How much is laser hair removal bikini line

Also, consider the beach off-limits. Two weeks before your appointment, avoid the sun, especially if you're getting hair lasered on sun-exposed areas like your face, neck, chest, back, arms, and legs. No matter your natural skin tone, it'll put you at risk for side effects.

When you arrive at the office, expect to do a test spot, especially if your skin is very fair or naturally medium to dark. “Sometimes we'll do a test spot in a hidden area, like the underarm,” says Marmur. “Then we can see if you're the kind of person who gets really, really red afterward, for example.” Any reactions will be immediate, so the technician can address it on the spot.

What are laser hair removal side effects?

Let's start by clarifying: There are expected side effects, and then there are unwanted side effects of laser hair removal. We'll cover the expected stuff first. A little pinkness and swelling is normal, as are tiny goose-bump-like bumps; those are actually from the swelling of the injured follicles beneath the skin. You also may notice “little black specks that come out of your skin,” says Marmur. “People often misconstrue that as new hair growth, but it's not—it's dead hair shedding.” That's a sign that the laser hair removal worked.

The unwanted side effects include blisters, scabbing, hyperpigmentation, and hypopigmentation. Of some comfort: Pigmentation issues aren't always permanent. “If you get it, let your doctor know right away and use a little cortisone 1% cream on the area,” says Marmur. Keep it out of the sun and heat, and apply a cool compress ASAP.

If you're predisposed to hyperpigmentation, your dermatologist may even make a preemptive strike. “For patients with darker skin types, we apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone 1% cream in the office to minimize inflammation and the risk of darkening of skin, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation," says Kim. "We recommend applying the cream twice daily to the affected areas for three to five days.”

It largely varies, since the lasers themselves have gotten better over the years. “I've had patients who were able to tolerate the treatment without any numbing, and patients who experienced some pain even with topical anesthesia,” says Kim. (I, a baby, prefer to spend an hour with numbing cream and have never felt a thing.)

Marmur compares the laser beam to a zinging feeling, similar to a needle prick. She's a fan of contact cooling systems, as they blunt the heat created as the laser beam (which is light energy) converts into heat. Plus, they offer enough cooling to minimize any damage caused to surrounding skin, reducing the risk of hyperpigmentation.

Certain pain-reducing methods, like suctions and contact cooling, are often built into the lasers. “There is a new laser by Lumenis called Splendor that is very effective and significantly more comfortable than other existing lasers, and I have had great success with it,” says Kim. “Because this laser is much more comfortable, I have been able to treat almost all patients without any topical numbing cream which significantly reduces the waiting time for the patients as well.”

Aftercare for laser hair removal

Since laser hair removal heats up your skin as it blasts your hair follicles, it's important to cool it back down afterward to avoid side effects like redness. “We often give people cold gauze in Ziploc bags,” says Marmur. “If you're getting in a car, put on the air conditioning and stay in a cool place for a bit, or take a cool shower afterward.”

Many people have to deal with removing body hair as part of their normal grooming routine. Whether it’s shaving their legs or removing the stubble from their face for a clean-shaven look each morning, people can spend what amounts to months of removing body hair over the course of their lives.

American women spend more time and money on this process than American men. A survey completed by the American Laser Centers showed that women spend more than $10,000 on shaving products over their lifetime.

Considering those statistics, it’s no surprise that many people are looking for more permanent options, such as laser hair removal. Still, the question you must ask yourself is: “How much does laser hair removal cost?”

While the upfront costs of laser hair removal are greater than the costs of other hair removal products, the long-term benefits may justify the cost for many people. Here’s what to know.

How does laser hair removal work?

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that must be performed by certified technicians. The process uses concentrated light to target and damage individual hair follicles.

As a result, the hair in each follicle falls out, and its growth process slows. The pigment in the hair attracts the laser so that the energy is focused on the hair. Laser hair removal is most effective on hair that is dark and coarse against fair skin.

However, several different lasers are available for different types and colors of hair and skin, and for different areas of the body.

Benefits of laser hair removal

The biggest advantage of laser hair removal is that it offers permanent hair reduction over time. While multiple sessions are necessary for permanent hair removal, results are often visible in just one session. Most people require four to six sessions to achieve permanent results.

Unlike waxing, tweezing and other hair-removal options, laser hair removal causes minimal discomfort. Those who have undergone the procedure describe it as feeling like a rubber band snapping against the skin.

Speed and precision make laser hair removal an attractive option for many people. Because the laser targets the hair specifically, the surrounding skin remains undamaged.

This is in contrast to waxing, shaving or tweezing that can damage the skin by leaving it red, sore and swollen. Additionally, the laser works quickly, covering an area the size of a quarter every second.

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Laser hair removal cost breakdown

The average cost of laser hair removal is $429, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

However, the cost varies depending on a number of different factors. The biggest factor is the area of the body that receives treatment. The size of the area and the amount of time it takes to perform the procedure help to determine the cost.

The table below illustrates the average high and low costs of laser hair removal for different areas of the body.

Source: DocShop.com

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The doctor or technician goes over the procedure during the initial consultation and can provide a quote for an individual procedure. The physician also can recommend the number of treatments needed for permanent hair removal, although this can change depending on how the hair responds to the treatment.

The spa or clinic may offer discounts to those who pay for multiple sessions upfront or elect to have the procedure done on several different areas of the body.

Conclusion

Laser hair removal has a relatively high upfront cost. So, before beginning the procedure, make sure you know how much it costs.

Those interested in the treatment can expect to spend several hundred dollars per session and several thousand dollars total. However, because treatments are spread out — with usually eight weeks between each treatment, payments also can be spread out.

At some locations, customers can lower the cost by paying for several sessions at once or opting for treatment on multiple areas of the body.

When considering the lifetime cost of other hair removal treatments, laser hair removal is right on par. The procedure differs in that it provides permanent hair removal after several treatment sessions, thus cutting the time needed for grooming, which is priceless for many people.

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