Before & After Laser Hair Removal

Laser energy is absorbed by melanin in the hair, with treatment being most effective when follicles are in the active growth, or anagen, phase. Only a proportion of the hairs in a treatment area will be in this phase at any one time, and the proportion varies by body site.

This is one of the main reasons laser hair removal requires a course of treatments rather than a single session. Treatment intervals also vary according to the area being treated.

Several factors can increase or reduce the number of sessions required. Coarse, dark hair generally absorbs laser energy more effectively than fine or light hair. Growth cycles also differ by body site, with facial hair behaving differently from areas such as the back or legs. Hormonal factors can influence results too, particularly where facial hair growth is being maintained by an underlying cause that laser treatment itself does not address.

The accepted term for what laser achieves is permanent hair reduction. This means a lasting decrease in the number of hairs that regrow after a course of treatment, rather than permanent removal. Some follicles may survive treatment, and some patients require occasional maintenance sessions.

That distinction matters when advertising laser hair removal. Claims of permanent removal can create a substantiation issue under the CAP Code while setting an expectation the treatment is not designed to meet. The outcomes on this page show the end-of-course results achieved by these individuals, not a guaranteed result for every patient.