Cost of Laser Hair Removal

The cost of laser hair removal is certainly a major consideration in deciding whether to undergo treatment.

Costs depend on a variety of factors including geography, the kind of laser being used and the amount of hair you are seeking to have removed. Costs can also be determined by the amount of time the various sessions take, which body part you are having done, and what type of payment package you choose.

For example, you might be eligible for certain discounts for paying in advance. Be an informed consumer. Research carefully the various options available in your area before you pick a treatment center.

Remember that price isn't the only factor to consider. Don't pinch pennies when it comes to quality of service. Also, make sure you have a realistic sense of cost BEFORE you begin a treatment program. That means discussing with the clinician how many treatments you'll likely need.

The cost of laser hair removal is the most common laser hair removal question that hair lasers.com gets. Below is a discussion of how laser hair removal clinics decide the prices for laser hair removal and why.

The price of laser hair removal varies greatly according the uniqueness of each person. All patterns of hair growth are unique. Therefore the results of laser hair removal and the cost of laser hair removal will also be unique. That is why some clinics want you to come in for a consultation before they quote laser hair removal pricing.

Some male back hair may grow in densely and evenly with thick hair shafts while other back hair may grow in sparsely and in patches of fine hair. Of course there are all variables of hair growth in between. All women have some facial hair. Some women have facial hair that is noticeable only because it is thicker and darker than someone who has fine, light hair. Other women have facial hair because of hormonal factors.

Laser hair removal pricing structures can vary from clinic to clinic, but often the various quotes for laser hair removal pricing will be the same or similar in the end. Here are some ways that laser hair removal clinics decide on the cost of laser hair removal:

Flat Fee
Laser hair removal prices are sometimes made on a flat fee basis. The flat fee might be on a per treatment basis or a package of treatments basis. It could mean that all men's backs are $500 per treatment all of the time no matter how much hair you have on your back, or it that per treatment flat fee could be based on your particular back hair growth patterns. The clinic might charge for a flat fee package of treatments which may or may not vary according to the individual's body hair growth patterns.

Time
Similar to the common pricing structure of electrolysis some laser clinics charge per 15 minute segment for laser hair removal. Let's say a clinic charges $100 per 15 minute segment of laser hair removal. If a man's back takes about an hour (see chart of average times to remove body hair) it would cost $400 per treatment. Of course the cost of hair removal will be affected by the amount of hair to be removed, and the speed of the laser technician and the speed of the laser hair removal machine.

Fee per pulse
Laser hair removal pricing can be based on the number of pulses that it takes to complete an area of body hair. Each time the laser fires, it is called "a pulse." One pulse takes about one second and can remove more or less than a hundred hairs and can range from the area of a dime to the area of a quarter. Some laser clinics charge by the pulse. For example, a laser clinic might charge a dollar per pulse with a minimum fee per area. A bikini might cost $300 based on a minimum charge of $150 which includes the first 150 pulses and a dollar per pulse thereafter. You only get charged for actual pulses unless you have fewer pulses than the minimum. As you progress in your series of laser hair removal treatments, your price per treatment may decline as you have less hair to be removed. Different lasers have different spot sizes and will therefore have different prices per pulse.