Laser Hair Removal Costs

The cost of laser hair removal treatments can vary widely from state to state and country to country.  Of course, the laser hair removal costs will vary dependent on each individual's hair profile.  Since each individual has a unique pattern for hair growth, the results and the cost of laser hair removal will also be unique.

You will also find that laser hair removal average price structures can vary from clinic to clinic.  The following details the typical pricing methods used by laser hair removal clinics to determine the cost of their procedures:

Flat or Fixed Fee
Laser hair removal prices are sometimes based on a flat fee. The flat or fixed fee may be on a per treatment or package basis.  It could mean that all women's legs are $350 per treatment regardless of the amount of hair to be removed.  Another practice we see is where the clinic will charge a flat fee for a package of treatments.  This may or may not vary depending on an person's leg hair growth patterns.

Fee Per Pulse
Each time the laser equipment emits the laser light, it is called a "pulse".  Some clinics price based on the number of pulses that it takes to complete the procedure for a specific area of the body.  Interestingly, one pulse takes about one second and can remove more or less than a hundred hairs.  Some clinics using this pricing method will also charge a minimum fee for the treated body area.  As a result, the hair removal treatment would cost the patient either 1) the number of pulses time the price/pulse, or 2) a minimum fee for the specific body area, whichever is greater.  A good example is where a clinic might charge $400 based on a minimum charge of $250, which includes the first 250 pulses and a dollar per pulse thereafter. The advantage of this structure is that you will only get charged for the number of actual pulses, unless you have fewer pulses than the minimum.  As you progress in your series of laser hair removal treatments, your cost per treatment can decline as you have less hair to be removed.

Treatment Time
This pricing practice is similar to the structure used in electrolysis treatments.  A number of laser hair removal clinics will charge per 15 minute segment for laser hair removal. An example is where a woman's legs will take about an hour for an individual treatment with the clinic charging  $100 per 15 minute segment of laser hair removal. This treatment would cost $400.  This pricing practice may leave you a little uncomfortable, as the total cost of the hair removal will be affected by a number of factors: the amount of hair to be removed, the speed of the laser technician, and the speed of the laser hair removal equipment. 


Fortunately, the various quotes for laser hair removal, regardless of cost structure, will generally come out to be about the same in the end.  Also, some hair removal clinics will require the candidate to come in for a consultation before a price quote is provided for the laser hair removal treatments.

Here are some sample costs for an average laser procedure based on regional differences.  The variability in pricing can be significant, so it pays to shop around.

Also, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost for laser hair removal on a national basis is approximately $430.  The fees within various geographical regions can vary depending on the location of the clinic, i.e. suburban, urban or rural area. The costs quoted below only covers the doctor’s costs, and excludes other miscellaneous costs.  These fees only cover one laser hair removal session.  For many laser hair removal procedures, multiple sessions may be needed for optimal permanent hair removal results.

With an understanding of laser hair removal costs and armed with the questions from the Consultation Checklist, you are now ready to start your research online to find the "right" laser clinic for you.  We suggest that you check out a sampling of clinics online to familiarize yourself with their typical pricing practices, the laser equipment utilized for treatments, the credentials of the laser specialists, etc.  Remember - Knowledge is Power.  Don't be afraid to use it!