How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost?

Laser hair removal is a permanent solution to unwanted hair. If you cannot stand plucking, waxing or shaving, laser hair removal may be the perfect solution for you. However, the procedure can be complicated, and it is important to understand exactly what you are getting into before you begin, so you are not surprised by your final bill.


Laser hair removal is a way to permanently damage hair follicles so they no longer produce hair. Because each follicle is targeted individually by a tiny laser, the process can be extremely time-consuming. You are basically singeing your hair follicles, so it is best to have a professional perform the procedure to avoid infection and injury. The larger the area you are having treated, the more expensive the treatment will be, because it will take longer.

Time Frame

It takes between one and three sessions to permanently disable all the hair follicles in an area. The fewer sessions you need, the less expensive the procedure will be. However, because nearly everyone needs multiple session--and because most laser hair-removal specialists do not want people stopping after one session and then reporting that the treatment did not work--packages are generally priced at a flat rate for a certain number of sessions, rather than paid for a session at a time.


Laser hair removal is an irritating but fairly noninvasive procedure. As a result, you do not need to factor in lost work time when you are evaluating the costs of the procedure. However, since the process may make you uncomfortable and may also make your face flushed, you might want to take a half-day off after you undergo the treatment. It is not necessary, but rather a convenience that many people prefer.


Many people believe that laser hair removal must be extraordinarily expensive, given the vast number of hairs evident on nearly every part of the body. In fact, unless extenuating circumstances make your hair or your skin particularly difficult to work with, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that the average cost of laser hair removal is $429.


When people think of laser hair removal, they entertain varying expectation. Most people simply want hair removed from areas--like their eyebrows, lips and bikini area--that require constant shaving and are easily irritated. However, you can have laser hair removal done anywhere you have hair. If you want hair removed from your legs, for example, the procedure can be much more costly than the average prediction, because there is a lot more to your legs than to your upper lip.


As with any surgical procedure, laser hair removal can lead to complications and infections. If you cannot afford to care for yourself or take a few days off work if you react adversely to the procedure, you cannot afford laser hair removal, regardless of how inexpensive the initial costs are. Always work with your personal physician as well as the doctor performing the treatment to factor in the worst-case scenario when you are estimating the costs of laser hair removal.