The Cost Of Laser Hair Removal

If you have unwanted hair on your body you will be very happy to know the cost of laser hair removal.  Using lasers as a hair removal alternative has been around since about 1996.  During that time the procedures have been refined to the point that it is a very safe and fairly cheap method of almost complete and long lasting hair removal.  Many people are freaked out when they here about using a laser on their body but it is really quite safe.  The laser is a very, very thin beam of light that can be directed to a very small spot.  In hair removal, the laser is directed to the hair follicle itself.  The energy from the laser light source renders the hair follicle inactive which means the hair shaft dies and falls out.  It is really a simple procedure that has helped thousands of people to get rid of unwanted hair.

I'm sure you know the people it really helps.  The ones who were called ape or Neanderthal in school because they had so much hair.  I had a teacher in high school who had hair sticking out from his collar and both sleeves he was so hairy.  Of course the laser hair method can work for these guys but it is also perfect for people who have just a little unwanted hair so they can remove it for a very long time.

Laser are much better than creams which can burn, shaving which is irritating and takes time everyday and waxing which, pardon me, hurts like H*ll.  It is a relatively inexpensive way to get rid of hair and the procedure lasts for a long time.  There are some follow ups need but usually only a small procedure once a year or so.

The first question most people ask about getting laser hair removal is whether or not there is any pain involved.  There is usually very little pain involved when the procedure is done correctly by a qualified and trained medical professional.  There are some things that have a bearing on how much discomfort a person feels.

The skin type can play a part in how uncomfortable the procedure becomes.  People with darker skin react differently than people with lighter skin and  thickness and texture also make a difference.  The make and model of the laser can have a dramatic impact on the results.  The newest lasers have a more focused beam and thus can pin point the hair follicle more accurately. 

Also the thickness of the hair to be removed makes a difference.  Thicker hair, as can be expected, takes more energy to inhibit than thinner hair does.  The longer the laser is heating the hair follicle the greater the chance for discomfort and pain.  The size of the area to be treated also makes a difference.  A large area may be more sensitive than a smaller area just because so many follicles have been heated.

There is a small risk of scarring but it is less than with other methods of hair removal.  Some of the factors for scarring include the skill of the medical professional and the type of laser used.  Also the ability of the patient to heal and skin type again will make a difference.  Often times some pigmentation changes in the skin will occur but this usually fades within a few weeks.

The average cost of laser hair removal is determined by several factors.  The size of the area to be treated is a big variable.  It is reasonable to see that a large area is going to be more expensive than a small area.  Also the geographic location makes a difference.  The Midwest appears to have the highest costs in general with the South having the lowest.  A third variable is the skill and experience of the cosmetic surgeon in charge of the procedure.  This is not a time to penny pinch, you will be much better off it you choose a highly skilled and experienced doctor to do this work.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons the overall country average in the US is about $429.00 per treatment.  Most people require a minimum of three treatments and often times four to seven are required for complete removal due to the cyclical nature of hair growth.