Laser Hair Removal: Benefits, Side Effects, and Cost

Increasingly popular for the permanent removal of unwanted hair, laser hair removal has extended itself beyond clinics and spas because of technology, including an at-home device for most people. This article will discuss the benefits of using laser hair removal, possible effects, costs, and the increasingly popular trend of at-home devices for effective and fast hair removal. This complete review will provide you all the information you need, whether your budget permits at-home sessions or professional treatments.

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Benefits of laser hair removal
• Part 2: Laser Hair Removal Side Effects
• Part 3: Laser Hair Removal’s Costs
• Part 4: Laser Hair Removal Machines At Home
  
  

Benefits of laser hair removal

Laser hair removal targets precisely hair follicles, therefore sparing the surrounding skin from damage. For dark, coarse hair particularly, it works quite well.

Efficiency of laser hair removal

Laser hair removal is now considered a very effective method and has put aside traditional techniques, such as shaving and waxing. The greatest benefit of laser hair removal over traditional hair removal is that a single laser pulse targets several hair follicles at once, speeding up the process, and improving efficiency.

A study on laser hair removal observed a 60 to 80 percent reduction in hair regrowth after 6 to 8 treatment sessions. Areas other than the face, such as axillae and chest, showed relatively better response than that shown by other facial areas such as the chin and upper lip. However, in the facial area, sideburns demonstrated a greater decrease than the chin and upper lip in hairs. Adverse effects were mild and included moderate pain, transient erythema, perifollicular edema, and rarely post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation without scarring. More than six sittings may be required for permanent hair removal. The side effects were few and temporary. ¹

For dark skin tone, long pulse Nd: Yag 1064 laser is one of the most medically safe and effective lasers for hair removal indications in persons belonging to skin types V and VI. The effective fluence and safe pulse duration can be classified as 15 to 20 J/cm2 and 16 to 22 msec respectively. Fewer laser sessions are to be performed for the face. ²

Effectiveness

Enduring hair removal has most of the users intimating itself as the most well-loved option. It becomes popular because it serves effective results with permanence. It attacks hair follicles only with direct focused light radiation to cease future hair growth at its root. This method thus will outweigh the temporary methods like shaving or waxing.

On average, a person who goes for laser hair removal treatment will probably achieve a 70-90% reduction in hair regrowth after the recommended number of sessions.

Which one is better? Laser or Electrolysis? ( In terms of Effectiveness)

Comparatively, the Alexandrite laser hair removal method is much more, efficient, and handy than electrolysis. Considering the high cost of laser hair removal, it is 60 times faster and less painful than electrolysis; also, it requires fewer sessions with better results.

Minimized Ingrown Hairs

Removing hair with traditional methods such as shaving and waxing usually cuts the hair at an angle or removes it from the follicle, leading to ingrown hairs. The hair then curls back into the skin. Laser hair removal greatly reduces this risk by directly directing heat energy to the hair follicles. This process disables the follicles, thus inhibiting the renewal that actually causes most ingrown hair formation.

It reviews 33 peer-reviewed studies and concludes that IPL has improved the maximum hair removal over any other since its inception. IPL hair removal is of course the mode of choice in a clinical setup, efficiency, safety, and versatility. Moreover, this type of epilation has proven effective among patients with skin conditions such as acne, and folliculitis, with ingrown hair or pseudofolliculitis, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation, thereby earning other merits over laser hair removal.

Time and Cost-Effective Over Long Run 

Laser hair removal treatment is quite costly at first, but the time and money it saves in the years to come make it worthwhile, especially now that the cost of traditional methods of hair removal – shaving, waxing, and depilatory treatments – involves many sessions during the year. The average person spends hundreds per year on such treatments, not to mention the wasted days repeating the same grooming activity.

The average person spends 15–20 min per shaving session, and it is needed 2–3 times a week. That totals roughly 50 hours over a year. Waxing is done at intervals of about once a month and takes around 30-60 minutes per session, which adds to an annual total time of around 6-12 hours.

So, laser hair removal would seem to be the right deal for busy people since they would roughly save 60-70% of time spent on periodic methods within the first 5 years of laser treatment according to the survey from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).

Does insurance cover laser hair removal? Since it is an aesthetic and grooming procedure, insurance does not cover the benefits of laser hair removal.

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

When done by qualified experts or using FDA-cleared at-home equipment, laser hair removal is usually a safe and successful treatment. Like any medical or cosmetic procedure, it can, nevertheless, have minor side effects. Most are minor and transient, but wise decisions depend on knowing the possible hazards.

Redness or Swelling; Low Grade

Following treatment, minor redness and swelling around hair follicles is not unusual. Usually subsiding a few hours to a day, this reaction resembles a mild sunburn. However, the skin can be calmed down with a cool compress and light moisturizer.

Skin Irritation

Some minor discomfort, tingling, or a warm feeling may arise during or just after the treatment; usually fading within one day.

