Permanent hair removal treatment is one of the top five minimally invasive procedures in the country. Laser hair removal is the targeted destruction of hair follicles by laser and light based technologies. Equipment targets melanin in the hair follicle. Because melanin is a dark area, it absorbs heat more than the surrounding areas. This allows caregivers to avoid damaging the surrounding tissues when destroying hair follicles.
Costs for Laser Hair Removal
The average national cost for laser hair removal is $429 per treatment according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. But the overall cost of permanent hair removal treatments depends on a number of factors including:
- Type of Laser Used
- Area of the Body
- Region of the Country
New Laser Hair Removal
There are a variety of new lasers used for hair removal. The most common are the Ultimate Light/Intense Pulse Light lasers, the Diode Laser, the Nd:Yag, and the Alexandrite. Each of these lasers are specialized for different skin types, hair types, and long term effectiveness.
Ultimate Light/Pulse Light epilation machines are the least expensive in terms of hardware costs. This may translate to lower costs for procedures. The Nd: Yag is an expensive machine, so practitioners may pass costs on to patients. Each laser targets skin types differently, so patients may not have a choice in which type of machine is used. The Alexandrite only works on very fair skin, it isn't safe for darker pigment types.
Pricing of Laser Hair Removal by Region
Patients can expect laser hair removal costs to vary dramatically depending upon which region of the United States they live in. Varying costs by state are a result of the median income level of residents, demand for services, and how saturated the local market is by caregivers.
In the South, the average cost of laser hair removal is $400 per treatment. In the Midwestern states, the costs of laser hair removal are almost 15% higher than in the Southern states. West coast patients can expect to pay approx. $420 per permanent hair removal treatment. In the Eastern United States, laser hair removal prices are approx. $425 per session.
Affordable Laser Hair Removal by Body Area
Each area of the body has a differing number of hair follicles depending on the patient. The number of hair follicles and the size of the area being treated with laser hair removal will have some bearing on the cost of the procedure. The approximate laser hair removal price of one average treatment for each area of the body are as follows:
- Back, Face, or Neck- $600 - $900
- Lower Legs or Upper Legs- $600 - $850
- Arms or Chest- $350 - $600
- Bikini- $350 - $500
- Under Arms- $250 - $350
Laser hair removal costs depend on a variety of factors. Savvy consumers should shop around in their area, ask for combination discounts, negotiate a discount if all treatments are paid for up front, in order to get the best price for permanent hair removal treatments. Affordable laser hair removal is possible when consumers do some research shopping for specials and are their own advocates.
Sources:
- The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Laura Holst - Laura Holst is a substitute teacher and writer. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and is ...
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