Going for laser hair treatment is not like going for a facial and massage or getting highlights at the salon. It is a medical procedure in many ways which can be likened to cosmetic surgery, although thankfully there is no knife or incision.

If you go for a consultation be sure to disclose everything that is relevant even if the consultant or technician does not ask.

What information should you give to the laser hair removal center so that they give you the correct hair removal treatment?

Tell the consultant

1. About any skin conditions you have

This can be terribly important to your treatment as it can prevent damage to your skin, even permanent damage by the laser light technology. Make your technician aware of any allergies or problems you have had with your skin in the past or ones you are suffering in the present.

2. Any medical conditions you have

It is always worth mentioning any medical condition that you have even if you have not heard that it might affect your treatment or you don’t think it is serious. It does no harm to ask whether there are any contra-indications which might affect you and mean it is better not to start these hair removal treatments. If you go to a laser treatment clinic they operate under medical supervision and they are the best people to know about any ways laser treatment might harm you.

3. About any sunbathing you have done or plan to do

Any laser hair removal clinic worth using will REFUSE to treat you if you have a suntan or plan to go in the sun or on vacation shortly after treatment (that is within two weeks). Postpone your treatment until your tan has faded for the sake of your skin. The better the contrast between hair and skin the more effective  the treatment will be and the less danger of damage to your skin.

Ask all the Questions you need to for Your Laser Hair Treatment

4. Any concerns or questions

Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you like about your situation in particular and laser treatment for hair removal in general. You are paying for the treatment and you deserve to be fully briefed about what to expect from it. Ask for

• their assessment of your skin type,
• the type of laser machine that they propose to use and why
• how you should prepare for the laser treatments
• what pain relief they provide
• what results and side-effects to expect or watch out for
• whether the procedure will result in a permanent reduction in hair growth
• how many sessions might be required
• the cost of the treatment
• any guarantees or policies if hair remains after a full course of hair removal treatment

Many hair removal clinics will give you written notes on how to prepare for laser treatment and what you need to know and watch out for but if you think of anything you forgot to disclose or want to ask something else about your laser hair treatment don’t hesitate to contact your consultant again.

If you are interested in having laser hair removal treatment then I’m sure that cost is at the forefront of your mind. Laser hair removal prices are pretty difficult to determine however as they vary so much.

Let’s just say it is not cheap to have laser treatment whatever prices you are quoted. The actual prices for laser hair treatment really depend on where you live and type of salon, spa or laser hair removal center you go to and the clinic’s policy on pricing as well as on the part of the body you are having treated.

Most laser hair removal centers will say that a treatment costs “from as little as so many dollars” but that gives you no idea at all how much you are going to have to pay. So the only thing to do is to check out a few different places and ask and then compare prices.

Just to give you a reasonable idea, expect to be charged around $200 to $400 a session and to need several sessions (3 to 6) to treat any area of your body. (This will save you time talking to clinics if the procedure is completely outside your budget).

If you’re on a limited budget and you go to clinics don’t just look at the prices for laser hair removal also look at what is included in the costs and the quality of the service you will get. In particular look at the guarantees that are on offer. After the main laser hair removal sessions are complete you are likely to have some regrowth. If the cost of these sessions is included in the laser hair removal prices listed then that may offer much better value than a clinic which charges for every follow up session over the long term.

Although the prices charged will be different depending on where you live and the clinic you choose, it’s good to have an idea of the average laser hair removal price as a guideline for what you might expect to pay before you start your research. This will help you see if laser hair treatment is within your budget or well out of it.

You will see average laser hair removal prices listed here for most areas of the body which were reported by consumers in the US in 2009. The price depends on the size of the area being treated (which affects how long the sessions need to be). The price quoted is for one treatment. Remember you will typically need 4 to 6 sessions to clear 80% of your hair. (If you are looking for for laser hair removal prices for other countries such as the UK these prices are pretty much the same once converted into pounds although there will be some differences due to fluctuating exchange rates).

If you reckon on needing 6 sessions costing the highest end of the range for the part of your body you want treated you may be pleasantly surprised. On the other hand thinking you need only 4 at the lowest end of the sale may mean you are disappointed.

Also be aware that sometimes clinics will offer savings or discounts for up front payment for a series of treatments. Just don’t be pushed into signing a “special offer today only” deal if you are not ready. Better to go with a laser clinic which doesn’t pressurize you into expensive treatment.

