Laser Hair Removal Fact Sheet

The objective

Laser hair removal prevents hair growth in areas of unwanted hair, such as the bikini-line, legs, face and chest, using a high-powered and very concentrated laser beam to damage the hair follicle through a generation of heat.

The procedure

The procedure can be carried out using a topical anaesthetic cream and takes about 15-60 minutes per treatment. Patients would need to be assessed for suitability for this procedure.

The practitioner will normally apply a cooling gel to the skin to ease discomfort through the procedure. A laser beam is directed to the hair follicle to destroy it without affecting the surrounding skin. This disables the action of the follicle and prevents new hair from growing from it. A laser beam is more concentrated than an Intense Pulse Light beam (another method used to for hair removal) as its wavelength cannot be adjusted.

Several treatments will be needed over a period of time to achieve the final results, as the laser beam can only work on hair follicles that are actively growing at the time of treatment.

The outcome

Following the procedure, the treated area will be red, sensitive and painful for a short while.

Normally, you can leave the clinic a few minutes after the procedure. You can usually return to work and resume activities immediately.

You can expect hair in the treated areas to stop growing as a result of this procedure, with long-lasting rather than permanent results.

The risks

Complications associated with laser hair removal include skin blisters or burns which can lead to mild scarring and changes in skin colour or pigment.

If pigmentation problems occur, it may be anywhere from 3-12 months before normal skin tone returns.

People who have had radiotherapy to the area or a recent course of vitamin A skin treatments may be more prone to developing ‘keloid’ scarring, which are red, bumpy and raised scars, and may not be suitable candidates.

Hormonal changes may activate new hair growth and so further treatments might be needed.

If you experience cold sores, then there may be a recurrence of them after treatment, although the chance of this can be minimised by the use of antiviral medicines.

The costs

Usually, a course of at least 5-6 treatments will be necessary and cost depends on the size of area being treated. In the UK, expect to pay from around £55-£100 per session. Abroad, expect to pay from around £150-£300 per session (USA).

The availability

Laser hair removal procedures are widely available at private cosmetic surgery clinics and specialist skin care clinics within the UK and abroad.

The popularity

Laser hair removal is popular amongst people who are veering away from using short-lasting conventional methods of hair removal or for those with unsightly patches of hair in conspicuous areas. Many women use this method as a way of removing bikini-line hair and also for dark ‘moustache’ growth above the upper lip. Men may use it to remove unwanted hair on the back and shoulders.