Pigmentation

Individuals with dark skin tones or those who have been exposed to sunlight before or after treatment develop hypo- or hyperpigmentation. These changes tend to be temporary, but they may sometimes take weeks or months to fade.

Dryness and Flaking

In the treated regions some people may find minor dryness or flaking. Moisturizing and mild exfoliating help to solve this problem.

Rare; Laser Hair Removal Side Effects

Burns of Blisters

Particularly in persons with darker skin tones where melanin in the skin absorbs the laser light, improper settings or untrained practitioners might cause burns or blisters.

Scarring

Rarely, scarring may result from skin damage during therapy or by non-following post-treatment care advice, including avoiding picking or scratching.

Eye Injuries

If protective goggles are not worn during the operation, the strong light of the laser can injure the eyes.

The overall incidence of adverse effects after laser/light hair removal is low and very seldom results in lasting sequelae. The two largest studies available have shown that acute and transient side effects occur. Acute and transient effects were recorded much more frequently with shorter wavelength lasers (up to 19 percent, particularly in the dark skin types) compared to lower incidence by the neodymium–yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser (2–3%). There is a lack of long-term side effects or scarring in both studies. A safe procedure by well-trained professionals carries a very low incidence of irreversible sequelae. Most of the adverse effects are temporary and minor, infrequently occurring in darker skin. Longer wavelength devices reduce the risk in darker ski

Laser Hair Removal’s Costs

The cost of laser hair removal depends on numerous elements:

Treatment Area

• Areas will cost more if larger, such as the back or the legs. It will cost less if it is smaller, such as the upper lip or underarms.

Number of Sessions

• On average, six to eight sessions will be needed for optimal results. Maintenance sessions may be required every year.

Locations

• Different prices are charged according to location. For example, metropolitan regions always charge more than small towns.

Expert’s Fee

• For professionals between $200-$500 a session for small to medium areas, at-home devices will charge much less.

Laser hair removal machine at home; Cost comparison

• Top-quality laser hair removal machines at home can be bought for as low as $300-$700, making them fair value over the long term.

Laser Hair Removal Machines At Home

Laser hair removal machines at home have transformed hair removal and increased accessibility, cost and convenience. However, there are some benefits to laser hair removal at home and some disadvantages.

Advantages of laser hair removal machines at home

• One advantage over expert treatments is cost-effective.
• Let users do touch-ups whenever it would be most convenient.
• Some gadgets gently on sensitive skin using IPL, or intense pulsed light.

Disadvantages of laser hair removal machines at home

• Less strong than expert machines; more sessions are needed to produce effects.
• Not appropriate for all skin tones or hair types; typically more successful on lighter skin with darker hair.

Conclusion

Laser hair removal, of course, has much to offer regarding lengthy promises like reduced ingrown hairs, better skin, and reduced new hair growth. Compared to traditional hair removal methods such as waxing or shaving, that initial outlay and effort seem expensive, but in the long run, it pays off. While most side effects are usually mild and transient, correct aftercare and skillful treatment will reduce risks. Thus, laser hair removal remains highly favorable as far as permanent, quick, and effective hair reduction options are concerned.

FAQs

Does laser permanently remove hair?

Though it is not always permanent, laser hair removal dramatically slows down hair growth. Some hair, though thinner and lighter, may return over time.

Laser hair removal calls for how many sessions?

For best results, most people need six to eight sessions separated four to six weeks apart.

How long will laser hair removal last?

Results may last several months to years. However, maintenance sessions every year could be required to handle regrowth.

Which one is better? Diode laser hair removal or laser hair removal at home?

According to a comparative analysis by Kelly Hendrick, the professional laser reduced hair by 85% and 88% in the right and left axillae, respectively. The home-use laser recorded an overall average reduction of 52% for the right axilla and 46.3% for the left axilla. Both devices experienced minimum adverse events. No significant opposing events were reported, and safety features are effective to a certain extent.

References

1. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research ISSN (Online): 2393-915X; (Print): 2454-7379 | ICV: 50.43 | Volume 3 | Issue 5 | May 2016

2. International Journal of Research in Dermatology Anaba EL et al. Int J Res Dermatol. 2023 May;9(3):85-90 http://www.ijord.com

3. Eric Sanfilippo, Leslie Castelo‐Soccio, Anna Yasmine Kirkorian, A review of hair removal modalities in pediatric patients: Ethical and clinical considerations, Pediatric Dermatology, 10.1111/pde.15564, 41, 3, (410-420), (2024).

4. Leal-Silva, H. and Leal-Delgado, S. (2024), Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal. Dermatological Reviews, 5: e252. https://doi.org/10.1002/der2.252

5. Lim, S.P.R., Lanigan, S.W. A review of the adverse effects of laser hair removal. Lasers Med Sci 21, 121–125 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-006-0377-y

Hendricks K, Nxumalo CT, Makgobole MU, Ghuman S, Jacobs D, Mpofana N (2023) Evaluating the effectiveness of laser hair reduction using a home use laser in comparison to a Diode laser. PLoS ONE 18(5): e0286162. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286162