Average Cost of Laser Hair Removal Treatment for Facial Hair Removal

Removal of all facial hair (full face) typical cost is : $150 – $300
Upper lip typically costs : $50 – $150
Removal of hair from chin only costs : $50 – $150

Average Cost For Arm Hair Removal (includes both arms)

Removing hair from underarms costs : $50 – 150
Half arms typical cost : $200 – 400

Average Cost for Body Hair Removal

Removal of hair from buttocks costs : $150 – 300
Back hair removal costs : $200 – 500
Chest hair removal costs : $100 – 300
Removing hair from abdomen Costs : $100 – 300

Average Cost for Leg Hair Removal

Half legs (both) Costs : $200 – 400

Laser Bikini Hair Removal

Regular bikini costs : $100 – 200
Brazilian bikini costs : $200 – 300

If you find that laser treatment is out of the question you may want to think about the more effective home laser hair removal machines available. They are not for everyone as you will see in home laser hair removal but they may be worth considering if you are suitable for treatment with a home laser machine and can’t afford professional treatment.

Some of the ads you see for laser hair removal clinics are too much like those you see for used cars. They emphasize the “wonderful” deal you’re getting and not the process. But laser treatment is an invasive medical procedure. There’s no incision involved but a laser is a powerful instrument in the wrong hands so you need to be able to trust the clinic you choose.

Having said that, you CAN trust the companies providing laser hair removal for the most part. The operators are trained to operate the equipment on delicate skin. The companies are government regulated. But even so, I would definitely be more confident choosing some treatment centers and laser technicians over others when it comes to removing hair from my body.

Don’t pick a hair removal clinic just by looking at enticing ads of super smooth skin and great deals. And don’t go shopping around for the best price you can get for laser treatment without worrying about who is providing it and you should be OK. You can use the ads to see who is offering treatment in your area but do your research too.

Also ask around. Maybe one of your friends has already had hair removal treatment at a clinic or center and is happy with the results. Personal recommendation is definitely the best way to choose a clinic if you can find someone you know with similar coloring to you. (Remember different machines work better on different types of skin and hair).

Visit any laser clinic you are thinking of using for an initial consultation. Visit a few clinics and compare notes. You can see the kind of questions you should be asking and the things to think about in this article: Laser Hair Treatment.

My main criteria for knowing whether a laser hair removal clinic is trustworthy is by finding out how open and honest they are about the potential results of the process. Do they give you the fulls facts about what you can expect or only the sales message and leave you to read the facts in the small print? Do they tell you how the process will feel or do they skim over the fact that you will feel some pain or discomfort during treatment?

In general, whether you trust a clinic will be a case of gut feel so make sure that you meet the technicians as well as the sales people and that you see the treatment rooms as well as the reception area or consulting rooms so that you can make a proper decision about the laser treatment center you are happy to work with.

As hair removal methods go, laser hair removal is one of the best. It works on large areas of skin very quickly and following a course of treatment it usually results in a permanent reduction in hair growth. But there are varying results for different people whereas with a process like electrolysis you know that whatever your skin or hair type you will achieve permanent hair removal in every case.

In the past laser hair treatment was not always effective and there were many stories of disappointment with the process. Now we are wiser and know that not all hair will be destroyed completely so our expectations are more realistic and with the latest laser hair removal equipment most people achieve such a reduction in hair growth that they are happy with the results and usually go on to have other areas of their bodies treated.

Still, it has to be said that laser hair removal treatments are not suitable for everyone. If you have fair hair (including blond, red or gray) it will not work for you. It will not work even if you dye your hair as it is the pigment at the root of the hair which the laser attacks.

It will also be less effective for you if you have dark skin. Although there are new laser hair removal machines which can work in these cases, it is still more difficult to attack the pigment in the hair with sufficient power without affecting the pigment in the skin so it may take longer and result in less hair being permanently removed. Even sunbathing can reduce effectiveness, so it is better to stay “pale and interesting” if you are about to embark on a course of treatment and you should be given instructions about this at your first consultation.

If your hair or skin color make treatment difficult, at least you will know this in advance and you may be advised against laser hair removal treatment by the clinic at your first appointment. At least the better clinics will do that. Always ask about success rates for people with your particular coloring before you sign up for treatment. The cost of laser hair removal is far from trivial and you don’t want to waste your money.

There will also be a few cases where the hair is not as affected by the laser as you would like. You will not know about this before you have treatment and see how your particular skin and hair react. You just have to hope you do not fall into that category. In any case, you are likely to experience significant unwanted hair reduction so it is usually still worthwhile.