How Much Does Laser Hair Removal Cost? - GoodRx (2024)

Laser hair removal is one of the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. Over 1 million laser hair removal surgeries were performed in 2018 and 2019, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Even with the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 760,000 removal surgeries were performed in 2020.

Laser hair removal is an alternative to temporary face- and body-hair removal methods such as tweezing, shaving, and waxing. The procedure is designed to remove unwanted hair by using heat from the laser to destroy the hair follicle. The result is usually smooth, longer-lasting results in a safer and more effective way.

If you’re considering laser hair removal surgery, it’s important to first consult with a specialist and consider the costs involved.

How much does laser hair removal typically cost?

There are many factors that will determine the cost of your laser hair removal surgery. The average plastic surgeon's fee for laser hair removal was $389 in 2020, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. But this isn’t the full price for the entire process. You could end up paying anywhere from $200 to $1,600 in total for each treatment session.

Your total costs will vary based on factors like:

• Surgeon’s fee

• Geographic location of the specialist

• Prescriptions for medications

• Body area you want to treat

• Type of laser utilized (diode, alexandrite, etc.)

• Size of the body area you want to treat

• Anesthesia cream used to reduce discomfort

• Special equipment needed for the procedure or recovery

• Post-care products like sunscreen or soothing agents

• Number of treatments you need to achieve a smooth, hair-free look

You will also need to consider price increases due to inflation. In January 2022, the consumer price index reported a 7.5% jump year over year, which was nearly a 40-year high. In May, inflation hit 8.6% annually, according to monthly data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Prices for laser hair removal services have most likely increased since last year. You should schedule a consultation with a licensed laser hair removal specialist to get a list of current costs.

Laser hair removal costs for face and body parts

Laser hair removal typically requires multiple treatment sessions to achieve your desired results. This could be anywhere between three to six sessions, depending on your body part and hair type. To get the best results, these sessions should be scheduled in 4-to-6 week intervals.

You may need extra sessions if you have dark hair and skin, because the laser focuses on pigment in the hair follicle. Darker skin tones may require special types of laser technology to achieve desired results. Ask your doctor about total laser hair removal costs based on your skin tone to ensure you aren’t faced with any unexpected costs later.

If you’re considering laser hair surgery, below are some common body parts that are treated:

• Back

• Bikini area

• Chin

• Eyebrows

• Legs

• Sideburns

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• Underarms

• Upper lip

Laser hair removal may also be an option if you have unwanted hair in other areas, such as:

• Buttocks

• Stomach

• Toes

For example: Let’s say your surgeon charges $600 per treatment session for laser hair removal. If you require 6 treatments, that will cost you $3,600 for the sessions alone. The cost can be more or less, depending on the size of the body part that you want to treat. Your chin and eyebrows will cost less than other areas of the body, as they cover a smaller area.

You should expect the average laser hair removal costs to go up if you are focused on areas such as your back or legs. You should also consider how much of the area you want to treat, as well as your skin and hair color. Let’s say you choose to do a full leg instead of half-leg treatment. If a full-leg treatment is $1,200 and you need 8 sessions, your cost would be $9,600. Keep in mind that’s only for one leg. Both legs would cost you nearly $20,000.

Laser hair removal by age

The total number of laser hair removal procedures in 2018 was 1,077,490. That number decreased to 757,808 in 2020. Individuals between the ages of 40 and 54 accounted for the largest number (36%) of laser hair removals in 2018 and 2020.

Below is a breakdown of laser hair removal surgeries by age in 2018 and 2020. However, you shouldn’t let age alone guide your decision to proceed with laser hair removal.

Is laser hair removal worth it?

It depends. You should review the short-term costs and long-term benefits to determine if laser hair removal is the best option for you.

Before you go ahead with a laser hair removal procedure, you should schedule an appointment with a certified laser hair removal specialist or certified dermatologist. The doctor will examine your target body area to determine if you are a good candidate for laser hair removal. Your doctor should also discuss the following with you:

• Your skin type

• Hair type

• Goals and expectations

Your initial consultation is a great time to learn more about the potential costs and benefits of various cosmetic procedures. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons created a checklist of questions to get you started. Some of the questions include:

• How many years of plastic surgery training have you had? (More experienced professionals will usually charge more money.)

• How are complications handled?

• How long of a recovery period can I expect?

• What will be expected of me to get the best results?

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Here are some additional questions to consider asking:

• Is laser hair removal a safe procedure for the body part I want to focus on?

• Will I need topical anesthetic to offset any pain?

• Is the laser hair removal treatment permanent?

• How many treatments will I need for laser hair removal?

• Will I need touch-up treatments after the procedure?

• What are the technologies involved in the treatment? What type of equipment will you use?

• Are there any skin care products I should stop using prior to my treatment?

You may receive a complimentary laser hair removal consultation, depending on your provider. If you have to pay for a consultation, the fee may be applied to the costs of your laser hair removal. Your medical professional should guide you through the entire process and let you know what type of fees you should expect.

After your consultation, you should review the pros and cons of laser hair removal. Here are a few to consider:

Some studies report that women may spend as much as $23,000 on hair removal during their lifetime. You may be able to save money by pursuing laser hair removal. Track how much money you spend on waxing and other hair removal services every year to determine if a laser hair removal procedure can keep more money in your pocket over the long term.

Does insurance cover laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal is generally considered cosmetic surgery. Therefore, private insurance usually won’t cover it.

There are rare cases when an insurance company may cover a portion or all of your laser hair removal services. If you are seeking the procedure due to a health condition, you may be able to contact your insurance company for approval. Consult with your doctor and insurance company to receive guidance and more information about your request.

Some states, like Massachusetts, provide guidelines for determining if a procedure is medically necessary. For example, hair removal could be medically necessary if it’s used to treat gender dysphoria.

Other conditions that may allow you to classify laser hair removal as medically necessary include:

• Pilonidal sinus disease

• Hair follicle infections (folliculitis)

• Certain types of cancer

If you are age 65 or older, you may have Medicare. Unfortunately, cosmetic surgery isn’t an approved Medicare expense. That means you will have to pay for 100% of the costs unless it’s medically necessary.

You also can’t use your HSA or FSA to pay for laser hair removal. This is not an HSA-eligible expense under IRS Publication 502. If you tap into these accounts to pay for your laser hair removal procedure, this would be considered a nonqualified distribution. You may be subject to a penalty.

How can you pay for laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal can be expensive depending on where you live and the body area you need to treat.

If your laser hair removal procedure is not medically necessary, you’ll most likely have to cover 100% of the costs on your own. Payment options to consider include:

• Save cash for the medical procedure

• Apply for a medical loan like Prosper

• Consider a medical credit card like CareCredit

If you have good credit, you can look into a credit card that has a 0% intro annual percentage rate (APR). Do your research to find out how long the promotional APR will be available.

You should also assess your financial situation to determine if you can pay the entire credit card balance before interest payments kick in. You don’t want to be stuck with high-interest payments if you can’t afford to pay the credit card balance off in time.

It’s important to shop around for the best specialist and consider geographic location when planning for your laser hair removal costs. Since the demand for laser hair removal is higher in coastal areas, you can expect to pay more if you receive services in those states. Fortunately, you may not have to pay all the costs upfront. You should ask your laser hair removal specialist if they offer a patient payment plan and if you can finance the surgery. Pay attention to interest rates before moving forward.

Although medical credit cards, loans, or long-term payment plans may sound appealing, you should review all your payment options to avoid putting yourself in a financial jam.