Legs 1½ -3 hours
At least 3 or 4 treatments are necessary, and hair that has been waxed or removed with tweezers could need from 5 to 8 treatments.
Why are repeated laser hair removal sessions necessary?
Hair goes through cycles. Anagen refers to the growth stage of hair. Laser hair removal treatment works best on hair that is in the anagen stage.
While one laser hair removal treatment may have long lasting effects, repeated treatments are necessary for best results to catch all the hairs as they enter the anagen stage.
Is laser hair removal safe?
Yes. The laser uses a wavelength of light which passes through the skin. Unlike x-rays, there is no residual left in the body. Skin may appear pink or red after treatment. This disappears - in some cases after some minutes, in other cases after a few hours, or in still other cases, a few days. Use of cold packs will speed up the recovery time.
Is laser hair removal painful?
This varies from person to person depending on their sensitivity. Some have described the sensation of laser hair removal to a slight sting on the skin. Others say it feels like a pinch on the skin.
When can I expect to see results from laser hair removal?
After the first treatment hair will gradually fall out over the next two months. Repeated laser hair removal treatments are necessary to catch all the hairs in their various stages of growth.
How much does laser hair removal cost?
Average cost of laser hair removal in US (per session)
| Upper Lip | $100 |
| Bikini Line | $150 |
| Sides of Face/Full Face | $50/$225 |
| Underarm | $100 |
| Back + Shoulders | $400 |
| Abdomen | $200 |
| Chin + Neck | $50 |
| Lip + Chin | $75 |
| Lip + Chin + Sides | $100 |
| Full Arms | $175 |
| Eyebrows | $60 |
| Upper or Lower legs/Full Legs | $300/$400 |
| Half Arms | #300 |
| Full Beard/Partial Beard | $100/$75 |
| Ears/Nose | $25 |
| Fingers/Toes | $25 |
| Front or Back of Neck | $50 each |
| Butts | $225 |
Average cost of laser hair removal in UK (per session)
| Upper Lip/Chin | £46 |
| Abdomen | £111 |
| Side Burns/Cheeks | £46 |
| Full Back | £185 |
| Full Beard/Chest | £93 |
| Full Face | £111 |
| Upper Eyebrows | £46 |
| Shoulders | £93 |
| Hands/Feet/underarms | £46 |
| Bikini Line | £65 |
| Buttocks | £93 |
| 3/4 Arms | £139 |
Average cost of laser hair removal in Canada (per session)
| Upper Lip | $75 |
| Bikini or Underarms or Cheeks | $149 |
| Full Legs | $649 |
| Lower Legs | $299 |
| Forearms or Full Face | $249 |
| Breasts | $129 |
| Abdomen (female) or Neck | $149 |
| Abdomen (male) | $249 |
| Chin | $99 |
| Chest & Shoulders | $399 |
| Back and Shoulders | $599 |
| Full Back | $499 |
Average cost of laser hair removal in Australia(per session)
| Lip | $30 |
| Lip + Chin | $60 |
| Full Face | $70 |
| Underarms | $40 |
| Bikini Line | $70 |
| Brazilian (female) | $90 |
| Brazilian (male) | $280 |
| Chest & Stomach (male) | $525 |
| Full Back (male) | $525 |
Can results be guaranteed with laser hair removal?
No. Due to the variables involved it is impossible to predict exactly what the results will be for any individual with laser hair removal. Many reputable laser hair removal clinics avoid giving guarantees for this reason.
You can try watching videos of Laser Hair Removal.
Laser Hair Removal in India
I know that there are hundreds of thousands in India wanting to know about where the Laser Hair Removal procedure can be obtained and that how much it would cost.
When you talk about safety involved in the treatment, then the best place to go would be Kaya Skin Clinic. Or some other reputed place like VLCC would do. But one thing to know before you go for the treatment is what is the cost of one session, how many sessions would you require, and what type of laser suits you best.
The best laser for Indian skin is the NdYAG laser. So if you are going to any clinic not reputed enough, make sure that they use this laser on you.
Cost of Laser Hair Removal in India
Now coming to the cost, this varies depending on where on your body you are getting it done, and where you are getting it done, as in which place. On an average, a single session on upper lip will cost you around Rs.1500, and you will need 4-5 session to remove all hair completely. Larger regions like arms will cost you around Rs.5000-Rs.6000 per session and again you will need 4 or 5 sessions. For men who would like to know, the chest and back costs around Rs.15000 per session and you will need 6 or 7 sessions to get rid of hair completely. If you are happy with the result after fewer sessions, then it will cost you less.
So, anyone wanting to have their full body hair removed by laser would have to be prepared to spend anywhere in the range of Rs.200000 to Rs.300000. Not a small amount, at all.
And if you think it would be worth saving up the big bucks for that body, go for it!
