Laser hair removal is often considered a beauty investment. It costs more money than shaving or waxing, but over time, when treatments are no longer needed, you can save money on body hair removal costs.
Many factors affect the price of this procedure. “Costs for laser hair removal vary by body area treated, geographical location, the expertise of the person performing the procedure, and time to perform the procedure,” says dermatologist Corey L. Hartman, M.D., founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, Alabama. “Individual treatment session costs are generally in the range of $100 to $800.”
In 2020, the average cost of laser hair removal with no other related expenses was $389, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons[1]Laser Hair Removal. American Society Of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed 11/09/2021. .
Below, we dig into the average costs for common treatment areas. Remember that the average prices listed below are per treatment, and you may need four to six treatments overall, according to Dr. Guanche.
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Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal for Large Areas
If you are getting laser hair removal on large areas of your body, such as your back or legs, the cost will likely be more expensive than removing hair from small areas. “Generally, a large area like the back or legs can be upwards of $600 per treatment,” says Dr. Guanche.
Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal for Small Areas
Smaller areas of the body are going to be less expensive. This can include the bikini line, underarms and facial areas like chins, lips and sideburns. “The bikini can be anywhere from $250 to $350 per treatment, depending on whether it is a Brazilian [removing hair from the labial to the perianal areas] or normal v-shaped bikini [removing hair from the groin areas, leaving a V or patch of hair on the mons pubis],” says Dr. Guanche. She adds that the lower face and chin can average about $250 per treatment, and underarm hair removal can range between $175 to $225 per treatment.
What’s Included in the Cost of Laser Hair Removal?
The cost of laser hair removal typically includes the office visit, the application of topical anesthetic to numb the pain, the laser treatment and the post-care topical application of products like soothing agents and sunscreen, according to both Dr. Guanche and Dr. Hartman.
How Many Treatments of Laser Hair Removal are Required?
It might ultimately be a more permanent hair removal solution, but laser hair removal treatment is not a quick fix. Just one laser hair removal treatment may be enough to make hair thinner, lighter and more fine, but in order to be completely hair-free, you will have to get the procedure done four to six times. In the first year, Dr. Guanche recommends going every four to six weeks for touch-ups depending on how your hair is growing.
“It takes a number of treatments [to be completely effective],” says Dr. Guanche. “The laser treatment can reduce the size and diameter of hair, place it into remission completely, or not affect the hair at all. For this reason, multiple treatments are necessary at four to six week intervals.” You may even require yearly touch-ups for a few years following your first procedure.